Spartans battle for top Ohio offensive tackle Patrick O’Brien, aiming to bolster their trenches with Fitzgerald's physical football vision.
Recruiting players is a never-ending process. Similar to the old song that never ends, recruiting is a 24/7 game—and Pat Fitzgerald and his staff understand that to the core.
The Spartans have done one heck of a job on the recruiting trail through some trying times this offseason. While the job is never complete, they continue to grind the midnight oil in an effort to land some of the top players set to join the collegiate level in 2027.
Landing inside a top six doesn’t mean anything close to securing a commitment, but it absolutely means you’re in the conversation and viewed as a potential landing spot. That’s the case for Ohio mauler Patrick O’Brien.
O’Brien stands 6-foot-6 and carries a solid 275-pound frame, playing for Archbishop Moeller out of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Per 247Sports, O’Brien ranks No. 812 nationally in the 2027 class with a 0.812 composite score. That mark places him as the 73rd-ranked offensive tackle in the class and the 30th-ranked player coming out of Ohio.
The 247Sports individual rating has O’Brien slightly higher, ranking him as the 67th offensive tackle in the class and the 31st-ranked player in the state of Ohio.
Michigan State offensive line coach Nick Tabacca is leading the charge in recruiting O’Brien. Tabacca, who took some time away from football, is now back in the sport he loves with Michigan State, serving as part of the newly formed wrecking ball that is Fitzgerald’s coaching staff.
Tabacca has already secured one offensive line commitment so far and continues to stay active on the trail. The Spartans appear to be turning back the clock when it comes to their offensive identity heading into this season and the foreseeable future. The mentality is clear—they want to win in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
That means stocking up along the offensive and defensive lines, focusing less on a high-flying aerial attack and more on physically wearing opponents down. Think shifty, north-and-south runners paired with a stifling, bone-crushing defense and strong special teams play.
That old-school style of football can still win a lot of games at the college level. So don’t walk away from this thinking the Spartans are setting themselves up for failure. Despite the high-powered offenses that ESPN loves to highlight, traditional, physical football still finds ways to win—often.
Of course, winning that way requires a constant influx of talent in the trenches, including quality depth. That’s where recruiting becomes critical, and Tabacca alongside Fitzgerald are exactly the kind of leaders you want steering that ship.
Along with Michigan State, O’Brien listed five other programs in his top six, including three additional Big Ten teams. Fitzgerald’s former program, Northwestern, joins the list, while Purdue and UCLA round out the conference representation. The two non-Big Ten programs included are North Carolina and Arkansas.
According to 247Sports, Purdue and Northwestern are currently listed as “warm,” while the remaining programs—including Michigan State—are considered “cool.” O’Brien has already visited Northwestern in March and is scheduled to visit Purdue in June.
O’Brien also made it clear that he remains open to other programs outside of his current top six. However, for now, Michigan State finds itself firmly in the mix, battling alongside five other schools for one of the top offensive tackles in the 2027 class.