Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE
Michigan State received good news from not one, but two recruits this afternoon as David Beedle and Gerald Owens both verbally committed to the Spartans. They are the 11th and 12th prospects to join the 2014 class and with their additions, the Spartans moved up eight spots to No. 25 in 247sports.com’s composite team rankings, fifth in the Big Ten.
Beedle is a defensive tackle who checks in at 6-foot-6, 285 pounds. Scout and Rivals list him as a generic three-star prospect and he is unranked by 247sports.com’s composite player ratings and seems to be more of a project at this point. Coach Mark Dantonio has made a living developing lower ranked prospects and Beedle certainly falls under that category as Michigan State is his only BCS level offer to date. He will likely receive a redshirt as a freshman and contribute on special teams before challenging for a larger role on the defensive line later in his career.
The recruiting services aren’t all in agreement on Owens as Scout has him as a three-star and 30th overall running back and 247sports is very high on him as they have him ranked as a four-star and eighth overall running back. Meanwhile Rivals and ESPN both have him listed as the second ranked fullback. One thing they do all agree on is Owens is big, very big. At 6-foot-1, 250 pounds he won’t wow you with speed and agility, but what he does bring is power, balance and size, characteristics that will fit well in the Spartans offensive system. Michigan State’s running back situation is in limbo and Owens could see the field early if he doesn’t outgrow the position.
Mitchell Weiss is a Big Ten Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mitchell_JWeiss, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
