Courtney Hawkins has once again proven why he’s considered one of the top wide receivers coaches in college football. When Hawkins zeroes in on a prospect, there’s a strong chance that player ends up committing to Michigan State — and that was the case again on Monday afternoon.
Three-star wide receiver Zachary Washington, a rising talent from Wheaton, Illinois, had narrowed his college choices down to three programs following a series of official visits: Michigan State, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. His recruitment had shaped up to be a Big Ten-centric battle, with the Spartans and Badgers especially prominent contenders.
Initially, Wisconsin appeared to be in the driver’s seat. But things began to shift after Washington took his official visit to East Lansing. Momentum started to swing in Michigan State’s favor, and it culminated in a major recruiting victory for Jonathan Smith and his staff. Washington announced his verbal commitment to the Spartans on Monday, making him the 16th pledge in the 2026 recruiting cycle for MSU. He is also the first wide receiver to join the class — a significant milestone for both Smith and Hawkins.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 185 pounds, Washington made his announcement public via social media, saying, “All glory to God! Spartan nation I’m home!!!” His decision came just hours after Michigan State briefly fell out of the national top 25 team recruiting rankings. Washington’s commitment helped MSU regain its spot, continuing a major upswing in recruiting momentum.
A key part of Washington’s decision may have been his prior connection with Michigan State quarterback commit Alessio Milivojevic, as the two were high school teammates. That pre-existing relationship likely played a role in helping the Spartans edge out their Big Ten rivals.
The Spartans have been on a recruiting tear, with six commitments in the past four days alone. The dominoes started falling after four-star athlete Collin Campbell committed, setting off a chain reaction that has propelled Michigan State from the 70s in national recruiting rankings to firmly inside the top 25.
Since the start of the official visit window, head coach Jonathan Smith has secured 12 commitments, helping to reshape the narrative around the program following a disappointing 5-7 campaign. If this recruiting momentum continues — especially paired with potential on-field success — the future for Michigan State football looks increasingly promising.
Washington is currently ranked as the No. 112 wide receiver in the 2026 class, and his addition represents another building block in what is shaping up to be one of the more impressive classes in recent Michigan State history.
