Detroit King’s Xavier Newsom among recruits planning to camp at Michigan State this week
East Lansing, Mich. – The next phase of Jonathan Smith’s first year as head coach will begin on Monday when the Spartans stage the first of four June camp dates when the Michigan State skills camp takes place at the MSU practice fields.
A pair of highly-ranked in-state players are expected to pass through campus at some point over the next two weeks, joining several dozen who will be evaluated by the Spartan football coaching staff while going through drills which are geared to also help players prepare for the upcoming high school season.
On May 30 at the Sound Mind Sound Body National College Showcase in Detroit, 2025 defensive end Xavier Newsom of Detroit King and 2027 tight end/athlete Anthony Cartwright of Detroit Country Day said they planned to camp at Michigan State this month.
Michigan State will play host to skill player camps on Monday and again the following Monday on June 17. The Spartans will stage big man camps for linemen on Tuesday of this week and again the following Tuesday, June 18.
Newsom (6-5, 220) is a high three-star recruit, listed No. 6 in Michigan in the On3 Industry Rankings and No. 425 nationally.
Cartwright (6-4, 198) is likely a future four-star recruit already attracting scholarship offers from Michigan State, Michigan, Kentucky, Pitt, Mississippi, Purdue and several others despite recently finishing his freshman year.
XAVIER NEWSOM GAINING INTEREST FROM MICHIGAN STATE
Xavier Newsome at the National College Showcase in Detroit (Photo by Jim Comparoni).
Newsom had early offers from Michigan, Penn State and Tennessee. Michigan State has remained in the evaluation stages with Newsom.
Newsom had some good moments at the National College Showcase in Detroit.
“I wanted to show the college coaches that I have speed, flexibility and that I can win one-on-ones,” Newsom said.
He heard from UCLA, Kansas and Michigan State while in Detroit.
“They know how I am when I play, so they were just telling me stuff I can work on – like stop running up the full (frame) of the man,” Newsom said.
Pass rush coach Chad Wilt watched Newsom closely in Detroit.
“He was telling me he wanted to get me up to camp,” Newsom said. “I told him yeah I would come up there. He just wanted to see me on campus and stuff. I have some interest in them.
“They were telling me how they like how I get off the ball and attack the quarterback.”
Newsom has an official visit set up with Kansas for June 21.
“I have something in the process with Penn State, Rutgers and Louisville,” he said.
As for the Jayhawks, Newsom said: “They like the way I move, how I have height and length. I feel like there is a connection because a lot of people from King have gone to Kansas and put an impact on Kansas.”
Newsom is listed at 6-5, but says he has grown to 6-6 since last fall. He spent the spring working on his speed, running the 200 meters for Detroit King’s track team, clocking a 22.8.
For football purposes, Newsom needs to show he can turn the corner as a pass rusher with all that height. That’s something he needs to continue to work on in camp settings, making his planned stop in East Lansing an important one.
ANTHONY CARTWRIGHT DRAWING A CROWD
Cartwright has been a priority recruit for Smith and his staff since the day they were hired. Michigan State running backs coach Keith Bhonapha, who is in his first year as one of the Spartans’ primary recruiters in Detroit, checked in with Cartwright’s school in late November.
“The first week they were hired, they came down to his basketball practice and talked to him a little bit, just to verify everything was all good and that kind of stuff,” said Tony Cartwright, Anthony’s father. “We heard from K.B. and the new staff immediately. We didn’t hear from for a little bit after that, because we knew they were working to get their stuff together. But now the last few weeks they are really moving strong. A lot of attention, a lot of conversations.
“We will probably go to camp up there. We don’t go to a lot of camps but we make sure we go to Michigan and Michigan State.”
Mr. Cartwright spent one year as a walk-on with the Michigan State basketball team in 1994.
“As a former Spartan, I kind of make sure we are going to get up there a little more,” said Mr. Cartwright.
The Cartwrights have visited Tennessee, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State and other schools.
Cartwright worked out at tight end at the Detroit camp, and picked up an offer from Kansas on that day – his 14th FBS offer.
“The coaches like his size,” said Mr. Cartwright. “He meets all those measurables. When they see that size, they’re impressed by how well he can move with his size, long limbs, and they like his effort on tape. On tape, he is doing everything: d-end, outside linebacker, tight end, he was even our kicker for a couple of games.
“His GPA is great, honors society, goes to a good school.”
Cartwright and Newsom are expected to be among more than 150 prospects and hopefuls who will participate at Michigan State’s camp over the next two weeks. The number who receive Michigan State scholarships might be limited to single digits. Scholarship offers are coveted and in short supply, especially in this era in which many programs are reserving scholarship space for the transfer portal during the winter months. But Smith says he is dedicated to putting as many eyeballs on local talent as possible.
“I’m excited about the opportunity this month to get around more players,” Smith said. “Hopefully we get a lot of in-state, local talent. We said it from the beginning we wanted to build this roster from inside-out and I’ve been impressed about the amount of talent within driving distance of our place.”
The post Detroit King’s Xavier Newsom among recruits planning to camp at Michigan State this week appeared first on On3.
