Michigan State football recruiting: Top 3 recruits Jonathan Smith could target from the class of 2025 ft. LaRue Zamorano
Jonathan Smith hasn't made many inroads in the recruiting game at Michigan State. Since arriving in East Lansing from Oregon State, Smith hasn't managed to get a commitment from a five-star recruit.
The best recruit the Spartans have in the 2024 class is four-star wide receiver Nick Marsh.
The 2025 recruiting effort hasn't even gotten a four-star recruit, with the top commitment being three-star quarterback Leo Hannan.
They also have a commitment from three-star linebacker Di'Mari Malone. It's difficult to blame Smith, given that he received a program rocked by the scandal of Mel Tucker's improprieties.
It's obvious that Jonathan Smith arrived in East Lansing to rebuild a program that in the 2010s was seen as a worthy challenger for the Big Ten. Let's now check what players Smith could pursue to put the Spartans on the path to challenge for the Big Ten.
Top three recruiting targets for Michigan State in 2025
#3 LaRue Zamorano - CB
Zamorano would be another three-star recruit for the Spartans. The California native doesn't rank high, even in his home state where he's the 50th ranked center back.
In the nation, he ranks 54th in his position. The Spartans face competition from the Kansas Jayhawks and the Washington Huskies. While he's not a top recruit, he's one of the best available for Michigan State at the moment.
It's understandable that a school rocked by the issues have had in the last years will have issues recruiting. Zamorano is nonetheless, a solid pick.
#2 Houston Kaahaaina-Torres - OL
Protecting your signal-caller is 101 in football, hence Smith's decision to chase this offensive lineman from the Aloha state.
Kaahaaina-Torres is the 27th-ranked offensive lineman in the nation and the second-ranked recruit in Hawaii. The latter fact is not saying much. Nebraska, Utah and Arizona State are all chasing him.
Like Zamorano, Kaahaaina is not one of the best out there but simply the best Michigan State could reach for at the moment.
#1 Iose Epenesa- DL
The Michigan State Spartans aren't considered a likely destination for the top defensive linemen in Illinois, but we rank him here because his successful recruitment would be a game-changer for Michigan State.
Epenesa is a five-star recruit, the third-ranked recruit in his state and the 15th in the nation. But they face opposition from Miami, Utah, Iowa, Missouri, and Penn State.