Courtney Hawkins and the Spartan staff bolster their wide receiver pursuit as the Cleveland standout eyes East Lansing, signaling a critical move to build long-term offensive depth.
Michigan State continues to stay active on the recruiting trail, and while they may not have secured a commitment today, they once again landed inside the top five for a talented prospect.
Not only are the Spartans securing commitments, but they’re consistently landing inside the top five for many high-level prospects. That matters. It keeps the Michigan State brand visible and relevant to the next generation of talent.
That trend continued again today, as Ohio standout wide receiver Trey Haddad included Michigan State in his top five schools. The announcement came via social media in the now-familiar “Where’s home?” format.
Michigan State originally offered Haddad last fall, and he followed that up with an unofficial visit to East Lansing in March—an early sign of mutual interest between the two sides.
Haddad currently plays at St. Ignatius in Cleveland, Ohio, a program known for producing high-level talent. As the 202 season approaches, Haddad and St. Ignatius are gearing up for what could be a big year, especially with a new head coach stepping in to lead the program.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 180 pounds, Haddad brings solid size to the position. Alongside Michigan State, his top five includes Kansas, West Virginia, Maryland, and Buffalo—an interesting mix of programs, but one that clearly shows the level of attention he’s drawing.
For Michigan State, this recruitment carries added importance.
The Spartans’ wide receiver room is currently on the lighter side, but the staff has been putting in serious work to address that need. That effort includes incoming freshman Samson Gash, among others, but there’s still a clear emphasis on building long-term depth and talent at the position.
The coaching staff understands that wide receiver remains both a vital and, at the moment, somewhat thin area of the roster. While Michigan State has already locked in seven players for its 2027 recruiting class, none of those commitments are receivers. That makes Haddad’s top-five inclusion even more significant.
Simply put, this is a step in the right direction for Pat Fitzgerald and his staff.
Even if Fitzgerald doesn’t plan to lean heavily on the passing game, modern football doesn’t allow for one-dimensional success. At some point, every team needs to throw the ball effectively to win at a high level.
Michigan State has already been working to secure the right quarterback for the future. But a quarterback is only as effective as the weapons around him—and that’s where playmaking receivers like Haddad come into play.
Enter wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, who has been leading the charge in this recruitment.
Hawkins brings an impressive background to the table. A nine-year NFL veteran, he split his professional career between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1992 to 2000. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, spending years as the head coach at Beecher High School in Michigan before joining Michigan State in 2020.
Since arriving in East Lansing, Hawkins has built a strong track record of developing and recruiting talent. His resume includes names like Jayden Reed, Keon Coleman, and Nick Marsh—playmakers who have made real impacts at the collegiate level.
Now, he’s looking to add another name to that list.
Haddad, currently rated as a three-star recruit, holds a long list of offers. However, he’s now narrowed that list down to five, leaving out programs like Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Texas A&M, and others.
The key takeaway? Michigan State made the cut.
And from here, the focus shifts to closing.
Fitzgerald and his staff have done an impressive job so far bringing in the right players and reshaping the roster. But as strong as the transfer portal has been for the Spartans, building a sustainable program requires success on the recruiting trail as well.
That’s exactly what they’re working toward.
Landing a player like Trey Haddad wouldn’t just fill a positional need—it would represent another building block for a program looking to reestablish itself as a force in the years ahead.
The work isn’t done yet, but Michigan State is firmly in the mix—and that’s exactly where they need to be.