When the Michigan football team plays against rival Michigan State in the future and you listen to the broadcast from East Lansing, it will be interesting to see how the tone changes compared to previous editions of the rivalry.
Jason Strayhorn is a famous former Spartan and co-commentator on MSU radio, and when one of his sons, Kaden, became a major figure on the recruiting scene, it seemed likely that he would follow in his father’s footsteps.
However, it didn’t quite work out that way.
MSU fell out of favor with Strayhorn during the process. In late May, he told WolverinesWire:
“Michigan State is obviously my first offer, but since the coaching change, they’ve been really scared to recruit me because I have certain offers — like Georgia and Miami and stuff,” Strayhorn told WolverinesWire. “They feel like they can’t compete to get me, so it’s like if they feel like they can’t compete, why should they even try? I think that’s kind of silly, but that’s the way it is with them. And everyone’s like, ‘Why didn’t he schedule his official visit there?’ And that’s why.”
With MSU out, Strayhorn visited Ohio State before visiting Ann Arbor. But it seems Michigan won another rivalry battle, as Strayhorn joined the Wolverines after his last official visit.
BREAKING NEWS: Kaden Strayhorn, IOL of the class of 2025, has chosen Michigan, he tells me @on3recruits
The 6’3″ and 295 lb IOL from Novi, MI chose the Wolverines over Ohio State, Alabama, Texas and Miami
“Write your own legacy… God’s plan, Go Blue!〽️”https://t.co/WEOrFf6Imi pic.twitter.com/VmmT693ZJC
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) 23 June 2024
Here’s how Strayhorn stacks up when it comes to recruiting services:
| Stars | Over | position | Condition | |
| 247Sports Composite | 3 | 435 | 28 | 58 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 3 | 464 | 39 | 63 |
| 247Sport | 3 | – | 33 | 67 |
| On 3 | 3 | – | 70 | 107 |
| Rivals | 4 | – | 17 | 48 |
| ESPN | 4 | – | 8th | 43 |
Strayhorn was expected to play college center, but also had offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Texas, Florida, Florida State, Penn State, Tennessee, USC and others. He plays high school basketball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
