3-star OL Geno VanDeMark signs NLI with MSU

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Michigan State offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Nathan Stearns, Football Beat Reporter

EAST LANSING— It has been quite the whirlwind for Michigan State as of late.

Geno VanDeMark, a three-star offensive lineman, signed his National Letter of Intent on Friday, the last day of the early signing period. With VanDeMark in the fold, the only two verbal commits left to sign their National Letter of Intent are Audric Estime and Rayshaun Benny

VanDeMark was one of Tucker’s top targets during this recruiting cycle; he was a high school teammate of Estime. 

VanDeMark, along with Estime, both played for St. Joseph Regional High School (Montvale, N.J.) and helped lead the Green Knights to a 6-2 record, as well as a playoff berth, this season. Both players also played integral roles in helping St. Joseph reach the semifinals in the NJSIAA state playoffs last season.

VanDeMark is categorized by 247Sports as a high three-star recruit. He is rated as the No. 8 overall player in New Jersey and the No. 434 overall player in the country by the site. VanDeMark was previously a four-star recruit earlier in the recruiting cycle but was subsequently dropped to a three-star recruit. His composite rating of 0.8837 places him just below the four-star distinction.

VanDeMark is a road-grading offensive lineman who, at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, has the necessary frame to be an exceptional guard at the next level. He is categorized by recruiting expert Brian Dohn as a player that “fires off quickly and low when sinking (his) hips.” Dohn also mentions that VanDeMark “engages quickly and drives his legs.”

In addition to being offered by MSU, VanDeMark held offers from West Virginia, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland,  Miami (Fla.), Minnesota, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Rutgers, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Kansas, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.