- Michigan
STATE CHAMPS! SCOUT TEAM: Relationship with staff holdover helps sell Warren Mott DE Tyson Watson on new Michigan State staff
The staff that new Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker has put in place has already made its presence felt around the state of Michigan, grabbing a number of in-state commitments from the 2021 class over the last week or so.
It was a holdover from former coach Mark Dantonio’s staff that sold Warren Mott three-star defensive end Tyson Watson on joining the Spartans, though.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Watson — ranked as the 16th-best player in Michigan by the 247Sports composite and the 39th-best strong-side defensive end in the nation — made his commitment to Michigan State Friday afternoon, in a live shoot with rivals.com.
“I’m taking my talents to Michigan State Universty. Go Green,” Watson said. “I want to thank my family, everybody who supported me though this journey.”
It was his relationship with defensive line coach Ron Burton that convinced Watson.
“It was my relationship with coach Burton. I’ve been talking to him for a long time. He stayed through the staff change, and the new head coach change. That really helped me make my decision,” Watson explained. “I didn’t get offered until after the coaching change. For me, it was like I wasn’t sure I was going to be offered anyways, but when I saw that coach Burton was going to stay, I knew it was going to work out.”
Watson and Mott went 6-4, finishing second in the Macomb Area Conference’s White Division, making the postseason for the ninth straight year, but losing in the first round to eventual D1 semifinalist Sterling Heights Stevenson.
In the last two weeks, the Spartans have landed 2021 commits from Oak Park running back Davion Primm, East Lansing offensive tackle Ethan Boyd, Detroit Loyola defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and now Watson, to go along with Miami (Fla.) Gulliver Prep safety Gabe Nealy. All five players are rated as three-star prospects by 247Sports.
— MATTHEW B. MOWERY
