Michigan State Showing Interest In Underrated Texas QB Prospect

Dec 28, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; A detailed view of a Michigan State Spartans helmet during the fourth quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Michigan State Spartans are known for getting the best out of unheralded players, and that trend might continue if they land three star 2019 quarterback Sam Saxton. MSU is by far the best team that’s recruiting him at the moment, with the main competition being Ivy League schools and lower ranked FBS schools such as Rutgers, Memphis, New Mexico, and Southern Miss.

What do the Spartans see in Saxton, then? Despite the lack of interest from other major FBS schools, Saxton is ranked as the 20th best pro style quarterback for the 2019 class, according to 247Sports. He fits the mold of one, too. His 6’5 frame is something that pro style college teams and, at the next level, NFL teams love.

“I think they’re very interested in me,” is what Saxton had to say about Michigan State. “They think I have all the ability and components that can make a great Michigan State quarterback.”

The team still hasn’t given him an offer, but they have kept up the interest that Saxton mentioned. He’ll visit MSU on July 31st, and 247Sports gives him a 100% chance of joining the Spartans. It’s not surprising, given the gap in quality between the Spartans and most of the other schools that have shown interest in Saxton so far.

But what has he actually done on the field? Well, he threw for a little over 2,000 yards and finished with 30 touchdowns last season, compared to only three interceptions. His numbers aren’t too far off from some of the better quarterbacks in his class, despite his lower ranking compared to them. Additionally, Saxton comes from a football family, with his grandfather and father playing for the University of Texas.

Texas, however, isn’t recruiting him and Michigan State may end up being the next best thing for Saxton. An interesting tidbit is that Saxton started his career at Westlake before transferring. Westlake is, notably, the high school team of former Spartans quarterback Nick Foles.

Will Saxton’s career turn out the same, if he joins MSU? There’s no guarantee. But if things do work out between Michigan State and Saxton, it wouldn’t be the first time a quarterback from his former school has found success with the green and white.