One of the top players in the Midwest for the class of 2017 is Cincinnati Colerain cornerback Amir Riep. The 6-foot, 180-pounder is four-star prospect and the No. 236 player in the nation for the class of 2017 by Rivals.com. When you consider he holds over 30 scholarship offers from the likes of Michigan State, Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Georgia, that rankings could be a bit low.
Michigan State defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett speaks Dec. 27, 2015, in Dallas.
Riep has narrowed his choices down to three schools — MSU, Ohio State And Alabama — but most believe that this will be a battle between the Big Ten’s two elite programs. Riep has indicated that he will make his college choice on Saturday.
The Spartans have been involved in Riep’s recruitment since early on in the process. His primary recruiter from MSU is defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett and they have developed a strong rapport over the past year. Barnett is a Cincinnati native and has a strong track record of helping players reach the NFL.
Beating the Buckeyes for an in-state player they have offered is never easy, but MSU has had some success going against Ohio State. Players like running back LJ Scott and more recently tight end Matt Dotson held scholarships from Ohio State. The fact that the Spartans have won on the field three of the last five times has helped their efforts.
WR transfer looking to visit MSU
Earlier this week, Texas wide receiver Ryan Newsome said on Twitter that he was looking for a new college destination. Newsome has indicated that MSU is one of the schools that he has had contact with and is looking to visit.
Coming out of high school, the 5-9, 175-pound Newsome had offers from coast to coast including Alabama, Notre Dame, USC, Oregon and a host of other programs. He was rated the No. 47 wide receiver in the nation out of Aledo, Texas, in 2015 and played as a true freshman for the Longhorns. But he wants to find an offense that fits his skill set better.
Keep in mind that the Spartans may not have room for Newsome. The recent additions of graduate transfers Kevin Williams and Gabe Sherrod have changed the scholarship numbers.
If somehow MSU has room and Newsome decides to become a Spartan, he would have to sit out a year and then would have three years of eligibility left. Newsome would likely play a role similar to that of Keyshawn Martin and RJ Shelton. He would return kicks and punts as well as play slot eceiver.
Matt Dorsey is a recruiting analyst for SpartanMag.com and Rivals.com.