Spartan football scores verbal from Ohio OL

Who likes getting the bad news before the good news? I said earlier Valdez Showers gave a verbal to Florida, but Michigan State got a verbal commitment a few hours ago from Cincinnati (Finneytown) offensive lineman Donavon Clark. Clark, ranked 13th among offensive guards by Scout.com and 50th among offensive tackles in the 2011 class according to Rivals.com, chose MSU over Cincinnati and Tennessee and also had offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Minnesota, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, USC and West Virginia.

Just got off the phone with Clark and his coach at Finneytown, Darryn Chenault. Clark said he was "ready to make it official" after taking unofficial visits to some of the 21 schools that offered him scholarships. He explained that "it just felt right. It just popped in my head that I wanted to be a Spartan." He said having family in the mid-Michigan area also made him comfortable enough to make his decision now before his senior season.

Both Clark and Chenault had very positive things to say about head coach Mark Dantonio and Chenault explained that he thought Clark felt like Dantonio was a friend along with a coach.

This is the second offensive linemen recruit that MSU has received a verbal from in a week, joining center Jack Allen from Hinsdale, Ill. This is more good news for the Spartans, who went from searching for offensive line prospects to quickly adding two to this class. Clark becomes the third prep player from Ohio to join the class and second player from Cincinnati, joining defensive end Joel Heath of Mount Healthy H.S.

According to Rivals.com rankings, MSU has 12 three-star recruits in the class and one five-star (LB Lawrence Thomas). Clark is a four-star prospect, according to Scout.com. Scout.com also lists Michigan State with the 19th best class in the country and the second best in the Big Ten for 2011.