Michigan State is making moves on the 2027 recruiting trail, and one of their latest targets is a name to keep an eye on: Drake Mikkelsen, a tight end out of Lennox High School in South Dakota. The Spartans extended an offer to the 6-foot-5, 205-pound junior after assistant head coach and special teams coordinator LeVar Woods made an in-person visit.
Woods, who knows the Midwest recruiting scene well from his long stint at Iowa, was back in familiar territory when he stopped by Lennox. And it’s clear why Mikkelsen caught his attention.
The junior is coming off a monster season that saw him rewrite the record books at his school - hauling in 70 catches for 1,111 yards and 17 touchdowns. All three numbers are single-season records at Lennox, and they earned him All-State recognition.
That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed. Mikkelsen’s blend of size, hands, and athleticism makes him a matchup nightmare at the high school level - and a high-upside prospect at the next. He’s already drawing attention from schools across the Power Four and FCS spectrum, and Michigan State’s offer is the latest sign that his recruitment is heating up.
For the Spartans, it’s a savvy move. Tight ends who can stretch the field and finish in the red zone are at a premium in today’s game, and Mikkelsen checks a lot of boxes.
He’s not just a big target - he’s a playmaker with the numbers to back it up. Michigan State is clearly looking to get ahead of the curve with this offer, and they’re doing it by trusting the eyes and instincts of a coach who knows the region inside and out.
Keep an eye on Mikkelsen as the 2027 class starts to take shape. His name is going to come up more and more - and Michigan State is hoping they got in early on a rising star.