.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Michigan State continuing to dominate Illinois recruiting
Tim Beckman is probably not going to send Mark Dantonio a Christmas card this winter.
Dantonio, the head coach at Michigan State, reeled in his 17th verbal commitment for 2016 on Monday afternoon in the form of Naquan Jones, a Scout.com four-star defensive tackle from Evanston Township High School in Illinois.
I'd like to thank God, my family, my friends, and my Evanston coaches! I'm a Spartan Dawg ✅?? #GoGreen #SpartanNation pic.twitter.com/Pls7SkrvOi
— Almighty Nay (@thealmightynay) June 8, 2015
Jones is the fifth player from the state of Illinois to commit to Michigan State this year, joining Hinsdale center Matt Allen, Palatine William Fremd High School safety Kenney Lyke, Hinsdale South defensive end Josh King and Roselle Lake Park defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk.
King is the top-ranked prospect in the state while Jones is No. 3.
In contrast, Fighting Illini head coach Beckman has only four verbal commitments total, including three in-state prospects. One of them is Kentrail Moran, a four-star running back. The other eight four-star prospects in Illinois have all already verballed elsewhere, with Notre Dame, Minnesota, Ohio State and Michigan nabbing one apiece.
With the commitment of Jones, Michigan State is up to eight four-stars for 2016. The Spartans had 10 last year after never signing more than four in any of Dantonio's first eight signing days in East Lansing.
The commitment also moved Michigan State's 2016 recruiting class up to third nationally in the country according to Scout, trailing only No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Miami (Fla.).
Last year MSU ranked 18th in the country when all was said and done, and that was the best of the Dantonio era.
