Michigan State underclassmen targets update recruitments, including Roseville DB Desmond Straughton
Following a busy month of recruiting for the 2024 class, Michigan State’s coaching staff has begun targeting some of the top underclassmen prospects in the country. The next crop of talent in the 2025 class and beyond is gaining more exposure at events like the Sound Mind Sound Body 7v7 Showcase at Wayne State University Wednesday evening, which hosted some of the best prospects in the state.
SpartanMag.com caught up with several Michigan State targets at the event.
2025 three-star S Desmond Straughton, Roseville
Straughton reaffirmed his plans to visit Michigan State for the third-annual Spartan Dawg Con on July 28.
“I’m excited to get up there and just build relationships with the coaches,” Straughton said. “I just recently found out that they bring former players back for it too, so I can’t wait to hear some of the stories and advice they have.”
Straughton is close with a familiar face in the Michigan State football building – sophomore wide receiver Tyrell Henry, who also went to Roseville.
“Tyrell, that’s my guy” Straughton said with a smile on his face. “That’s my brother for real. He was back here over the holiday and he texted me and we went out and did some one-on-one work and just had some fun and worked on our craft.”
Michigan State secondary coach Harlon Barnett has made sure that Straughton knows he’s wanted in East Lansing.
“Coach Barnett is a great coach and he always daps me up no matter where we’re at when we see each other,” Straughton said. “He treats me like family and that’s a big thing for me.”
Looking to the fall, Straughton plans on catching a game in East Lansing and a few other schools.
“I want to go on game day visits to Arizona State, Boston College, Duke, Kentucky, Minnesota, Purdue and, of course, Michigan State,” Straughton said.
Straughton is ranked the No. 369 player in the Class of 2025, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He’s also ranked the No. 25 safety and the No. 6 player in Michigan.
2026 WR Damion King IV, De La Salle
The 2026 prospects are starting to come into their own as well, and that’s no different with King. At 5-foot-7, 141 pounds, King is a small, speedy wide receiver, but the rising sophomore also showed his physicality at Wednesday’s 7-on-7.
King has offers from Illinois and Massachusetts so far. He talked about the mutual interest between him and Michigan State and his desire to receive an offer from the Spartans down the road. He was also impressed with Michigan State wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins’ experience as a smaller receiver and his ability to get players into the NFL.
2026 TE Lincoln Watkins, De La Salle
Watkins hasn’t heard from Michigan State yet, but that could change soon. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Watkins doesn’t have much varsity film because he began his freshman season on the junior varsity team before getting a call-up to varsity for De La Salle’s Division II state championship run. Watkins was a depth piece on the varsity team after his call-up.
He’s hoping that with some more film, more offers will start to roll in. He also said a goal of his is to get all of Michigan’s Division I programs to offer him. Central and Western Michigan already have, along with Arizona State and Kansas.
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