Michigan State Recruiting: 5 Recruits to Watch in 2012

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Michigan State's football program made huge strides last year winning 11 games, including a win in the Outback Bowl against a tough Georgia team.

Mark Dantonio and the rest of the staff hope to keep the momentum rolling in the right direction with the recruiting class of 2012.

Despite not garnering a whole lot of attention, Michigan State managed to land a decent mix of players that will continue to build on the foundation left by Kirk Cousins, BJ Cunningham, Keyshawn Martin, and other key contributors gone from last year's team.

DeAnthony Arnett

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Michigan State’s most game-ready recruit might be a receiver who was catching passes at Tennessee just a season ago.

DeAnthony Arnett, who is transferring to East Lansing because of his father’s health, was one of the top receiver’s in the class of 2011. 

With a season of SEC experience under his belt, Arnett is used to the physicality of the college game and will help plug the enormous hole left by B.J. Cunningham, Keyshawn Martin, and Keith Nichol immediately.

Monty Madaris

Via cincinnati.com

Another receiver who will help ease the departure of the Cunningham-Martin-Nichol trio is Monty Mardis.

Expect immediate playing time for the receiver, who caught 56 passes for over 1,100 yards as a senior.

His 16 touchdown catches might make him a red zone threat for the Spartans’ offense as well.

Macgarrett Kings Jr.

This 5’11’’ burner out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida is looking to prove a thing or two. 

Although he is the third-rated receiver in the Spartans’ 2012 signing class, Kings Jr. has one edge on everyone else: electrifying speed.

Look for Kings Jr. to find the field as a freshman and establish himself as the team’s legitimate big play threat.

Nick Tompkins

The Spartans’ top running back recruit Nick Tompkins is a state champion out of Georgia.

The 5’9’’ 190 lb. tailback utilizes his blazing speed to evade defenders. 

Watch for Tompkins to fill the holes left by LeVeon Bell after his departure and contribute along side him in the meantime.

Tyler O’Connor

Via spartannation.com

The quarterback out of Lima, Ohio looks and supposedly plays a lot like a Spartans quarterback who just graduated.

Standing at 6’2’’ and weighing north of 200 lbs, O’Connor is praised for his toughness and leadership.

There’s nothing flashy about him—much like Cousins—except that he gets the job done.  

Hopefully in O'Connor the Spartans have found their quarterback for the future.