EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a touchdown by the Indiana Hoosiers in the first quarter at Spartan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Michigan State football’s 2020 recruiting class may not be star-studded, but it could be one of the most underrated in the Mark Dantonio era.

To the casual observer, Michigan State’s 2020 recruiting class may look like a disappointment. Star gazers would be none too happy with the Spartans’ 2020 haul, and that’s never fazed Mark Dantonio before, and it won’t start now.

While Michigan State has just a couple of four-star prospects (Darius Snow, Terry Lockett) depending on which service you follow, recruiting experts have been higher on this group than most fans.

According to The Detroit News, ESPN recruiting expert Tom Luginbill said that at least half the class is upper-tier three-star recruits and guys who could exceed their ranking at the next level.

On Tuesday, Rivals agreed, giving Michigan State’s class a decent bump to No. 30 in the country, jumping Maryland and Purdue and sitting right behind Iowa and Minnesota. The Spartans are also eight spots ahead of Wisconsin which is surprising given the Badgers’ long string of success in the Big Ten and multiple conference title berths.

For everyone giving Michigan State a tough time when it comes to recruiting, this falls in line with the typical Dantonio classes which have ranked anywhere from 15-40 during his tenure.

Dantonio’s program has been moving in the wrong direction in recent years, but this seems like the type of class that could turn it around and surprise some people.

While these guys are three-stars, they’ve been turning heads during their senior seasons, making them worthy of higher rankings:

Ricky White, 3-star WR

Terry Lockett, 3-star WR

Angelo Grose, 3-star CB

Darius Snow, 3-star S

Simeon Barrow Jr., 3-star DE

Kyle King, 3-star DE

Montorie Foster, 3-star WR

Jeff Pietrowski, 3-star DE

Justin Stevens, 3-star OT

And those are just the guys who have been talked about heavily in recent months. The rest of the class seems to be relatively underrated as well.

Don’t knock this class just yet, folks, it could end up being one of Dantonio’s best and over-achieving when it’s all said and done.