1/22/2017 football Edit

Ohio d-end de-commits from Boston College, selects MSU

Jim Comparoni • Spartans Illustrated

Publisher

Comparoni has covered Michigan State football and basketball since 1988, began work at SPARTAN Magazine in 1993, created SpartanMag.com in 1998, became owner/publisher in 2002.

Michigan State received its 19th commitment for the 2017 recruiting season on Sunday when DeAri Todd, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end from Lorain (Ohio) Clearview High gave a verbal to Michigan State.

Todd decommitted from Boston College in order to verbal to Michigan State. He had committed to BC on Dec. 13, but Michigan State jostled things for him when the Spartans offered a scholarship on Friday.

In announcing his commitment via Twitter at 12:40 p.m. on Sunday, Todd said: “After long discussions with family and friends, I have decided to recommit from Boston College. I would like to thank Boston College and their coaches for giving me the chance to come to their prestigious college … But with that being said I have decided to further my academic and football career at Michigan State University! #GoGreen #V4MSU #stayhumble.”

Todd also stated: “I would like to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play the game of football and giving me chances to go to places that I’ve never thought I’d explore. Thank you to my parents for raising me into the young man I am today and for always being there for me through everything. Thank you to the coaches and people of Clearview who have supported me through this stressful but enjoyable process. Lastly I would like to thank all the coaches who have believed in me and given me a chance to come to their school.”

Todd is an unranked two-star recruit in the Rivals.com database. He is ranked the No. 51 player in Ohio and No. 102 at defensive end by ESPN.

Todd is among six defensive ends Michigan State has had in for official visits since the beginning of December and the first to commit. Michigan State continues to pursue Koby Cumberlander, Robert Porcher, Victor Dimukeje and others.

Todd is a big-boned defensive end who projects as a strong side DE in the mold of Lawrence Thomas, but also has the power and strength to possess the ability to grow into an interior position.

When asked what he liked about the program in deciding to commit to Michigan State, Todd told SpartanMag.com:

"The people, the honesty of the coaches and the facilities were great too."

Todd announced his commitment straight to the head man, prior to Tweeting his intentions.

"I told Coach D I was coming to Michigan State," he said. "They (the coaches) were excited. They like how humble I am and how I fit in. They like me as DE or DT."