Tag: Antonio Gates Jr.

Numerous MSU recruiting targets reportedly will attend Saturday’s Spring Game

Saturday not only will be a big day for the players on the field, but for the future of the Michigan State football program.

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Saturday not only will be a big day for the players on the field, but for the future of the Michigan State football program.

Michigan State will hold its annual Spring Game on Saturday afternoon, and a number of top priority recruiting targets will reportedly be in attendance for the event. According to 247Sports, four-star prospects quarterback AJ Duffy, athlete Dillon Tatum, wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr., and athlete Jaden Mangham will be in attendance on Saturday.

Click in the tweet below to see the complete running list from 247Sports of the prospects expected to attend Saturday’s game.

It is still currently a recruiting dead period so that means the coaching staff won’t be able to meet with the recruits. But this is still a great opportunity for Michigan State to build some buzz around the program, and potentially play a role in landing a few of these top-tier prospects.

Michigan State’s Spring Game officially kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

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Michigan State football makes Top-8 for 4-star wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr.

Michigan State has made the final cut for the recruitment of 4-star wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr.

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Michigan State football has taken another important step in the recruitment of one of their top targets of the 2022 class. On Thursday, Antonio Gates Jr. dropped his Top-8, and he included the Spartans in that final group.

Gates is a 4-star wide receiver out of Fordson High School in Dearborn, Michigan. The son of an 8-time NFL pro bowler, Gates Jr. is the No. 4 ranked player in the state of Michigan by the 247Sports rankings and the No. 202 ranked player in the country. He is currently projected to head to MSU.

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Antonio Gates Jr. names list of top schools

The son of former NFL star Antonio Gates is inching closer to deciding where he will play college football.

The son of former NFL star Antonio Gates is inching closer to deciding where he will play college football.

Antonio Gates Jr., a four-star wide receiver and class of 2022 recruit according to 247Sports, released his list of top 12 schools Wednesday. The list consists of Boston College, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Washington State and West Virginia.

Gates Jr., who has been a varsity player since his freshman year at Fordson High School in Michigan, was Detroit News All-West selection with 30 receptions for 750 yards and ten touchdowns while working mostly against double and triple-team coverage as a junior. He also added three interceptions and three pass breakups on defense, but is being recruited to play wide receiver.

RELATED: Miami offers scholarships to sons of Edgerrin James, Jason Taylor and Rick Ross

“Bigger body for a wide receiver,” 247Sports’ Allen Trieu said in his scouting report of Gates Jr. “Thick and physically strong. Uses size and physicality to out-body defenders for 50-50 balls. Shows timing and ability to high-point the ball. Strong, natural hands and ability to catch the ball away from his body. Good route runner with fluid change of direction and understanding of how to create separation.

“Still can get straight line faster. Gets downfield, but will not blow by defensive backs and does not currently make tons of plays after the catch. Could also project to defense with his size and skill set, but mainly projects as a true outside receiver and one that can play at a high level in college and then on Sundays if he keeps polishing his game.”

Gates Jr. currently holds 17 offers in total. Michigan State is perceived to be the favorite in his recruitment, as the 247Sports Crystal Ball reads 100% in favor of the Spartans.

Michigan State Football makes top 12 list for 4-star WR Antonio Gates Jr

Antonio Gates Jr has cut his list down to 12 schools and the Spartans are in the group. Courtney Hawkins looks to land the 4-star prospect.

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Mel Tucker and Michigan State are going to be featured a lot in the 2022 recruiting cycle, as the new staff of ace recruiters is finding their footing on the recruiting trail. That sentiment strikes again, as the Spartans are featured on Antonio Gates Jr’s top 12 list.

Gates is rated as a 4-star prospect and a coveted wide receiver in the 2022 recruiting cycle. The Spartans are featured on the list with Boston College, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Washington State and West Virginia.

Gates is a native of Dearborn, Michigan, and plays at Fordson High School. He is the son of the longtime great NFL tight end Antonio Gates. Wide receiver’s coach Courtney Hawkins is leading the charge in this recruitment.

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WATCH: MSU 4-star WR target scores 68-yard game-winning TD on Friday

4-star wide receiver Michigan State target Antonio Gates Jr. scored a 68-yard touchdown on the eve of his commitment on Friday night.

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It’s shaping up to be one hell of a weekend for 4-star wide receiver and Michigan State target Antonio Gates Jr. — who scored a monster game-winning touchdown on Friday and is set to commit later today.

Gates — 247Sports’ No. 4 best recruit in Michigan for 2022 — is expected to announce his commitment on Saturday but before doing that he came up huge for Dearborn Fordson High School on Friday night by scoring a 68-yard game-winning touchdown. The reception helped seal a crazy back-and-forth 27-22 Tractors’ win over Livonia Churchill High.

