The Spartans are still working hard to recruit the 2027 class.
College football never stops, which is why so many individuals fall in love with the sport. College sports, in general, have become a contentious subject when it comes to recruits’ loyalty, but no matter where you stand or how your squad handles things, recruiting is still one of the most important aspects of college athletics.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff know what it takes to establish a program, and they are working hard to develop Michigan State from the bottom up.
As the Spartans work toward what they expect will be a fantastic 2026 season, developing the squad for 2027 and beyond remains an important daily challenge.
Michigan State has offered 3-star wide receiver Maliek Brown over the weekend.
Brown, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound pass-catching star from Texas, attends Chapel Hill High School in Tyler, Texas.
Currently, 247Sports rates Brown as an 87 overall prospect, putting him among the upper end of the 3-star rankings. According to 247Sports, Brown is the No. 116 wide receiver in the 2027 class and the No. 118 overall prospect coming out of Texas.
The 247Sports composite score closely reflects that assessment, with a value of 0. 8700. That composite ranking places Brown No. 829 nationally in the 2027 class, No. 103 wide receiver in the country, and No. 109 overall in Texas.
Brown lauded the Spartans and the attention they have given him throughout the recruiting process in a chat with Corey Robinson of 247Sports’ Michigan State recruiting coverage.
“The offer from Michigan State University means a lot to me because they have constantly showered me and my family with love and support, making us feel at home,” Brown said.
Michigan State is the most recent program to make an offer to Brown, adding to an already impressive list. Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech, and a few others are on that list.
According to 247Sports, Brown is now classified as “warm” on Louisiana Tech, but the recruitment process is still in its early stages.
Michigan State wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins continues to be strongly involved in Brown’s recruiting, assisting in the groundwork for what may be a future in East Lansing.
Hawkins has long been recognized for assisting young football players in becoming men. Before joining Michigan State’s staff in 2020 as wide receivers coach, Hawkins worked as one of the finest high school coaches in the state of Michigan for more than two decades.
Brown’s athleticism goes well beyond the football field. While his pace is obvious every Friday night, he has also demonstrated outstanding burst and explosiveness in track and field events.
Brown ran 400-meter times of 48. 31 and 48. 41 to finish second in the Texas 4A Region II meet as a junior. According to MileSplit, he ran the 200 meters in 22. 27 and 22. 38 during the Spring 2026 season.
Furthermore, during the spring of 2025, Brown was a member of Chapel Hill’s Texas 4A regional qualifying 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams as a sophomore. As a rookie, he also competed on Chapel Hill’s regional-qualifying 4×400 relay squad.
Brown continued to demonstrate his all-around skill on the football field during the 2025 season. He finished his junior season with 43 receptions for 768 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 17. 9 yards per catch. Brown also had four rushing attempts for 34 yards, helped on return teams, and played little defense.
As a sophomore, Brown caught 21 passes for 400 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 19. 0 yards per catch.
The Spartans continue to put their hat in many recruiting circles as they try to define the future of the squad. Michigan State has formally entered the race for one of Texas’ emerging playmakers in the 2027 class, however there is still plenty of time remaining in Brown’s recruitment.
