Trieu: Michigan State remains top contender for Ohio DT Michael Hall as offer list grows
Streetsboro (Ohio) junior Michael Hall was a dominant performer during the summer camp season. Those performances moved the 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive tackle from zero to seven offers.
Michigan State is included in those seven. The Spartans offered Hall after he attended their lineman camp in June. Since that offer, Hall has kept in close contact with the staff.
“They got in touch with me on September 1st, the first day they were allowed to,” he said. “I keep in touch with them a lot after the offer, maybe every week or so.”
Kentucky, Cincinnati and Iowa State are among the other schools that have offered.
During the fall, Hall has continued the high level of play he flashed in the summer and as a sophomore when he made all-conference.
“He also starts on the offensive line at Streetsboro,” 247Sports analyst Bill Greene said, “but we feel his future is on the defensive side of the ball. He has quickness off the ball and the strength to take on offensive linemen at the point of attack.”
Chris Andersen of EerSports (West Virginia 247Sports site) saw Hall live at West Virginia’s summer camp and echoed the sentiments about his talent.
More: Trieu: Victory for UM? Wolverines in the mix for stud West Coast defensive tackle
“He was nearly unstoppable during one-on-ones,” Andersen said, “even holding his own against top offensive line recruits Landon Tengwall and Wyatt Milum (both national top-50 prospects).”
Ohio State, Penn State and other schools that have not offered yet are showing interest. It is safe to say Hall’s offer list is not likely to stay at seven for long.
Even as his list expands, Michigan State has been a constant and that is why they are viewed as a real contender in his recruitment.
“They produce great defensive linemen and they play great football, so I'm definitely high on Michigan State,” Hall said. “They have a great coaching staff and I like everything about the school, to be honest."
Hall is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 20 junior prospect in the state of Ohio.
Spartan target announces Monday
Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern senior running back Jordon Simmons will announce his college decision on Monday.
Simmons' 247Sports Crystal Ball has Michigan State in the lead with Georgia – where his older brother plays – behind them. West Virginia, Arkansas and Oklahoma State are among the other programs he has visited unofficially.
He took an official visit to East Lansing the weekend of Sept. 27.
The Spartans currently do not have a running back committed in their 2020 class, and with Connor Heyward and La’Darius Jefferson recently entering the transfer portal, a verbal from Simmons would fill a need.
Spartans extend preferred walk-on offer
West Columbia (S.C.) Palmetto Prep senior offensive lineman Nate Campbell was offered a preferred walk-on spot by Michigan State.
The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Campbell holds a preferred walk-on offer from Duke as well.
He holds a 4.6 grade-point average in the classroom.
More information
Allen Trieu covers Midwest football recruiting for 247Sports. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.