Middendorf initially started his collegiate career at Colorado College, but after scoring seven goals his freshman year, he decided after six games into his sophomore season that it was best for him to join the United States Hockey League (USHL). For two years the Scottsdale, Arizona, native played for the Chicago Steel where he was phenomenal scoring 33 goals and stacking up 34 assists across 59 games while serving as the team’s captain in 2020-21. 

Middendorf is perhaps the most familiar to Cole as he played for Cole in the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2016-17 along with current Spartans Drew DeRidder and Jon Mor. 

“He is a good size, skates well," Cole said. "He is an interesting player, and I think that he can play in a real talented line and bring a little grit, and he can play in a real gritty line and bring some talent. ... He is putting up a lot of points this year, and I think that he had in his game, and he’s worked hard to continue to polish that."

Kelly, a San Diego native, announced his commitment to Michigan State in October of 2017 on Twitter. Since then, he played for Little Caesars AAA before heading to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. He scored just three goals in 2019-20, but he is in the midst of a breakout season with 12 goals and 13 assists in 27 games in 2020-21. 

“He has been on our radar for a while and is having a really good year," Cole said. "He plays with a lot of edge, a lot of energy, plays in a lot of different situations and special teams, good motor and a good IQ."

Davidson played for Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota for two years from 2015 to 2017 before playing for the Central Illinois Flying Aces and Fargo Force of the USHL. He also played one season at UMass Amherst last year recording eight goals and 17 assists in 29 games. 

“He is real excited about getting here," Cole said. "Young man that can make plays and can play up in the lineup and brings some energy and can carry the play at the pace that we want to."

Tucker, an Ontario, Canada native, came to the United States in 2018 where he has played for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL for three years. In 132 games, he has contributed 35 goals and 72 assists. 

“I really like Jesse’s game," Cole said. "He’s got a good edge to him. He makes a lot of plays out there, understands the game, and I think he is going to blossom into a real good center for us and quite a good player."

The lone defenseman in the class, Gucciardi, is currently in his second year in the USHL, where he has played for four different teams. In 2019-20 he played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Sioux City Musketeers, scoring three goals and tallying 10 assists. This year, he has played for the Youngstown Phantoms and the Waterloo Black Hawks, posting four goals and 12 assists in 22 games.

“David’s been committed to his first year, young man out of Toronto, skates real well, thinks the game as a real good offensive mind and is a very aggressive player,” Cole said.

With the recruiting window still open, it is possible we see the Spartans add another player or two to this recruiting class. This year is unlike any other though when it comes to recruiting with the NCAA-issued blanket waiver allowing the 2020-21 year not to count toward a year of eligibility. 

MSU currently has seven seniors and one graduate student on the roster for 2020-21, creating a perplexing situation for Cole and his staff to figure out for next year. Once the season is over, it will be interesting to see if any of those eight players decide to return to East Lansing for one last season.