The suspension of Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker could reopen the gate for a former Kansas football recruiting target to join the Jayhawks.
In 2021, the Michigan State football program and Mel Tucker teamed up with Brenda Tracy. She is an avid women’s rights advocate and a rape survivor. The partnership stemmed from MSU’s connection to Larry Nassar, a sports medicine physician who sexually assaulted at least 265 female student-athletes.
This partnership should have been successful for both parties, but it was not. The Spartans’ fourth-year head coach has been accused of making inappropriate sexual comments and gestures to Tracy. A formal hearing will go down on Oct. 5.
After the news broke to the public, Michigan State Athletics immediately suspended him from his position — and it could be a permanent leave. It was initially reported as a firing, though further details have yet to be announced.
Mel Tucker fired as Michigan State’s coach, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Secondary coach Harlon Barnett will be MSU’s interim coach w/former coach Mark Dantonio expected to assist in an undefined role. MSU investigating allegations Tucker sexually harassed activist/rape…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 10, 2023
If the program does decide to go its separate ways with Tucker, some of the players in his recruiting class could decommit from the program. The top player among their 13 pledges was closely connected to the Kansas Jayhawks for several months, and he could soon be a target for the Jayhawks coaching staff once again.
Nick Marsh back on the Kansas football recruiting radar?
Nick Marsh, the No. 126 player in the 2024 class according to the 247 Sports Composite, was down to Michigan State, Penn State, and Kansas in his recruitment. He visited all three schools and was said to have thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Lawrence on June 9.
He committed to MSU for one week earlier in 2023 before reopening his recruitment. A similar scenario could be in play if Tucker winds up departing for good.
Marsh is a dominant 6-foot-3 wideout with tremendous hands and athleticism. If he committed to Kansas and Jalon Daniels stayed for another year, that tandem would be a treat to watch.
It goes without saying that Kansas being involved prior does not mean they are the frontrunners if he does decommit. A player of Marsh’s caliber will certainly have more schools calling him if he hits the open market. However, the Kansas football recruiting class does not consist of any wide receivers yet, and he’d be the program’s highest-ranked commit of all time. The coaching staff should be calling his number immediately.
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