Trieu: Here are some notable visitors expected at Michigan State's Spartan Dawg Con

This weekend will be the third Spartan Dawg Con, a gathering of former Michigan State players on campus for an event-filled two days in East Lansing. It has also become an opportunity to bring recruits on campus. Just before the inaugural event, defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren committed, then attended the Dawg Con the very next day.

Last year, defensive end Jalen Thompson came to SDC as a top uncommitted prospect and wound up giving his verbal to the Spartans a month later. Here are some notable attendees for this year’s event: ▶ WR Bredell Richardson, Tampa (Florida) Carrollwood Day: Richardson is an uncommitted Class of 2024 target. A 6-foot-1, 185-pound high three-star, he reports 47 offers, but UCF was the lone program to receive an official visit from him in June.

He named Michigan State to a top four that also included LSU, Oregon and Michigan in May, though. He has long held a Spartan offer, as it was extended initially in January of 2022. He is a teammate of current MSU commit Anthony Carrie’s.

▶ OT Carter Lowe, Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer: Lowe is an athletic rising junior who has not played football long, but has quickly acclimated himself to the game and is now a four-star, nearly Top 150 prospect (No. 153 in the 2025 class) according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Lowe was offered by Michigan State in January, visited in April, and also has offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia, Penn State and more.

▶ CB Desmond Straughton, Roseville: Straughton is listed as an athlete by 247Sports, but his future is likely in the defensive secondary as a cornerback or safety. He is ranked the No. 5 rising junior in the state, and the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Straughton has been a standout on the varsity since his freshman year.

MSU offered in January. Penn State, Wisconsin and others also have offered. Cass Tech's Cashus Shivers runs the ball in a scrimmage against West Bloomfield during the 7-on-7 scrimmages Thursday, July 13, 2023 at Wayne State University's Tom Adams Field in Detroit.

Detroit Cass Tech standout Cashus Shivers will visit Michigan State this weekend. KATY KILDEE, SPECIAL TO THE DETROIT NEWS ▶ CB Cashus Shivers, Detroit Cass Tech: A two-way standout at Cass, the 6-foot, 188-pound Shivers was offered by Michigan State in April following a visit to campus. He visited for a game in the fall as well as a practice in spring of 2022.

Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Pitt, Kentucky and more have offered the 2025 recruit. ▶ OT Avery Gach, Birmingham Groves: A four-star prospect in 2025 class, Gach has family ties to Michigan State, but Michigan, Tennessee, USC and others have continued to give chase. He has a good relationship with offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic, which will help the Spartans maintain their high standing as the process moves along.

▶ OL Ben Nichols, Davison: Nichols is a 6-foot-6, 325-pound sophomore-to-be who impressed the Spartans into an offer at their summer camp and also visited in the spring. He is also athletic enough to play baseball and basketball at Davison. Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan also have offered.

▶ OT Gregory Patrick, Portage Northern: Another Class of 2026 prospect, Patrick is a Spartan legacy, as his father Joseph Patrick played offensive line at Michigan State. He earned an MSU offer this summer at camp. Patrick is a 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect who projects as one of the state’s best in his class.

Minnesota and Oklahoma are his other two Power Five offers. .