Despite never having an official visit, outside linebacker Ronald Stanley, from Saginaw High School, verbally committed last week to be a Spartan next fall.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound former teammate of Charles Rogers said the coaching staff, location and atmosphere at MSU made his choice easy.
“The coaching staff reminded me of my high school coaches,” he said. “They get the job done. They’re down to earth.”
Location was also a key for Stanley.
“State’s location was a primary factor. I wanted to stay close to home,” he said.
Stanley was also considering committing to Purdue, Indiana, Kentucky and Iowa. He will make his official visit to MSU in January.
Saginaw’s head football coach Donald Durrett said Stanley’s size and speed should lend him a successful college career.
“He’s got the body for it,” he said. “He’s capable of handling his own. And they need an outside backer and he fits the mold.”
Durrett described Stanley as a hardworking captain who led Saginaw to the state semifinals this year by rushing for 1,065 yards on 154 carries. But he will most likely stick to his defensive position at MSU, he said.
His junior year he led the team with 18 tackles at Saginaw’s victorious state championship game.
Stanley is waiting for his ACT test results to come back, but already has eligible grades, he said. Durrett said Stanley scored 16 on the ACT the first time he took it, and should have no problem getting the one extra point to be eligible.
“I’m not worried about it,” Stanley said.
Rogers lost his freshman year due to academic ineligibility.
Before he begins at MSU, Stanley said he hopes to work on his speed and build up his strength.
State’s current list of recruits is ranked No. 55 in the nation by some recruiting analysts including the Web site Rivals100.com.
Verbal commitments have also come from defensive end Kevin Vickerson of Detroit, wide receiver Ben Stickler from Huntingburg, Indiana; tight end Jason Randall of Muskegon, kicker Dave Rayner of Oxford, and offensive lineman Chris Morris of Temperance.
