Three-star Tennessee DB Keshawn Williams commits to Michigan State
Michigan State received a surprise commitment on Oct. 18, as Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Riverdale defensive back Keshawn Williams committed to the Spartans. Williams announced his commitment via social media. He is the tenth member of the 2024 Michigan State class.
Williams took an unofficial visit to Alabama last weekend. He has not yet visited East Lansing, deciding to pull the trigger on the Spartans before stepping foot on campus. His other offers included Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech, and Tennessee State.
The Spartans offered the 6-foot, 180-pounder on Oct. 6, as interim head coach Harlon Barnett stopped by the high school during the Michigan State by week. Williams is teammates, sharing the defensive backfield, with three-star Michigan State cornerback commit Jaylen Thompson.
“In the spring they stopped by,” Williams said. “I got to introduce myself to a few of their coaches. After practice today (October 6) he came by. (Barnett) watched a little more film and then gave me a call.
“He was telling me keep being a dawg stay on top of my grades and he loved my film,” Williams said of Barnett. “He was cool from the jump. As soon as he started talking, I knew who he was from last spring when he came and visited. He was just being real with me about everything.”
Williams called Barnett to tell him he was ready to commit to the Spartans on Oct. 17.
“He was excited,” Williams said. “His words were ‘lets do it’.
Barnett did not shy away from the elephant in the room, with Williams well aware of the head coaching vacancy at Michigan State. The 2024 defensive back is looking to schedule a visit to East Lansing for a game.
“I’ve already been looking into the program,” Williams said. “I definitely plan on visiting soon. We have been getting a lot of love from Michigan State and the fan base. I love that and (Harlon Barnett) made it clear to me not to worry about that situation. (He said) to keep balling. I know it is a great opportunity to have.”
Thompson has been committed to the Spartans since December 2022, the longest tenured Michigan State 2024 commitment.
“You know he’s fired up,” Williams said of Thompson. ”He is happy for me and I’m happy for him. We are just excited about the whole thing.”
On3 ranks Williams the No. 183 overall cornerback, and the No. 45 recruit in Tennessee.
The Riverdale duo are joined by defensive back commitment Justin Denson as the three defensive backs in the Spartans’ 2024 recruiting class. Denson will visit Florida over the weekend, as his pledge is currently in limbo.
Michigan State will host two unranked Ohio defensive backs over the weekend in Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edwards cornerback Cam Boone and Lancaster (Ohio) Bloom-Carroll safety Brodyn Bishop.
Read a full breakdown from his high school coach on what Michigan State is getting in Williams, along with that made him so under-recruited here.
