Cass Tech junior safety Demetric Vance commits to Michigan State

DETROIT - Before today, Michigan State had nine commits in their class of 2016 cycle, and none hailed from the state of Michigan. That all changed when Detroit Cass Tech junior safety, Demetric Vance, committed to the Spartans in Cass Tech's weight-room, in front his family, friends, coaches, and teammates. Vance his the third verbal commit for the Spartans in three days, in what is expected to be a loaded recruiting class for them.

"The process was pretty hard, because I had a lot of schools I was thinking about going to, but I just felt Michigan State was home," said Vance. "I grew up big on Michigan State, and I knew for a long time that I wanted to go there. Me and my dad talked about it last week, and we made it official. So I felt it was time to make the decision."

Vance pulled the offer from Michigan State back on February 1, when he was one of the hottest recruits in the Midwest, earning offers from Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Penn State that month. That's a pretty impressive offer sheet, and would cause one to have some serious thinking to do on what choice to make. But Vance said the moment he received the offer from Michigan State, he knew where he wanted to go.

"It was a great experience," Vance said on getting offered by Michigan State. "Coach (Mark Dantonio) was pushing me to get my parents up there, and that's what we did, and that's when he told me I had an offer. My mom and my dad were happy about everything, and so I just knew it was home then. Everything about Michigan State just brings joy to my heart."

His father, Demetric Vance Sr., agreed,

"It was an excellent decision I think," said the elder Vance. "He had some great choices, and but basically, he felt at home, and it was time to make that decision. It's a blessing to have him in this position to make these choices, so right now, I am as happy as I can possibly be."

Although Vance grew up a Spartan fan, and said he had some idea that he wanted to go there for some time now, it was Spartans head coach, Mark Dantonio, and his staff that ultimately sealed the deal for him. They had talked with Vance on several occasions, and from those conversations, Vance liked what he heard from his future coaches.

"Coach Dantonio was just telling me how I could help out the team, and that if I grind, I could get some early playing time," Vance said. "He also was just telling me about the things I needed to work on, and how he could help me. Coach Barnett (Michigan State defensive backs coach) said he liked the way I play as a safety, coming down and hitting, and they liked that I learn fast, with last year being my first year as a safety."

So what is Michigan State getting in the 6-2, 195-pound Vance? They'll get a tall, long, and rangy safety, who has a high football IQ. Vance is versatile, having started his career at Cass Tech as a wide receiver, and has a knack for finding the ball, hence his four interceptions in 2014. He is rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, and the No.13 player in Michigan, and was named to the Detroit News, and Detroit Free Press All-Detroit teams as a junior.

Now that Vance has ended his recruitment process, he plans to do some heavy recruiting in his home state, trying to get some of the state's best talent to join him in East Lansing. Something he should be successful at, as a lot of the guys he named have Michigan State offers, and are favored to commit there as well when their time comes.

"I'm looking to get Donovan Peoples-Jones, Donovan Johnson, Donnie Corley, LaVert Hill, and Ambry Thomas to come to state with me," said Vance. "That's what I am trying to do. Go Green."