Michigan State is making moves on the recruiting trail, and their latest target is a name that's starting to gain serious traction across the Midwest-Darrell Mattison, a 6-foot-2 defensive back out of Morgan Park High School in Chicago.
Mattison announced Tuesday that he’s picked up an offer from the Spartans, adding to a growing list of schools vying for his commitment. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald extended the offer, signaling that Michigan State sees real potential in the long, athletic defender.
While Mattison is currently unrated by 247Sports, that label feels like it’s on borrowed time. When nearly 20 programs-including Big Ten powerhouses like Michigan, Iowa, and Nebraska-are lining up to offer a player, it’s usually a sign that the rankings just haven’t caught up yet.
What stands out about Mattison isn’t just his size-though 6-foot-2 with room to grow at 160 pounds is a great starting point for a college defensive back-it’s the attention he’s generating without a rating next to his name. That kind of buzz doesn’t happen by accident. Coaches are seeing something on film or in person that’s making them act early.
Along with Michigan State, Mattison holds offers from a wide range of programs, including Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), and Toledo. It’s a mix of Power Five and Group of Five schools, which suggests versatility in how programs project him-some may see him as a rangy safety, others as a press corner with length.
For Michigan State, this offer is part of a broader strategy to bring in athletic, high-upside defenders who can thrive in the Big Ten’s increasingly pass-heavy environment. Mattison fits that mold.
He’s tall, lean, and likely still growing into his frame. With the right development, he could become a difference-maker in the secondary.
The Spartans are clearly trying to get in early before Mattison’s stock explodes. And based on the list of schools already involved, that explosion might be just around the corner.