Michigan State just landed one of the top players in the state.
Jalen Thompson, a 2023 four-star defensive lineman from Detroit Cass Tech High School, announced his commitment to the Spartans on Monday during a live broadcast on YouTube. His other finalists were Ohio State, Cincinnati, Penn State and Pittsburgh.
At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Thompson is listed as the No. 3 player in Michigan, No. 30 defensive lineman and No. 197 prospect overall in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He has more than 30 offers, including Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Thompson had 42 tackles, including 14 for a loss, and 10 sacks last season.
Michigan State coach Mel Tucker last year hired Thompson’s former Cass Tech head coach, Thomas Wilcher, as the program’s director of community and high school relations.
Michigan State now has 14 players committed to its 2023 recruiting class and 11 are four-star prospects. Thompson is one of three defensive linemen in the group, along with four-star Bai Jobe from Oklahoma and four-star Andrew Depaepe from Iowa.
Thompson is the fourth in-state player to commit to the Spartans’ 2023 class, joining four-star offensive lineman Cole Dellinger, four-star tight end Brennan Parachek and three-star offensive lineman Johnathan Slack.
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