BREAKING: Jonathan Smith lands first high school quarterback prospect at MSU

Michigan State landed its perceived starting quarterback in transfer Aidan Chiles last week, and now the Spartans have a younger guy to develop...

Author:
Matthew Lounsberry
Publish date:
Dec 17, 2023 9:10 PM EST

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Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State football is starting to get hot on the recruiting trail at an opportune time, as head coach Jonathan Smith and staff try to salvage the Spartans' 2024 class.

Last week, MSU landed its quarterback of the present when Oregon State transfer Aidan Chiles elected to follow his head coach and continue his career in East Lansing. On Sunday, Smith landed his first quarterback from the high school ranks at Michigan State when three-star Wheaton (Ill.) St. Francis QB Alessio Milivojevic announced his commitment to the Spartans.

"Going green," Milivojevic wrote in a social media post. "I am excited to announce that I am now committed to Michigan State University. I am incredibly thankful for the coaching staff, especially Coach Smith and Coach [Brian] Lindgren, for this amazing opportunity. I also want to thank my family, friends, and every coach who has helped me throughout the recruiting process as well as developing my career! #stayingaspartan"

Rebuilding quarterback depth has been high on the priority list Smith and offensive coordinator/QB coach Brian Lindgren, after all three scholarship signal-callers on MSU's 2023 roster entered the transfer portal and 2024 commit Henry Hasselbeck reopened his recruitment.

Smith and Lindgren turned their attention to Milivojevic, who had been committed to Ball State since June 8. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was on an official visit to Michigan State this weekend, decommitted from the Cardinals on Saturday, and flipped to the Spartans on Sunday. Milivojevic is considered the No. 1161 overall prospect, No. 67 quarterback and No. 25 player from the state of Illinois according to 247Sports' composite rankings. In addition to MSU and Ball State, he had offers from Ole Miss, Nebraska, Tulane, Marshall, Connecticut and Eastern Michigan, among others.

Over the past five days, Michigan State has now landed five verbal pledges from the 2024 class, as Smith and Co. attempt to salvage what they can of the current recruiting cycle ahead of National Signing Day this coming Wednesday. Milivojevic is the first of those five who had not been committed to Oregon State prior to Smith leaving for MSU. He joins three-star running backs Mahki Frazier and Brandon Tullis, three-star tight end Wyatt Hook and three-star athlete Andrew Brinson IV.

Prior to this string of pledges, the Spartans' 2024 class had shrunk to just seven commitments and the class ranked in the 100s nationally. With the addition of Milivojevic, MSU's class now ranks No. 65 in the country according to 247Sports' team rankings.

Michigan State Verbal Commitments, Class of 2024

Four-star WR Nick Marsh; River Rouge High School; River Rouge, Mich.; No. 122 nationally, No. 20 Wide Receiver, No. 3 in state of Michigan
Three-star CB Jaylen Thompson; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 539 nationally, No. 44 Cornerback, No. 11 in state of Tennessee
Three-star OT Mercer Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 709 nationally, No. 54 Offensive Tackle, No. 28 in state of Ohio
Three-star CB Justin Denson; La Salle Academy; Providence, R.I.; No. 741 nationally, No. 61 Cornerback, No. 20 in state of Pennsylvania
Three-star ATH Andrew Brinson IV; Gaither High School; Tampa, Fla.; No. 1015 nationally, No. 91 Athlete, No. 137 in state of Florida
Three-star LB Jadyn Walker; Portage Northern High School; Portage, Mich.; No. 1065 nationally, No. 94 Linebacker, No. 17 in state of Michigan
Three-star QB Alessio Milivojevic; St. Francis High School, Wheaton, Ill.; No. 1161 natonally, No. 67 Quarterback, No. 25 in state of Illinois
Three-star IOL Charlton Luniewski; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio; No. 1357 nationally, No. 105 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 54 in state of Ohio
Three-star TE Wyatt Hook; Homestead High School; Cupertino, Calif.; No. 1396 nationally, No. 72 Tight End, No. 102 in state of California
Three-star RB Brandon Tullis; Memorial High School, Frisco, Texas; No. 1489 nationally, No. 110 Running Back, No. 215 in state of Texas
Three-star ATH Keshawn Williams; Riverdale High School; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; No. 1554 nationally, No. 142 Athlete, No. 49 in state of Tennessee
Three-star RB Makhi Frazier; McKinney High School; McKinney, Texas; No. 1578 nationally, No. 117 Running Back, No. 223 in state of Texas