MSU Makes Top Group For 2025 LB in SEC Country

Michigan State football is midway through the third week of spring practice, but Coach Jonathan Smith and his staff are also gearing up for the heart of recruiting season this summer. The Spartans are still seeking their first commitment in the 2025 recruiting class, but a couple targets have recently included MSU in their top group.

The latest is 3-star Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth linebacker Sam Haley, who has Michigan State in his "Top 8" alongside North Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri and Virginia Tech.

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Haley is considered the No. 768 overall player, the No. 77 linebacker and the No. 24 player in the state of Tennessee for the 2025 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has received 21 scholarship offers from Division I programs. Michigan State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Joe Rossi is the Spartans' primary recruiter in the battle for Haley.

Currently, it appears that North Carolina has the early lead in Haley's recruitment, but this battle still has a long way to go. So far, the Tennessee native has taken two unofficial visits with the hometown Volunteers, while also taking in unofficial visits to Vanderbilt, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. There's no doubt that Rossi and the Spartans are working towards getting Haley up to East Lansing for a visit, either during spring practice or later this summer.

Haley is the second 2025 prospect to include Michigan State in his Top-8 schools over the past two weeks. The Spartans also made the top group for 3-star University of Detroit (Mich.) Jesuit athlete Elijah Dotson, who is being recruited by MSU running backs coach and area recruiter Kieth Bhonapha but projects as a defensive back at the collegiate level. Dotson has played safety, cornerback and wide receiver in high school, while also returning punts and kicks and even playing some wildcat quarterback.

During Smith's five full recruiting cycles at Oregon State, his classes ranged from No. 109 in the country to as high as No. 49 in his final full class in 2023. Given the added resources Michigan State provides, Smith is expected to attract a higher level of talent to East Lansing.

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