On Wednesday morning, 3-Star Corona Del Sol outside linebacker Cassius Peat (6,4", 235 pounds) decided to take his talents to a surging Michigan State program that has played in two major bowl games the last two seasons, according to Sports360AZ.com.
The top linebacker recruit out of the state of Arizona originally had committed to UCLA back on Oct. 13, but decided to revisit his options once the 2014 high school football season had concluded. By revisiting his options, Peat's list back on Dec. 29 included Michigan State, UCLA, Arizona State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
In his senior season with the Aztecs, he recorded 45 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss and four sacks. He’ll look to bring physical strength and athleticism to a Michigan State defense that finished seventh in the nation for the 2014-15 season.
A stout Spartan defense has been ranked among the best in the country the last four years. This past season, Mark Dantonio’s squad held opponents to 294 yards per game, 97.5 rushing yards per game and 19.9 points per game.
Cassius, the son of former NFL football player Todd Peat, and younger brother of both Todd Jr., who transferred from Nebraska to Glendale Community College in 2012, and former Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat, was the ninth best recruit in the state, according to ESPN’s Recruiting Nation heading into Wednesday.
Peat is currently finishing his final season of high school basketball on a nationally ranked Corona Del Sol team that is looking to win a fourth consecutive Division I state championship.
With Peat making the decision to travel east to Michigan State, he won’t be the only highly touted recruit from the area headed to East Lansing. Quarterback Brian Lewerke (Pinnacle HS/Phoenix, AZ), who was ranked as the third-best prospect in Arizona, will become a Spartan as well.
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