Michigan State has joined the growing list of programs chasing Ben Coleman, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive lineman from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois.
Pat Fitzgerald and offensive line coach Nick Tabacca were the ones to extend the offer to Coleman, a prospect who lines up as a hybrid tight end and sixth blocker and brings a rare mix of size, movement and reliable hands to the field.
What jumps out first is the frame. Coleman looks enormous against his competition, and he plays that way too, using his size to overwhelm defenders.
But it is not just brute force. His quick feet let him get to targets faster than expected and work out into the flat to help on blocks for his runners.
He also brings some receiving ability to the table. In his hybrid role, Coleman has shown enough with the ball in his hands to stand out, drawing a comparison in the source to a mini version of Darnell Washington of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The recruiting industry is already high on him. Per 247Sports, Coleman is a four-star recruit and the No. 234 player nationally. His 90 rating puts him above three-star territory, and he also checks in as the No. 26 offensive lineman and the No. 12 prospect in Illinois.
The composite rankings are a little lower, but still firmly in four-star range. Coleman owns a 0.8933 composite score, which places him at No. 365 nationally, No. 36 among offensive linemen in the 2028 class and No. 15 among Illinois prospects.
For Michigan State, the offer fits the obvious blueprint: win in the trenches. Coleman is the kind of lineman who fits that approach, but the Spartans are hardly alone here. A lot of programs are after him.
For now, Michigan State has made its move, and Coleman’s recruitment will keep drawing attention as it unfolds.
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