Ryan Hayes of Traverse City West.
Michigan State is looking for a stalwart offensive tackle for the football recruiting class of 2018, and Ryan Hayes of Traverse City West has emerged as one of the best players in the state.
The Spartans offered a scholarship to the the 6-foot-7, 255-pounder on Monday.
“It feels great to get an offer from them, very honored,” Hayes said. “I really like the coaches there. The schools that are interested are Central Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue, Notre Dame and Western Michigan.”
Central Michigan offered him earlier this fall, and Hayes has family ties to both the Chippewas and Spartans.
“My mom and dad went to Central Michigan. My mom played basketball, and my dad played football there,” Hayes said. “My grandpa went to Michigan State awhile back.”
Hayes is a three-sport athlete for West, also playing on the basketball and baseball teams. It is that all-around athletic ability that has Michigan State so interested. Hayes showed his ability at an MSU camp this summer. His performance there, coupled with his progression this fall, prompted the scholarship offer.
Hayes has been to East Lansing several times and is starting to develop a rapport with the staff. You can be sure the coaches will try to have him and his family back on campus for a junior day function this winter.
Oklahoma LB gets Spartan scholarship
Michigan State extended a scholarship to Kyrei Fisher of Tulsa (Okla.) Union last week. The 6-foot-2, 227-pound linebacker is verbally committed to Minnesota, but a host of other teams are taking an interest because of his a strong senior season. Rivals.com analyst Bryan Munson caught up with the three-star prospect and got the latest details on his recruitment.
“I got the offer (from MSU) right before Thanksgiving,” Fisher said. “Right now, I’m just focused on finishing my football season strong with a state championship, and if it makes sense to take a visit (to Michigan State), I’ll take it. There are other schools that could be close to offering: Arizona State, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Syracuse.”
Oklahoma is not an area that Michigan State historically has recruited. However, with the team not going to a bowl game for the first time in nine seasons, the staff is leaving no stone unturned to find players.
Full list: Michigan State recruits (with highlights)
Matt Dorsey is a recruiting analyst for spartanmag.com and rivals.com.