Latest news with #CourtneyHawkins
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan State football WR commit gets 4-star bump from 247Sports
Michigan State football WR coach Courtney Hawkins won a massive recruiting battle when the Spartans beat out Alabama, West Virginia and others for the commitment of Novi (MI) Catholic Central wide receiver Samson Gash. Gash, a highly rated 3-star recruit at the time, was torn between the Spartans and Crimson Tide, but in the end, the Spartans coaching staff was able to win out in the recruitment. Now, the Spartans win looks even more massive. On Wednesday, a slight update to 247Sports rankings benefited the Shamrocks wide receiver, who was bumped to 4-star status with a 90-grade and the No. 4 spot in the state of Michigan's rankings. Gash is the first 4-star via 247Sports' rankings, although the Spartans do hold several 4-star prospects on the 247Sports composite rankings and Rivals' rankings. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan State Football Lands Its Second Wide Receiver Tyren Wortham and 19th Recruit From the Class of 2026
Michigan State Football Lands Its Second Wide Receiver Tyren Wortham and 19th Recruit From the Class of 2026 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After Rai'Shawn Elmore committed to Eastern Carolina University, Michigan State football head coach Jonathan Smith had only two wide receiver targets left. One recruit just received a head-turning offer from Alabama, making the competition even tougher for the Spartans to win. Smith would have to flip the other recruit from his original commitment. Advertisement Michigan State was nothing but persistent to complete a wide receiver duo with commit Zachary Washington. On Sunday afternoon, one of Smith's two targets announced that East Lansing will be his new home after high school. Michigan State head coach Jonathan King/Lansing State Journal/USA Today Network The entire month of June up to the final weekend of official visit season was in the Spartans' favor. Michigan State headed into the month with a mere four recruits committed, but Smith and his staff managed to crank up the heat and get 14 more rolling into East Lansing. Tyren Wortham made that number 15. The four-star wide receiver from Sarasota, Fla. is ranked No. 387 overall and No. 59 overall in his position. Wortham is also the No. 57 student-athlete out of Florida. Advertisement The rising senior who received 33 total offers was initially committed to UCF. That didn't stop wide receiver coach Courtney Hawkins, though. Hawkins continued the recruiting process and effort with Wortham throughout the month. He was a Knight all the way up until he announced that his decision was flipped. Wortham visited Michigan State in the final weekend of visits for three days. From there on out, he knew where home was. As Washington was the sole receiver committed, it was now or never for Smith to get another on board. With Elmore going to ECU, it was down to Wortham and Samson Gash. Though Gash would be a nice addition, Smith and his staff aren't as concerned with reeling in another wide receiver if Gash is leaning much more towards his new offer from Alabama. Advertisement Wortham is the 19th Michigan State commit and second 247Sports Composite four-star. Related: Underrated 2027 WR Earns Michigan State Football Offer With 7-on-7 Performance Related: 4-Star Michigan State Football Commit Shreds Defense at Spartans' 7-on-7 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan State football lands commitment from 3-star wide receiver
Michigan State has continued their red hot recruiting month of June, landing another commitment, and winning another big time recruiting battle. Zachary Washington has been a top target on the 2026 recruiting board with WR coach Courtney Hawkins having put maximum effort in the Wheaton (IL) product. Now, the Spartans have earned the commitment of the top wide receiver target. Advertisement The commitment comes as a massive win for MSU, who came from behind to defeat Wisconsin, after the Badgers had a major lead in the recruitment. The win marks the 16th commitment the Spartans have obtained in the 2026 recruiting class. Washington is a 6-foot-2, 185 pound receiver that is a 3-star product playing his high school football at St. Francis. He is the former high school teammate of current MSU quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. Having taken official visits to MSU, Wisconsin and West Virginia, those ended up being the three leaders in his recruitment, with the Spartans coming out on top. Being the 16th commitment in the class, Washington joins Kayd Coffman, Braylon Hodge, Cory House, Eddie Whiting, KJ Deriso, Brayden Thomas, Joey Caudill, Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy, Christopher Knauls, Eli Bickel, Collin Campbell, Quinn Buckey, TJ Umenyiora, Jordan Vann and Fameitau Siale, who are all a part of the Spartans class. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State football gets 3-star WR commitment from Zach Washington
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan State football nearing decision from top 2026 wide receiver from Illinois
Michigan State football nearing decision from top 2026 wide receiver from Illinois Michigan State football has been hot on the recruiting trail, and that could continue in the 2026 recruiting class. The Spartans wide receiver coach Courtney Hawkins has had Zachary Washington high on his recruiting board in the 2026 class, and has made the Wheaton, Illinois native a high priority in the Spartans plans. Now, according to an Instagram post from Washington's father, the wide receiver is set to make his decision between three schools. Michigan State is battling West Virginia and Wisconsin for the commitment of the 6-foot-2, 185 pound 3-star receiver, playing his high school ball at St. Francis High School. The post from Washington's father states that Washington will be making his commitment on June 17 at 3:30 p.m. EST. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
Arab News
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
‘Couldn't have scripted it better' — Baseball United chief's pride after record UAE Series attendance and viewing
DUBAI: A record three million viewers watched the three-game UAE Series between the Arabia Wolves and the Mid East Falcons last weekend, Baseball United has announced. The series was carried by 17 linear and digital broadcast partners and drew viewers from more than 100 countries including the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, France, the UK, Italy, Australia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, making it the most-watched baseball event in the history of the region. The series marked the first time the Wolves and the Falcons — the league's two UAE-based franchises — took the field. The Dubai-based Wolves won all three games, including a close 5-4 victory in Sunday's finale. The series was hosted at Baseball United's new ballpark at The Sevens sports and entertainment complex in Dubai and was a complete sellout. The modular seating currently accommodates 3,000 fans, with plans to scale up to 10,000 for future events. 'We are truly grateful to reach another set of milestones on our journey toward building the region's next great sport,' said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. 'This past weekend, we put two of our franchises on the field for the first time. We had several of the world's best baseball players playing for the first time at our new ballpark. We sold out each night. We reached millions of new fans on social media. And we had a record number of broadcast partners and viewers. And, of course, we had three great games of high-quality baseball. We couldn't have scripted it any better. I'm very thankful to all of our partners, and very proud of our Baseball United team.' The Arabia Wolves won the opening game 6-5, with left-fielder Courtney Hawkins hitting a solo home run to provide the difference. Brian Schlitter, who previously played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Saitama Seibu Lions, got the win. On Saturday night, the Wolves ran away with an 11-0 victory behind a dominant pitching performance from starter Cameron Gann. Gann pitched five innings and struck out nine for the win. Wolves prospect Ernest Ohandza, the first professional baseball player in the history of Cameroon, struck out the final batter to end the night. Sunday night was another close affair, with the Falcons mounting a late rally to turn a four-run deficit into a one-run game. Local prospect Lorenzo Riddle got the win for the hometown Wolves, with Connor Panas and Didi Gregorius both going deep for the red and black. Panas was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015, and Gregorius spent 11 years in MLB, including five as the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees. The teams were managed by game veterans John McLaren (Wolves) and Dennis Cook (Falcons), while future baseball hall of famer Albert Pujols was part of the pregame ceremonies and served as the broadcast analyst for all three games. Baseball United built its new ballpark in just 38 days last year. Since then it has hosted the largest international amateur baseball tournament in the history of the region, the Arab Classic, along with this past weekend's inaugural professional games. The league will be on hiatus during Ramadan and the summer months, returning to action in October.
