Michigan State football lands commitment from Di'Mari Malone, Macomb Dakota linebacker

Di'Mari Malone, a three-star linebacker from Macomb Dakota announced Sunday he plans to play football for Michigan State.

Malone picked the Spartans out of a final four that included Illinois, Minnesota and Pittsburgh.

As a junior, Malone earned a spot on The Detroit News' All-East team, collecting 73 tackles, including eight for loss, and three forced fumbles for an 8-3 Dakota team. He also tallied three interceptions, and broke up six passes.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Malone is the third verbal commitment in the Spartans' 2025 recruiting class, joining three star California quarterback Leo Hannan and three-start linebacker Charles White out of Orchard Lake St. Mary's.

Dakota coach Greg Baur said Malone has grown into a Power Five linebacker’s body at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, putting 20 pounds of muscle since a year ago, then getting in on the 73 tackles.

“Last year at this time we had our college showcase at Dakota and there were quite a few schools there and a bunch of them took notice then and a few made offers then,” Baur said. “Shortly after that, it really picked up. He’s really increased his strength and athleticism and he definitely looks the part now of a Power Five linebacker. People kind of saw that and saw his tape and things fell together.”

Malone, a three-star linebacker who will be in The News Top 10 players in the state heading into the fall, received offers from Kansas, Indiana, Michigan State, Pitt, Minnesota and Illinois since his junior season.

Baur had high praise for Michigan State first-year head coach Jonathan Smith.

“He was one of the first coaches that came in during the recruiting period, came in with the recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach (Brian) Wozniak, made a school visit which for a head coach is pretty rare, so it showed he was serious.

“Coach Smith is a really cool guy to talk to, very down to earth and very easy to talk to, so kids identify with him very well. You wouldn’t know that he’s a head coach at a Power Five school. I really like the guy because you can tell he’s really trying to recruit Michigan hard. The previous staff didn’t do that as much."

david.goricki@detroitnews.com