MSU football adds pair of three-star recruits to 2024 recruiting class

Michigan State football added two three-star recruits — and another changed his mind — on the first day of the February signing period. 

Michigan State inked defensive tackle Mikeshun Beeler from Chicago and wide receiver Jaylan Brown from Texas, the program announced Wednesday evening. 

Beeler, at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, was listed as the No. 29 best overall prospect in Illinois for the Class of 2024 by 247Sports. As a senior at Simeon Career Academy, Beeler posted 45 tackles, including 18 for loss and nine sacks, and was named a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association 6A All-State first team.

More:Trieu: Why Chicago defensive lineman Mikeshun Beeler committed to Michigan State football

Meanwhile, Brown is a two-sport athlete who also played cornerback last season as a senior at Nacogdoches High School. Last season, he posted 55 catches for 908 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

On the same day Beeler and Brown signed, though, news broke that local three-star linebacker Jayden Walker flipped to Big Ten newcomer USC. 

Walker starred at Portage Northern High School, located about 80 miles southwest of Michigan State. The 6-foot-3 recruit had verbally committed to Michigan State in September but didn’t sign in December. 

As of Wednesday evening, Jonathan Smith’s first recruiting class at Michigan State stands at 20 scholarship players. Nine of the 18 who signed in December are already on campus as early enrollees. The Spartans also accepted 11 transfers to the program in January, including highly-touted quarterback Aidan Chiles, who played last season at Oregon State. 

It’s not a surprise that Michigan State didn’t make a mega splash on the first day of the second signing period. 

At a press conference last month, Smith said he didn’t anticipate adding a “huge amount of numbers” during the second signing period, though he did reiterate that his staff is “always looking for good players that can add to the roster, that fit us.” 

Brown and Beeler appear to have fit that bill.

Michigan State also welcomed a slew of preferred walk-ons, including kicker Martin Connington, who’s rated the No. 5 kicker of this year’s class by Kohl’s Professional Camps. Connington was previously committed to Oregon State, but later decided to follow Smith to Michigan State. 

The other walk-on players added include tight ends Charlie Baker and Easton Boggs, defensive linemen Mason Nickel, Ston Chaney and Chris Piwowarczyk, offensive lineman Kyler Brunan, running back Jaxon McCaig and linebacker Carter Enyard.

Michigan State football is scheduled to begin spring practice March 19.

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney