Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith and his coaching staff faced a delayed start to their recruiting efforts this season, with over a dozen players already entering the transfer portal.
Despite scheduling visits and extending scholarship offers, the team struggled to secure commitments until recently.
However, a significant breakthrough occurred on Tuesday when three-star defensive back Ed Woods announced his commitment to Michigan State, choosing them over football powerhouse Alabama.
This decision by Woods, who previously played for Arizona State, could signal a turning point for the Spartans’ recruitment efforts.
Woods brings valuable experience, having started for Arizona State over the past two seasons, albeit with some interruptions due to injuries. Despite these setbacks, he showcased his skills with impressive stats, including 28 total tackles, six passes defended, and a forced fumble in his first season.
In his most recent season, Woods recorded 33 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, and four defensed passes.
Here is what 247Sports had to say about the newest addition to the Michigan State Spartans’ defense.
“Woods was one of the top players in the NCAA Transfer Portal, as he was Arizona State’s best-returning defender and one of the top corners in the PAC-12 in 2023, per Pro Football Focus. He was the 4th-best uncommitted corner in the spring window prior to pulling the trigger in favor of Michigan State. The rising redshirt senior played in 32 games for the Sun Devils, with 12 of them being starts. He has logged 66 career tackles, five tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles.”
His addition bolsters Michigan State’s defensive backfield and provides Coach Smith with a seasoned player to anchor their recruitment strategy. Woods’ decision to choose Michigan State over a football powerhouse like Alabama could inspire other highly sought-after recruits to consider East Lansing.
Coach Smith now has an opportunity to leverage Woods’ commitment by empowering him as a recruiter both on the field and in the transfer portal. With Woods leading the charge, Michigan State’s recruiting prospects could see a significant boost.
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