Watch the impressive play below:

Gates — who is the son of former NFL Pro Bowler Antonio Gates — has been a top target for Mel Tucker and his staff since offering him in April, and if he does choose the Spartans on Saturday, he’ll be Tucker’s first commit in the 2022 class.

Gates is the No. 21 ranked wide receiver and No. 171 ranked player overall in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports. He currently also holds offers from a handful of power five programs, including Arkansas, Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa State, Kentucky and Ole Miss.

Check back with Spartans Wire throughout Saturday as we keep you posted on Gates’ commitment status.

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Michigan State Football recruiting target 4-star WR Antonio Gates Jr. committing Saturday

Michigan State Football recruiting target Antonio Gates Jr. will be announcing his commitment on Saturday, October 10th.

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Michigan State Football currently does not have any players committed for 2022, but that might change in a big way on Saturday. 2022 4-star wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr. is set to announce his commitment on Oct. 10th and the Spartans are currently projected to land the star wideout.

In case you were wondering, yes, this is the son of NFL Pro Bowler Antonio Gates.

Gates has been a major target for Mel Tucker and his team ever since they offered him all the way back in April. Gates, who is from Fordson High School in Dearborn, Michigan, is the No. 4 best recruit in Michigan for 2022 according to the 247Sports rankings and their No. 21 ranked wide receiver overall. Additionally, they have him ranked as their No. 171 ranked player overall in the class.

247Sports also has an 8 out of 10 confidence rating that Gates will end up with the Spartans, which is a pretty good sign for this weekend. Interestingly, they also have it listed that MSU defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton has been the main recruiter for Gates.

UPDATE: Gates told 247Sports on Friday night that he’ll be delaying his commitment indefinitely and will not be announcing on Saturday.

Read more on Gates’ decision to delay his commitment by clicking here

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Michigan State picks up prediction for four-star receiver Antonio Gates Jr.

Gates Jr. will announce his commitment on October 10.

The Antonio Gates Jr. to Michigan State scuttlebutt is picking up steam.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu has locked in a crystal ball prediction for the talented 2022 WR to commit to Michigan State. This comes less than a week after the first recruiting predictions for the Dearborn Fordson prospect went the way of MSU courtesy of two Rivals.com publishers. There are currently four predictions for Gates Jr. between the two sites and all four are for MSU.

Gates Jr. announced last Monday night that he would be making his college choice on October 10.

Michigan State has pursued the junior gates heavily, offering him a scholarship back in April. He is rated as a four-star prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings and is slotted in as the No. 218 player in the class of 2022 and the No. 3 player in a very strong crop of Michigan prospects.

Gates’ dad, NFL Hall-of-Famer Antonio Gates, originally went to Michigan State to play both basketball and football, but then-coach Nick Saban wouldn’t allow for him to play both sports resulting in Gates transferring to Eastern Michigan.

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Michigan State picks up two predictions for four-star 2022 receiver Antonio Gates Jr.

Gates Jr. announced he will make his college choice on October 10.

One of the top football talents in the state of Michigan could be going green soon.

Four-star 2022 receiver Antonio Gates Jr. (Yes, that Antonio Gates is his dad) has picked up two Futurecast predictions in favor of MSU courtesy of MSU publishers Justin Thind and Corey Robinson. Gates Jr. announced Monday night that he would be making his college choice on October 10.

Michigan State has pursued the junior gates heavily, offering him a scholarship back in April. The Dearborn Fordson product is rated as a four-star prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. He is the No. 218 player in the class of 2022 and the No. 3 player in a very strong crop of Michigan prospects.

The elder Gates originally went to Michigan State to play both basketball and football, but then-coach Nick Saban wouldn’t allow for him to play both sports resulting in Gates transferring to Eastern Michigan.

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MSU offers 4-star WR Antonio Gates Jr., son of Pro Bowler

Michigan State has offered a scholarship to Antonio Gates Jr. out of Fordson High School in Dearborn.

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Antonio Gates, the long-time San Diego (now Los Angeles) Charger, is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. His son, Antonio Gates Jr., is currently one of the top prospects in the state of Michigan for 2022. Gates Jr. announced on Friday that he has received a scholarship offer from Michigan State Football.

Gates Jr., a 4-star wide-out from Fordson High School in Dearborn, Michigan, is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the state for 2022 according to 247sports. He listed as the No. 21 wide receiver in his class and the No. 177 best prospect in the country for his class.

His father Antonio Sr. was named to the Pro Bowl eight times over the course of his career with the Chargers and was named First-Team All-Pro twice in addition to being named to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team.

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