New leader for 4-star RB Jason Brown, according to On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine

Collin-headshotby:Collin Ginnan08/16/23

GinnanCollin

There is a new leader in the recruitment of Seattle (Wash.) O’Dea four-star running back Jason Brown, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Michigan State now has an 85.2% chance to land Brown’s commitment according to the RPM. The Spartans passed up Oregon, who now sits second with a 5.1% chance for Brown.

SpartanMag.com recruiting insider Jason Killop entered an expert prediction with a 70% confidence level that Brown will commit to Michigan State.

Brown is the nation’s No. 155 overall prospect and No. 10 running back in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 2 player in Washington.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $89,000. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Brown has built strong relationships at MSU

Brown spoke about Spartans running backs coach Effrem Reed to SpartanMag.com after his official visit to East Lansing.

“Coach Reed is a real dude,” Brown told SpartanMag.com after the official visit. “Ever since I met Coach Reed, we have been able to have those real honest, heart-to-heart conversations. He is just being a mentor to me, whenever I need help with anything, whenever I have questions about the game, he’s always been one of the first people I go to outside of my own coaches.

“(Reed) is one of the most consistent coaches in my recruitment. He has always been really on top of staying close with me and building a relationship. I feel like he values our relationship. A lot of people recruit but with him it is really relationship building with him. Every time we talk I learn something new. I feel like our relationship just grows stronger.”

Mel Tucker treats players like ‘family’

Brown also touched on his relationship with Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker.

“(During the official) visit, you know, I got to see more like the fun side of him,” Brown said. “The side of him that likes to go out and hang out with friends, take trips with people out of state, that side. A big thing is, sometimes in this sport people view you, the athlete, or maybe even you, the coach, as like a machine. You know, like there’s not really personality to you just running the ball.

“I feel like as an athlete, I’m more than that and I want to be around a coaching staff that believes in personal development, me becoming a better person. While also letting you know that it’s okay to have fun, it’s okay to laugh. This is a business, but at the end of the day, it’s a family. Coach Tucker welcomed us in like family, he treated all his players like family. Even the conversations with the laughs, you know, that is something that you don’t get to often with many head coaches.”