Flint Northern football and basketball standout Matt Trannon verbally committed to play for the Spartans in 2002 on Friday afternoon.
The 6-foot-7 wide receiver/forward will accept a scholarship from MSU football head coach Bobby Williams and in-turn give MSU mens basketball coach Tom Izzo a top 20 recruit with walk-on status.
The double-duty Trannon will face in college is a task he looks forward to.
Im signing for football in order to play both, he said.
Trannon, who narrowed his decision to MSU and Michigan, said the MSU environment was the clincher when picking the green and white.
It was just the atmosphere (at MSU), Trannon said. It was like I was at home. There was just love for me like I was really at home.
Flint Northern head football coach Gary Lee said he supports Trannons school choice and understands the struggles Trannon has ahead of him playing two sports at the Division I college level.
Hes the one thats going to have to go through all the ups and downs, and my phone will always be there, Lee said. But if this is where he really wanted to go, Im happy for him just like I am with all of my kids that went to school.
Coming out of Flint Northern, Trannon now faces the infamous Flintstone tag given to players coming out of the area. Being from Flint Northern could add more pressure because the original Flintstones Antonio Smith and Mateen Cleaves graduated as Vikings.
But Trannon said being from Flint doesnt cause stress but makes him proud to be part of such a healthy lineage of great stars.
Theres not any extra pressure (being a Flintstone), Trannon said. Its more exciting because Im keeping the tradition alive.