EAST LANSING, Mich—Michigan State was one of two finalists for five-star offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin, but the Charlestown, Indiana native has decided to stay with the Wildcats. The Spartans held Goodwin’s final visit to East Lansing on Dec. 10. 

The Spartans were heavily involved with Goodwin from the beginning, making his initial final five before he committed to Kentucky in April. Head coach Mel Tucker and associate head coach Chris Kapilovic offered the 6-foot-8, 340-pound offensive lineman in September of 2020. 

In total, the five-star had offers from seemingly every major power in college football, including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State, Ole Miss, LSU and Oregon. 

After his commitment to Kentucky, Goodwin continued to take visits and meet with coaches, taking two unofficial visits to East Lansing in June and October when he attended the Spartans’ home victory over Michigan. 

He would have been the first five-star recruit that MSU has landed since Detroit defensive end Malik McDowell in 2014. The Spartans have also only gotten five commits from five-star recruits in school history (WR Charles Rogers, QB Jeff Smoker, DE William Gholston, McDowell and OT Roland Martin).

Goodwin had been recruited by Kentucky since middle school; Wildcat associate head coach Vince Marrow was instrumental in keeping Goodwin in Lexington. 

He was slated to announce his decision between signing with Kentucky or flipping his commitment to the Spartans at 8:15 A.M. Wednesday morning, but delayed his decision until 5:00 P.M. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Wildcats on CBS Sports HQ. 

Michigan State currently has four offensive linemen signed to their 2022 recruiting class in three-stars Ashton Lepo, Braden Miller, Gavin Broscious and Kristian Phillips. Tucker’s second recruiting class as head coach of the Spartans ranks at No. 21 nationally and No. 5 in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports.