National Signing Day 2010: Grading Michigan State Football's Recruiting Class

With all of the hype that surrounds National Signing Day, it's only right to put the Michigan State Spartans under a microscope and carefully analyze their recruiting class.

When further analyzed, the program didn't fare as well as expected but still has an above average class to work with in 2010.

The Spartans were believed to have the 25th strongest class in the nation—things didn't turn out that way. Considering the recruiting-repelling Rather Hall incident, the program did well.

One bright spot is the signing of William Gholston out of Detroit Southeastern High School. Gholston, the 42nd-ranked ESPNU 150 recruit, will play his college football under coach Mark Dantonio at Michigan State.

That is a sigh of relief for the program, considering the loss of big-name defensive players and recent plague of negativity that has loomed over the program for the last eight weeks or so.

At 6'7", 250 pounds, Gholston has expressed interest in playing at the linebacker position. Accompanied by Greg Jones, Gholston would add to an already intimidating pass-rushing, quarterback-sacking corps. Gholston is the highest rated Spartan football recruit, earning a five-star rating from Rivals.com.

Grade: A-

In the 1990s there was a tough, hard-nosed linebacker that went by the name of Chuck Bullough. Bullough was an All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection in 1990 and 1991 at Michigan State.

Here's the third generation Bullough, Max (Chuck Bullough's nephew, Henry Bullough's grandson).

The 6'2", 225-pound inside linebacker out of St. Francis Catholic (Traverse City) will follow in his father's footsteps and don the green and white.

A versatile young man, Bullough can play both sides of the ball—either as a short yardage fullback or as linebacker (like his uncle).

Grade: B (versatility is a plus)

Skyler Schofner was another big prospect that Dantonio hoped to land.

The 6'6", 281-pound offensive tackle from Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, OH brings speed and size to the Spartan offensive line. Rated a four-star recruit by ESPNU 150, Schofner is capable of becoming one of the next great offensive linemen at Michigan State.

Schofner passed on Kentucky, Michigan, and South Carolina to play at Michigan State. He's earned a Scout's grade of 78, but there's always the "what if" factor.

Grade: B-

LeVeon Bell is a 6'2", 216-pound running back out of Ohio's Groveport High School that runs a 4.56-second 40-yard dash.

He's said to have a long, powerful stride and will be another threat in the Spartan backfield, which already boasts two of the Big Ten's top young running backs.

Size, speed, and work ethic are the attributes that Dantonio was looking for—he found them all in Bell.

Bell was rated as a 2.5-star recruit, but the sky is the limit as long as he's willing to work.

Grade: C+

Here is a complete list of recruits obtained from Mlive.com.

• LeVeon Bell, RB, 6'2", 216, Groveport, Ohio/Madison
• Joe Boisture, QB, 6'6", 200, Saline
• Max Bullough, LB, 6'3", 225, Traverse City/St. Francis
• Taylor Calero, DE, 6'3", 235, Southfield/Christian
• Darqueze Dennard, WR, 5'11", 165, Jeffersonville, Ga.
• Michael Dennis, OT, 6'7", 260, Carey, Ohio
• Kurtis Drummond, S, 6'3", 195, Hubbard, Ohio
• William Gholston, DE, 6'7", 250, Detroit/Southeastern
• Mylan Hicks, CB, 5'11", 179, Detroit/Renaissance
• Nick Hill, RB, 5'7", 185, Chelsea
• Travis Jackson, G, 6'4", 250, Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis
• Jeremy Langford, RB, 6'0", 185, Westland/John Glenn
• Isaiah Lewis, S, 5'11", 186, Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis
• Tony Lippett, WR, 6'3", 180, Detroit/Crockett Vocational
• Keith Mumphery, WR, 6'1", 197, Vienna, Ga./Dooly
• Niko Palazeti, FB, 6'0", 230, Redford/Catholic Central
• Marcus Rush, DE, 6'3", 235, Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller
• Mike Sadler, P, 6'0", 180, Forest Hills Northern
• Skyler Schofner, OT, 6'6", 281, Sunbury, Ohio/Big Walnut
• Anthony White, DT, 6'3", 300, Fort Scott, Kan./FSJC
• Justin Wilson, OLB, 6'0", 217, Davie, Fla./Western