Michigan State lands top 2026 prospect Nasir Rankin

After a turbulent offseason, Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith continues to execute his long-term plan to rebuild the Michigan State football program. While coach Smith has filled the majority of Michigan State’s 2025 recruiting class with respectable talent, he and his coaching staff have turned their attention to the 2026 recruiting class, which has the potential to be coach Smith’s best recruiting class yet.

Coach Smith and Michigan State are hosting their Spartan Dawg Con event this weekend in East Lansing. Spartan Dawg Con is an annual event that began in 2021. It allows former Michigan State players, 2024 commits, and recruiting targets in future recruiting classes to come together to strengthen the connection between the past, present, and future of the Michigan State football program.

Michigan State will host a number of talented recruits from future recruiting classes, including one of the top overall prospects in the 2026 recruiting class. Jason Killop of On3 Sports recently reported that Rankin, a four-star athlete from Chicago, Ill., will be attending this year’s event, giving Michigan State and Coach Smith a chance to make a positive impression on the talented player.

According to 247Sports, Rankin is listed as the fourth-best athlete and 46th-best prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. Rankin is also listed as Illinois’ top player in the 2026 recruiting class, making him arguably one of the top recruits Michigan State and Coach Smith have pursued to date.

As expected when recruiting such a highly regarded player, Michigan State will have a tough time. Rankin has already received scholarship offers from many Midwestern schools, including several Big Ten schools. Including Michigan State, nearly ten schools have offered Rankin a scholarship. Those schools are Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Central Michigan, Ball State, Toledo and Marshall.

Michigan State would be a huge asset to the rebuilding program if Rankin were to commit. It would likely entice other equally talented players in future recruiting classes to consider joining Michigan State. As Coach Smith continues to turn things around for the Michigan State football program, it will continue to attract talented players like Ranking to shorten the process. It will be crucial for Coach Smith and his coaching staff to make the most of the upcoming Spartan Dawg event.

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