Michigan State football spring practice visitor preview (April 13)
Michigan State will welcome an impressive haul of unofficial visitors tomorrow (April 13), as the Spartans take part in the 12th of 15 total spring practices. The Saturday practice will be the focal point of the recruiting visits. SpartanMag.com will break down the expected visitor for the day. You can find the full spring visitor list HERE.
2025:
Four-star OL Avery Gach, Birmingham (Mich.) Wylie E. Groves
Michigan State will welcome four-star in-state offensive lineman Avery Gach this weekend, his second visit to East Lansing under the new Spartans staff. Offensive line coach Jim Michalczik and head coach Jonathan Smith made up ground on the first visit in February, as Michigan State continues to chase Big Ten foes in Ohio State and Michigan. Wisconsin is also involved as the Spartans will look to secure an official visit as well.
Gach is the No. 247 overall recruit in the 2025 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He is also the No. 17 interior offensive lineman and No. 2 prospect from Michigan in his class. The four-star plans to have a final decision after this official visits this summer, and before his senior season begins.
RELATED: 2025 four-star OL Avery Gach to visit Michigan State this weekend
Four-star DB Tariq Hayer, Upper Marlboro (MD) St. John’s
Michigan State will host four-star defensive back Tariq Hayer, of Upper Marlboro (MD) St. John’s school over the weekend, as he announced his visit plans via social media. He holds offers from Penn State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Auburn, and others. Michigan State could potentially join the mix this weekend as he continues to set official visit plans.
Hayer (5-11, 185) is ranked a four-star, the No. 157 overall recruit in the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings. He is also ranked the No. 19 cornerback and the No. 3 recruit in Maryland. Hayer has official visits lined up with Cincinnati (May 30) and Rutgers (June 7) so far.
Three-star CB Jayden Shipps, Severn (MD) Archbishop Spalding
Michigan State will also welcome priority cornerback target Jayden Shipps for the practice. Shipps (6-1, 180) was offered by cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin back on Feb. 1 as he visited Archbishop Spalding. Martin made a strong impression on Shipps, as the Spartans will now look to secure an official visit from the cornerback with a strong weekend trip.
Shipps holds other offers from Tennessee, Wisconsin, NC State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Duke, and others. He is ranked a three-star, the No. 614 overall recruit in his class by the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings.
RELATED: Michigan State making 2025 three-star CB Jayden Shipps a priority
DB Alijah Jones, Baltimore (MD) Archbishop Spaulding
Demetrice Martin and Michigan State will also welcome Shipps high school teammate in Alijah Jones as he joins him for the trip. Jones (6-0, 185) was also offered by Martin during the position coach’s trip to the school.
He holds other offers from Pittsburgh, Indiana, Boston College, and others. Jones it not yet ranked by the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings.
OL Cam Clark, Dexter (Mich.) High School
Michigan State will also welcome in-state lineman Cam Clark for his second visit to East Lansing under the new Spartans staff. Offensive line coach Jim Michalczik visited Dexter to see Clark in January as well.
Clark (6-7, 290) holds offers from Wisconsin, Kansas, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Duke, Kentucky, and others. He is not yet ranked by the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings.
2026:
OL Ben Nichols, Davison (Mich.) High School
The Spartans and Jim Michalczik will also welcome a top 2026 offensive line target in Ben Nichols on April 13 for practice. Michigan State offered Nichols on Feb. 2, just a day before hosting him for the Feb. 3 junior day event. The Spartans are off to a strong start in his recruitment, but he holds other offers from Notre Dame, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Purdue, and others.
Nichols (6-6, 325) is ranked a four-star, the No. 209 overall recruit in the 2026 On3 Industry Rankings. He is also ranked the No. 19 interior offensive lineman and the No. 3 recruit in Michigan.
QB Anthony Coellner, Carmel (Ind.) High School
Michigan State will also welcome back 2026 quarterback Anthony Coellner, as he makes his second visit to East Lansing under Jonathan Smith and company.
Coellner (6-2, 195) has also visited West Virginia, USC, UCLA, Michigan, Indiana, and others this spring. He holds offers from Indiana, Cincinnati, Maryland, West Virginia, and others.
