Spartans are big Baer hunting in Ohio

Michigan State is making big strides toward a big recruiting target in Ohio.

Ryan Baer, a 5.6, three-star offensive line recruit from Eastlake (Ohio) North High School, had a virtual visit with the Spartan coaching staff on Saturday.

Baer, the No. 22-ranked player in Ohio for 2022, came away impressed.

“It was amazing,” he said. “It just told me everything about the program and Michigan State.”

The 300-pound Baer, who has been listed at 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7, has offers from Kentucky, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Virginia, Illinois, Duke, Indiana, West Virginia, Cincinnati and MAC schools.

Minnesota was the first to offer. Illinois is the latest.

What was amazing about his virtual visit to Michigan State?

“Just the atmosphere of it,” he said. “The coaches are all real people. Just to be able to see what they were about was amazing.”

Baer’s virtual visit with Michigan State lasted about an hour and began at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Baer’s parents joined him in watching the presentation.

“I learned about the student life,” he said. “I learned that the freshmen now stay in the same building as the rest of the team. And that they have a 16-to-1 student to faculty ratio.”

What did his parents think?

“They loved it,” he said. “My parents were really impressed with the academic side because that’s their main focus.”

He also spoke with Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker for the first time.

“He was amazing,” Baer said.

In what ways?

“The way he talks and thinks,” Baer said.

Baer has also had virtual visits with Virginia, Cincinnati and West Virginia.

Baer says he has more virtual visits planned with Virginia and West Virginia, “and definitely more with Michigan State, too.”

Unlike most subjects of virtual visits, Baer has been to the Michigan State campus. He attended the Michigan State vs Maryland football game in 2019 as a guest of the previous staff.

“It was later in the year and it was super cold so there weren’t many fans there,” he said, “but it was still electric.”

He said Michigan State, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio State were among the schools that called him last Monday on the first day coaches could contact 2022 recruits.

Michigan State made in-roads with Baer with the previous staff. Michigan State offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic picked it up from there.

“He likes that I’m aggressive and I play physical,” Baer said of Kapilovic. “He says I have great size and a great frame and I can move well with that size.”

No arguments from SpartanMag.com on that. If Baer isn’t 6-7, he’s scraping close to it.

Baer is a big, quick, physical force as a run blocker, whether he's base blocking inside, or getting mobile to the outside. He has lateral quickness and straight-line athleticism, and bends his knees well.

When pulling on counter plays, he’s quick with his takeoff, covers ground like an athlete and is agile when turning the corner to find his target.

On the toss sweep, he pops up quickly and runs well to cut off the play-side linebacker and get him hooked. He has the makings of being a good outside zone/reach blocker.

When down-blocking at the goal line in his film, his pad level is good and low, and he drives hard.

When getting out to the linebacker level, he bends his knees nicely and easily to strike little guys. He won't face little guys in college, but getting low when on the move and playing with knee bend is ideal for any level. He's got it.

He’s so sharp with his mechanics, I had to ask where he learned his fundamentals.

“Coach Michael Fellenstein,” Baer said. “We call him Coach Felly. He’s just an amazing guy.”

Baer checks boxes left and right, which makes it no surprise that the Buckeyes are sniffing around.

It would be good to see more pass blocking in Baer's highlight tape, but he shows quick feet and lateral movement with some of the hinge blocking he does during Eastlake's sprintout pass game. He shows good quick slides when getting into his hinge.

With his range, lateral quickness and mobility, he should be fine as a pass blocker eventually. He's playing basketball this year, which will help with lateral movement.

Baer said Kapilovic hasn’t yet discussed what position Michigan State projects him to be.

“That might come up in the next Zoom (meeting),” he said.

Baer says the schools he hears from the most are Michigan State, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Indiana and Minnesota.

Michigan State and Cincinnati are the two schools he has visited in person.

Baer was asked if he is planning to release a Top 10 in the near future.

“No, but I’ve been thinking of some in my head, but I haven’t officially released one,” he said.

Would Michigan State be in the top group?

“Yes,” he said.

Baer said he’s not in a hurry to make a decision.

“Playing it slow,” he said.