This is a terrific, terrific commitment for Michigan State. I rarely use those type of adjectives when Michigan State receives a verbal commitment. But that's the case today, after Elijah Collins committed to Michigan State during a pep rally at Detroit Jesuit High School, at 2:40 p.m.

At 6-foot-1, 190, with terrific speed, and cutting ability, vision and elusiveness, Collins fills a pressing need at the running back position. Plus he is an athletic, contact player on defense, giving him the versatility to play safety or linebacker at the next level, if the path heads in that direction when he is a Spartan. Right now, there is no talk of him playing on defense; I'm just mentioning it to point out his value as an overall prospect. His ability to play defense, for example, is something Madre London doesn't have, something that would have made London a tad more valuable as an overall prospect when he entered Michigan State, something that MSU could have used this year or last year at safety.

Collins committed to Michigan State over firm offers from Iowa, Pitt, Purdue and Wisconsin. He is ranked No. 25 in Michigan but I've stated for several months that he is firmly on our Top 10 Watch List for the Top 25 on the 25th ranking. He's simply the top running back prospect in the state, with no apparent defects in terms of size, speed, football ability. I would list him ahead of Rivals.com's No. 5 Tyrone Sampson