Michigan State 2024 Linebacker Commit Flips To USC On 2nd Signing Day

This recruiting battle had been trending this way over the last couple months, and the February signing period has made it official...

A recruiting battle that had seemingly been trending away from Michigan State football for some time has reached its conclusion on the first day of the 2024 cycle's February signing period.

Three-star Portage (Mich.) linebacker Jadyn Walker, who flipped his original verbal commitment from Toledo to the Spartans on Sept. 9, has now flipped and signed with Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans.

Walker's commitment to MSU in the fall came while Mel Tucker's coaching staff and then-linebackers coach Scottie Hazelton were still in place. The native of Portage was one of only seven 2024 Michigan State commits to stick with the Spartans after Tucker was suspended and eventually fired. After new head coach Jonathan Smith was hired in late December, all of Tucker's assistant coaches aside from wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins was relieved of their duties. Smith and the new staff he built add 12 commitments ahead of the December Signing Period.

Of Michigan State's 19 verbal pledges heading into the first signing period in December, Walker was the only one who chose to wait until the second period to make his decision final. Walker received a scholarship offer from USC on Dec. 2, which led to the Michigan-native's initial indecision. Walker took an official visit to East Lansing on Dec. 8, and another to Southern California on Dec. 16. In the end, he chose the Trojans over the Spartans.

With the second signing period underway, Michigan State has added 20 scholarship athletes to their roster from the class of 2024. The Spartans' haul ranks No. 46 in the country and No. 14 (out of 18) in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports team composite rankings.

Michigan State Football Signees, Class of 2024

• Four-star WR Nick Marsh; River Rouge High School; River Rouge, Mich.; No. 175 nationally, No. 30 Wide Receiver, No. 3 in state of Michigan
• Four-star OT Rustin Young; St. Louis High School; Honolulu, Hawaii; No. 345 nationally, No. 29 offensive tackle, No. 2 in state of Hawaii
• Four-star LB Brady Pretzlaff; Gaylord High School; Gaylord, Mich.; No. 470 nationally, No. 44 Linebacker, No. 11 in state of Michigan
• Three-star OT Mercer Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 730 nationally, No. 53 Offensive Tackle, No. 28 in state of Ohio
• Three-star OT Payton Stewart; Kelso High School; Kelso, Wash.; No. 742 nationally, No. 55 Offensive Tackle, No. 12 in state of Washington
• Three-star CB Justin Denson; La Salle Academy; Providence, R.I.; No. 769 nationally, No. 65 Cornerback, No. 21 in state of Pennsylvania
• Three-star QB Alessio Milivojevic; St. Francis High School, Wheaton, Ill.; No. 817 natonally, No. 53 Quarterback, No. 20 in state of Illinois
• Three-star CB Jaylen Thompson; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 926 nationally, No. 77 Cornerback, No. 28 in state of Tennessee
• Three-star LB Mikeshun Beeler; Simeon High School; Chicago, Ill.; No. 995 nationally, No. 111 Defensive Lineman, No. 24 in state of Illinois
• Three-star ATH Andrew Brinson IV; Gaither High School; Tampa, Fla.; No. 1064 nationally, No. 89 Athlete, No. 144 in state of Florida
• Three-star WR Jaylan Brown; Nacogdoches High School; Nacogdoches, Texas; No. 1161 nationally, No. 155 Wide Receiver; No. 170 in state of Texas
• Three-star IOL Charlton Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 1219 nationally, No. 98 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 49 in state of Ohio
• Three-star IOL Rakeem Johnson; Bishop Kelly High School; Boise, Idaho; No. 1299 nationally, No. 107 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in state of Idaho
• Three-star EDGE Kekai Burnett; Punahou High School; Honolulu, Hawaii; No. 1329 nationally, No. 89 Edge Rusher, No. 6 in state of Hawaii
• Three-star WR Austin Clay; Midpark High School; Cleveland, Ohio; No. 1354 nationally, No. 175 Wide Receiver, No. 54 in state of Ohio
• Three-star TE Wyatt Hook; Homestead High School; Cupertino, Calif.; No. 1357 nationally, No. 70 Tight End, No. 99 in state of California
• Three-star RB Brandon Tullis; Memorial High School; Frisco, Texas; No. 1554 nationally, No. 114 Running Back, No. 224 in state of Texas
• Three-star ATH Keshawn Williams; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 1623 nationally, No. 149 Athlete, No. 52 in state of Tennessee
• Three-star RB Makhi Frazier; McKinney High School; McKinney, Texas; No. 1640 nationally, No. 120 Running Back, No. 232 in state of Texas
• Three-star QB Ryland Jessee; Helix High School; La Mesa, Calif.; No. 1653 nationally, No. 90 Quarterback, No. 128 in state of California

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