Michigan State Adds 3-Star 2017 Georgia ATH Connor Heyward
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Michigan State added a key piece to their 2017 recruiting class with a verbal commitment from Georgia athlete Connor Heyward on Thursday.
Michigan State picked up a true all-around athlete on offense with Heyward. The Suwanee area talent carried the pigskin 57 times for 261 yards with 10 touchdowns and pulled in 47 passes for 580 yards with six more scores. The 6-2, 215 pound, playmaker even dropped back in the pocket hitting 15-of-18 pass attempts for 226 yards with two touchdowns without an interception.
Heyward’s Peachtree squad went 6-6 in 2016 clawing their way into the second round of Georgia’s 7A playoffs until meeting up with Roswell.
The recruiting decision for Heyward appeared to be a tough one. With 16 reported offers on the table, Heyward had to decide between programs like Louisville, Iowa, Arizona State Pitt, Memphis, Maryland, South Florida, Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, Boston College, and Vanderbilt. The Spartans got into the mix on Heyward late offering him on Nov. 11. An official visit to East Lansing on Dec. 2 helped MSU land their target.
Heyward posted his decision on Twitter writing, “Looking forward to continuing my academic and football career at The Michigan State University #GoGreen #V4MSU.” The tweet was accompanied with a statement:
247Sports ranks MSU’s class No. 26 in the nation, No. 6 overall in the Big Ten. Rivals has the Spartans right around the same spot at No. 27 with three four-star recruits and 14 three-star prospects.
Michigan State 2017 Verbal Commitment List (17)
SS Dominique Long, 6-2, 189, Westerville South, Westerville, OH
CB Josiah Scott, 5-9.5, 155, Fairfield HS, Fairfield, OH
DE/TE Jack Camper, 6-6, 230, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
DE Jacub Panasiuk, 6-3, 266, Lake Park HS, Roselle, IL
DE Lashawn Paulino-Bell, 6-4, 235, St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL
DE Donovan Winter, 6-4, 235, Bishop Moore, Orlando, FL
OG Matt Carrick, 6-4, 275, Perry HS, Massillon, OH
OG Kevin Jarvis, 6-5, 330, Maine South HS, Park Ridge, IL
OG Jordan Reid, 6-3.5, 286, Cass Tech, Detroit, MI
OT Mustafa Khaleefah, 6-6, 282, Dearborn HS, Dearborn, MI
TE Matt Dotson, 6-5, 235, Moeller HS, Cincinnati, OH
RB Weston Bridges, 5-11, 190, Copley HS, Akron, OH
RB/LB Darien Clemons, 6-1, 214, Piqua HS, Piqua, OH
QB Rocky Lombardi, 6-4, 220, West Valley HS, Des Moines, IA
WR Hunter Rison, 5-11, 190, Skyline HS, Ann Arbor, MI
WR Cody White, 6-3, 190, Walled Lake Western HS, Walled Lake MI
WR/RB Connor Heyward, 6-2, 215, Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, GA
Photo credit: GwinnettPrepSports.com; No. 1 Connor Heyward in the open field.