Michigan State pulls 4-star DE Josh King out of Illinois
On Friday Michigan State landed their 14th verbal commitment to their 2016 recruiting class when defensive end Josh King committed to the Spartans. Depending on the recruiting service, King represents MSU’s highest ranked commitment thus far, a borderline 5-star recruit.
King, 6’6”, 250 pounds, is a beast strong-side defensive end for Hinsdale South in Darien, Illinois. Upon completion of a breakout junior year, King had 70 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, and five sacks.
Michigan State received the good news from King at a press conference held at Hinsdale South. When asked about why he picked MSU King replied, “The coaching staff is phenomenal to me. It feels like a family there, people you can connect to. I visited Michigan State many times and each time it gets better and better. I loved it. It felt like home.”
The U.S. Army All-American invitee has offers from every other Big Ten school in the conference, 15 in total. Offers include programs like Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana along with top programs around the nation like Oregon, USC, Tennessee, and Missouri. On May 8 King announced his Top 5 listing out Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, USC, and Penn State.
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio has now landed three prized recruits out of Illinois; OC Matt Allen, S Kenney Lyke, and King.
Michigan State’s 2016 Verbal Commitment List
WR Cameron Chambers, 6’2”, 201 lbs, Timber Creek HS, Sicklerville, New Jersey
WR Justin Layne, 6’2”, 180 lbs, Benedictine HS, Cleveland, Ohio
WR Jonah Morris, 6’4”, 190 lbs, Hoban HS, Akron, Ohio
WR/S Demetric Vance, 6’3”, 196 lbs, Cass Tech, Detroit, Michigan
OC Matt Allen, 6’3”, 272 lbs, Hinsdale Central HS, Hinsdale, Illinois
OT Gavin Cupp, 6’5”, 270 lbs, Leipsic HS, Leipsic, Ohio
OT Thiyo Lukusa, 6’5”, 300 lbs, Traverse City West, Traverse City, Michigan
TE Noah Davis, 6’5”, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati, Ohio
QB Messiah deWeaver, 6’3”, 200 lbs, Wayne HS, Huber Heights, Ohio
RB Abdul Adams, 6’0”, 200 lbs, H.D. Woodson HS, Washington D.C.
CB Austin Andrews, 6’0”, 178 lbs, DeSales HS, Columbus, Ohio
SS Kenney Lyke, 6’2”, 182 lbs, Fremd HS, Palatine, Illinois
LB Joe Bachie, 6’2”, 215 lbs, Berea HS, Berea, Ohio
LB Jonah Morris, 6’4”, 196 lbs, Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio
DE Josh King, 6’6”, 250 lbs, Hinsdale South, Darien, Illinois
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: highschoolcubenews.com; No. 12 Josh King.