Michigan State July 28 visitor list: 2025 and 2026 targets

Michigan State will host the third annual SpartanDawg Con event over the weekend of July 28. The event consists of gathering a large contingent of former players and their families, along with the current team and high school recruits on campus. In the previous two years, 100s of former players made their way back to East Lansing. Spartan coaches also host recruits and their families, with previous years activities involving a scavenger hunt around campus, a barbeque, and other unique activities.

The Spartans will host nearly their entire 2024 commitment class over the weekend, along with a big target. The list could also continue to grow in the coming days. You can read a breakdown on that here.

With four more days until the event, stay tuned to the Underground Bunker message board as additions to the list continue to be added. SpartanMag.com will also have part two to this article, featuring a rundown on the underclassmen prospects in attendance.

Top in-state 2025 targets in attendance

Michigan State will host a group of top targets in the 2025 class, headlined by four-star Avery Gach, of Franklin (MI) Wylie E. Groves for the event. The 6-foot-5, 270-pounder is ranked the No. 2 recruit in Michigan by the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings. He is also ranked the No. 171 overall recruit, and the No. 9 interior offensive lineman. Gach also holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Notre Dame, and many more. The four-star also visited Michigan State earlier this spring, for a practice in April. He also took multiple gameday visits last fall, as both parents attended Michigan State themselves.

The Spartans will also welcome back in-state three-star safety Desmond Straughton, of Roseville (MI) for the event. Michigan State hosted Straughton in the spring as well as in January of 2023. He also visited East Lansing for a couple games last fall. Straughton holds offers from Wisconsin, Kentucky, Minnesota, and more. He ranks on the boarder of four-star territory, as the No. 372 overall recruit, the No. 29 safety, and the No. 5 recruit in Michigan by the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings.

The third in-state target, and seemingly a high priority for Michigan State, attending the event is Cashus Shivers of Detroit (MI) Cass Tech. The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back is not yet ranked by the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings but does hold a Spartan offer. Shivers visited Michigan State for practice in April. He also visited Purdue this spring. His other offers include Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, and others.

Top Ohio OL also making the trip

Michigan State offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic will also host four-star Carter Lowe, of Toledo (OH) Whitmer on July 28. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder is ranked the No. 194 overall recruit by the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings. He is also ranked the No. 7 recruit in Ohio, and the No. 15 offensive tackle in the country. Lowe holds offers from Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, and many more. He also visited Michigan State for a spring practice in April.

2025s looking to earn an offer

The Spartans will also host in-state linebacker Andre Thomas Jr, of Belleville (MI) for the event. Thomas is ranked the No. 450 overall prospect in the Class of 2025, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He’s also the No. 42 linebacker in the country and the No. 10 player in Michigan. His offers include Pittsburgh, Maryland, Toledo, and Central Michigan. Thomas visited Louisville and Michigan this spring.

Also in the linebacker department Cooper Catalano, of Germantown (WI), will make his way to campus in hopes of earning an offer. The 6-foot-2, 2-5-pounder holds offers from Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa State, and Minnesota. Catalano has kept in contact with Michigan State defensive quality control coach Chris Gordan, who extended the visit invite, for about a month.

2026 in-state targets also visiting

Michigan State extended an offer to class of 2026 offensive lineman Gregory Patrick, of Portage (MI) Northern on June 29. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound freshman offensive lineman camped with the Spartans on June 23, earning the offer. Patrick has a connection to Michigan State as his father, Joesph Patrick, played offensive line for the Spartans, signing in 1999. The rising sophomore lineman will return to Michigan State once again over the weekend. He also camped at Oklahoma earlier this month, earning a Sooner offer. His other offers include Minnesota and Central Michigan.

The Spartans will also host class of 2026 offensive line target Ben Nichols, of Davison (MI) for SpartanDawg Con. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder holds other offers from Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan. Kapilovic also offered Nichols after camp on June 14. He also camped with Notre Dame in early June. Nichols projects to one of the top lineman in the state in 2026.

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