Cass Tech defensive back Cashus Shivers enjoyed another visit to Michigan State

Michigan State welcomed alumni and recruits to East Lansing over the weekend of July 29, celebrating the annual Spartan Dawg Con event. This year, the event consisted of a jersey reveal on Friday evening, followed by a day full of events including a scavenger hunt, a barbecue and more on Saturday.

A host of 2025 recruits made their way to campus for the event, including a top 2025 in-state target in defensive back Cashus Shivers, of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech. Shivers was offered by Michigan State in April of 2023 during a spring visit. His other offers include Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas, Pittsburgh, Missouri, and more.

“Honestly, it was another reason for me to visit East Lansing like I always love to do,” Shivers said of his decision to attend Spartan Dawg Con. “This particular event was great. We started with a simple introduction with former Spartans, and we got a chance to meet some 2024 commits there. After that we went on to position meetings and got a chance to see first-hand how it is in the meeting room. The entire day was full of fun and laughter. There are no bad times in East Lansing, I think that’s why I love it so much.”

“The 2024 class looks great at MSU and actually getting to connect with those guys was great,” Shivers told SpartanMag.com. “I am already close to a few of them. The current players, I know like half the team personally, so there’s no question that I will fit right in. If I decide to go to MSU, I’ll be right at home.”

Outside of the current players and commitments, Shivers also got to pick the brains of several Michigan State alumni also attending the event.

“I got a chance to listen to their stories and compare them to my own and that was great to me,” Shivers said. “Not every school has alumni come back and pour into recruits the way they did at MSU. They gave us really great advice and didn’t pressure us to just come to MSU because they went there but they really showed how MSU was the home for them and why it would be home for us too.”

Shivers has grown extremely close with Michigan State secondary coach Harlon Barnett, sitting down with the position coach before leaving campus. The defensive back was joined by his parents, who are also growing their bonds with the Spartan coaching staff.

“I got a chance to talk to most of the defensive coaches but of course I spent the most time with Coach Barnett,” Shivers said. “I think (our relationship) grew even more the moment he met my dad. He met my mom first and now my dad so now it’s a real player and coach relationship. (Coach Barnett) can see my roots and what made me.”

“Other than that, we had lunch together and talked about football which is always good. In the position meeting we watched film, and he showed us what players he has coached. Our relationship is always going to grow just off the love we both have for the game. We get to know each other a little bit more each visit.”

The Spartans do have the seal of approval from above, with his parents both enjoying their time in East Lansing.

“My parents love MSU,” Shivers said. “We talk about it all the time and all three of us love the atmosphere around it. They enjoy themselves when we visit. We enjoy the meetings with the head man, so I’d say Michigan State has definitely got their attention heavy.”

Shivers was offered during a meeting with head coach Mel Tucker earlier this spring. The two sat down again after the event.

“The meetings with Coach Tuck are always great to me,” Shivers said. “Last time he met my mom, and we had a nice conversation. This time he met my dad and the conversation between us was great. We really got to connect. Coach gave me great advice about the recruiting process and how to handle it without letting it get to my head.”

“He went back over his (defensive back) background at different schools and what to expect at MSU. He asked me when I would be ready to make my decision. I told him there isn’t really a set date as of right now. I still want to take my visits and explore my options. He didn’t pressure it, he respected it and we had a great rest of our conversation. I walked out of his office with more knowledge, more confident in my recruiting process and where to call home.”

Jason’s Take:

Michigan State has done an excellent job early with Shivers, becoming of the first offers and continuing that relationship with campus visits. The Spartans will look to tap back into Cass Tech, as the Detroit powerhouse also produced Class of 2023 four-star Jalen Thompson, a freshman defensive lineman at Michigan State.

At 6-foot, 190-pounds, Shivers already holds a strong build with good speed and flexibility in the defensive backfield. He tells SpartanMag.com he is also hearing from Oregon and Michigan.

The Spartans will look to carry over the momentum in Detroit from the Class of 2024, where they also landed four-star wide receiver Nick Marsh of River Rouge (Mich.) High School.

Three-star safety Desmond Straughton, of Roseville (Mich.) High School, was also on campus for the event. Michigan State sits in a strong position with both Straughton and Shivers headed into their junior seasons.

SpartanMag.com will have more on Straughton and his visit shortly.

Cass Tech is also home to two of the top Class of 2026 recruits in not only the state, but also the country in athlete CJ Sadler and lineman Khalief Canty. Both prospects hold Michigan State offers, along with many others as they head into their sophomore seasons.

The post Cass Tech defensive back Cashus Shivers enjoyed another visit to Michigan State appeared first on On3.