Nightly Recruiting Briefing: Michigan State four-star RB target nearing decision
In tonight’s Michigan State Nightly Recruiting Briefing we will discuss the latest Michigan State recruiting buzz, including a potential commitment date. We will also discuss other recruiting news as fall camp kicks off.
Jason Brown announcing finalist and decision date
Michigan State has been recruiting four-star running back Jason Brown, of Seattle (Wash.) O’Dea High School for well over a year, as he approaches his final decision. Michigan State and Oregon are seen as the two main finalists, with hometown Washington not backing down. The Huskies are worth monitoring for Brown as he is very familiar with the Washington program, although it seems to be between the Ducks and the Spartans headed towards the finish line. Brown ranks a four-star, the No. 153 overall recruit. He is also ranked the No. 10 running back and the No. 2 recruit in Washington by the 2024 On3 Industry Rankings.
Brown took an unofficial visit to Oregon at the end of July. Michigan State was his first and only official visit, coming on June 23.
As of right now, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine gives Oregon the slight edge to land brown, with a 29.8% shot. Michigan State sits with the third best odds at 17.9%. Personally, I would give the Spartans the edge headed towards the decision date.
Brown tells SpartanMag.com the top list of finalists will come this upcoming week, with the decision date likely to be towards the end of the month. He will begin his senior season on September 1. Michigan State has made Brown a top priority, with Spartan coaches taking in a game live while in Seattle for the game against Washington in 2022.
Personal life:
Before he arrived at Seattle’s O’Dea High School, Jason Brown thought he was going to play cornerback. However, legendary O’Dea coach Monte Kohler put him at running back. It’s a decision that has forever shaped Brown’s life. “It was pretty simple, really,” Kohler told the Tacoma News Tribune. “With what we do at O’Dea, tailback is pretty important, and we knew he could be pretty special.” That year was the COVID-19 season, played during the spring in 2021. It helped Brown because he had six extra months to add 15 pounds of muscle as a freshman. Then a guy a year ahead of him broke his collarbone. “The rest is kind of history,” Kohler said. “We’re blessed to have him, that’s for sure. He’s a complete difference-maker.”
Brown was a MaxPreps Junior All-American in 2022 after rushing for 1,600-plus yards and 21 touchdowns. Brown has been winning since he was 7 years old. He competed at his first national-level track meet that summer. He made the Junior Olympics meet a year later and brought three medals home to Seattle — placing in the top five in the 100, 200 and 400 meters.
Jason’s take:
Michigan State could find themselves with quite the two-headed monster at running back in the 2024 class, with four-star Anthony Carrie of Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day already committed. Brown is more of a physical back, with a shorter and thicker stature. The Washington back does not lack speed, also making defenders miss in open field with a twitchy first step and strong footwork.
Carrie and Brown would be a great haul for running backs coach Effrem Reed. Reed told media after practice on August 7 that he would like to develop high school running backs, rather than rely on the transfer portal. Michigan State has found a lot of success in the portal, but will look to high school recruiting for stability. The four-star duo would fit well with 2023 signee and speedy back Jaelon Barbarin, who can be used in the slot as well.
More MSU recruiting news
Michigan State offers class of 2025 LB Cooper Catalano on visit
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