Just because MSU football head coach John L. Smith and his assistant coaches weren't on the sidelines last Saturday during the No. 9 Spartans' bye week, it doesn't mean they kept idle.
With the recruitment season in full swing and letters of intent waiting to be signed next month, the Spartans used the bye week to recruit high school talent around the United States. After landing a handful of running back-sized speedsters earlier this season, MSU is hoping to use some of its nationally ranked, conference-leading clout to attract linemen and skill positions.
Jordan Steffy, a highly recruited quarterback from Leola, Penn., is on that list. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback with 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash, Steffy said one of the most alluring aspects about MSU is this season's success - and a 4-0 record to begin conference play.
"I think it definitely (influences where to commit)," Steffy said. "I think anybody that tells you it doesn't matter isn't telling you the truth."
But winning isn't everything, even in recruiting players.
"There are other factors that are attractive, too," Steffy said. "Their campus is extremely beautiful."
Steffy, who said he speaks with MSU offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier regularly, is ranked the 10th best dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com.
He added that he still plans on taking official visits to Clemson, Virginia Tech and Maryland.
Also on the recruitment radar are offensive linemen Ramon Foster (6-7, 279-pounds from Henning, Tenn.), Carl Howard (6-4, 295 pounds from Matawan, N.J.) and Aaron Klovas (6-6, 300 pounds from Graham, Wash.). Currently, MSU has only one oral commitment from a lineman - offensive or defensive - in Luis Fonseca from Wixom.
Klovas is rated the seventh best offensive tackle and the 84th best overall player in the United States, according to Rivals.com. He visited East Lansing in September for MSU's 20-10 win over No. 13 Iowa.
Klovas currently is being recruited by Arizona State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, UCLA, Washington and Washington State.
Three recruits, Foster, Howard and safety and wide receiver Devon Lyons from Pittsburgh, have official visits scheduled for this weekend's game against No. 11 Michigan. Lyons was a high school teammate of U-M wide receiver Steve Breaston.
Staff writer Jon Styf contributed to this report.
