MSU football coach Bobby Williams received his fourth verbal commitment and first from outside the state of Michigan for the 2001 season on Oct. 5.
Ben Steckler, a six-foot-four-inch, 205-pound wide receiver from Huntingburg, Ind., committed to play for the Spartans next season.
Steckler has snagged 40 passes for 790 yards and 10 touchdowns playing at wide receiver and tight end in his senior season at Southridge High School. He has also intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles while playing cornerback and defensive end.
He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and bench presses 295 pounds.
“He has good size and surprising speed for someone his size,” said Bill Kurelic, editor of Kurelicrecruiting.com. “I think he has the potential to grow into a tight end, but Michigan State recruited him as a wide receiver and I think that’s what he wants to play.”
Steckler chose the Spartans over Northwestern and Iowa.
“I liked the coaching staff and the players that I met. It just felt right,” Steckler said. “They need exactly what I have - size, speed and hands.”
Steckler said he has the tools to be a productive Big Ten receiver.
“I have good hands and run pretty precise routes,” Steckler said. “Michigan State said they like big, tall receivers.”
Steckler joins tight end Jason Randall of Muskegon, kicker David Rayner of Oxford and offensive lineman Chris Morris of Temperance in the Spartans’ recruiting class. Rivals.com ranks MSU’s class 54th nationally.
Despite a slow start to the recruiting season, Jeremy Crabtree, national director of rivals.com, said the Spartan class could still live up to last year’s standard.
“They are in on so many good players,” Crabtree said. “If they keep getting big name blue chippers coming in, it could turn out to be a very big class. Michigan State is on the right track.”
National signing day is in February. Last year, MSU landed one of the best recruiting classes in the country, highlighted by blue chips Jeff Smoker, Charles Rogers and Tyrell Dortch.
Steckler will make an official visit to MSU on Dec. 1.
