Clifton Ryan
Arthur Hill High: Saginaw
6-3, 255 pounds
Linebacker
Ryan continues the long lineage of great athletes coming from the Saginaw Valley Conference.
“Saginaw, Michigan. Of course, you guys know Saginaw has been very good to our football program and Cliff is a very powerful linebacker and we’re excited to have him,” Bobby Williams said.
During his senior season, Ryan recorded 87 tackles, including four sacks.
Saginaw Arthur Hill head football coach Jim Jones said MSU is not only getting a great football talent, but a valuable person.
“MSU is getting a great kid,” Jones said.
Jerramy Scott
William T. Dwyer High: Jupiter, Fla.
5-10, 185 pounds
Running back
The brother of ex-Spartan wide receiver Gari Scott, Scott brings quick foot speed to the running back position.
“Jeremy Scott is Gari Scott’s little brother,” Williams said. “We’re very excited to have Jeremy, he’s a running back, he’s a skilled athlete that can also play receiver or defensive back. We’re going to look at Jeremy as a running back and a return specialist.
“Gari was very instrumental in us getting involved with Jeremy. Of course, he used to come up when Gari was here, and we’re very excited about having him join us too.”
An all-stater his junior and senior seasons, Scott totalled 1,110 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final season. Scott has shown the ability to step out of the backfield with 26 catches for 211 yards and four touchdowns his senior season. On defense, Scott made 33 tackles while breaking up 14 passes and one interception. Scott holds William T. Dwyer High School records in rushing (2,967 yards), touchdowns (49) and interceptions (20).
Agim Shabaj
Farmington Hills-Harrison High: Farmington Hills
5-10, 185 pounds
Wide receiver
Shabaj is one of two players joining the Spartan family from Farmington Hills-Harrison next fall.
But MSU coaches weren’t certain if Shabaj would sign a letter this week after his allegiances started to aim toward Georgia. Obviously that was cleared up and Williams said the day MSU found out Shabaj was coming was exciting.
“Of course, you guys heard all the stories about Agim, but I tell you, when we got his letter, there were a lot of happy coaches in the Duffy Daugherty Building,” Williams said. “This guy is probably one of the most explosive players, not only here in the state of Michigan, but in the country. We’re very excited to have him and he is definitely a guy that we’re going to take a look at and see if he can help our football team this fall.”
In his senior season, Shabaj recorded 60 receptions for 1,411 yards and 18 touchdowns. In some sets Shabaj was placed in the backfield where he picked up 134 yards on 34 carries. Williams has called for speed and that’s exactly what Shabaj will add to the receiving unit with his 10.8 speed in the 100-meters.
Drew Stanton
Farmington Hills-Harrison High: Farmington Hills
6-3, 220 pounds
Quarterback
Stanton joins current teammate and main target Agim Shabaj on the Spartans’ roster next fall.
“Drew is also a teammate of Agim,” Bobby Williams said. “When you see his highlights, you see Agim making all these catches, but the quarterback throwing to him is Drew Stanton. Drew is an outstanding prospect.”
Tom Lemming rates Stanton the No. 18 quarterback in the country, but Stanton doesn’t only supply his talents on the gridiron. An outstanding baseball player, Williams said draft talks have come up in the same breath as the 6-foot-3 bomber.
“Drew is also an outstanding baseball prospect, he could possibly get drafted this spring. There is also a chance that Drew could be playing baseball for us here at Michigan State. We’re excited about having Drew join us.”
As of now, Stanton looks to redshirt and improve under sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker.
Matt Trannon
Flint Northern High: Flint
6-7, 215 pounds
Wide receiver
Trannon will add height to the Spartans’ wide receiving core.
He is an outstanding athlete who will add physical play as well as speed to a talented receiving corps.
Gary Lee, Trannon’s coach at Flint Northern, said Trannon has ability to make the tough catch.
“He caught a lot of tough catches for us,” Lee said. “He made the difficult catches look easy.”
As a senior, he had 32 receptions for 558 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had five interceptions.
Lee said having the speed of Rogers, combined with the Trannon’s strength in size could help MSU open up the offense.
“If they double team those guys, the tight end is going to have a field day,” Lee said.
Trannon also will play basketball for MSU next year. As a junior he averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds a game.
Bobby Williams said Trannon’s size and strength reminded him of another former Spartan receiver.
“Matt is very tall,” Williams said. “Reminds us a little bit like Plaxico Burress, and he’s currently playing basketball and is doing a tremendous job.”
Trannon is ranked the 37th best prospect in the Midwest by recruiting expert Tom Lemming.
