Michigan State football received a verbal commitment from Class of 2014 defensive end Darius Slade on Friday, according to 247 Sports.

Slade, a 6-foot-5, 238-pounder from Montclair, N.J., had de-committed from Nebraska on Thursday.

Rated the No. 23 player in New Jersey and a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, Slade visited Michigan State on Oct. 12.

Slade's primary recruiters on the Spartans' staff were defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and defensive line coach Ron Burton.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer visited Slade on Thursday and extended a scholarship offer, and Slade also held offers from Penn State, West Virginia, Boston College and Miami, Fla., among several others.

The Spartans beat Meyer and the Buckeyes, 34-24, in the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis.

Slade told NJ.com on Thursday that he was aware the Spartans will be hosting another defensive end this week on a visit, so it's possible that may have triggered him to fill one of the final spots in the Michigan State Class of 2014.

"… they have a d-end taking a visit there this weekend,'' Slade told NJ.com, "and I hear he is a big name kid. So I don't know if he's gonna commit this weekend or what the situation may be."

Slade is the Spartans' 20th verbal commitment in a class that's not expected to exceed 22 on the Feb. 5 signing day.

A couple of hours before news of Slade's commitment broke Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said his team was riding a "ripple effect" of positive momentum on the recruiting trail in the aftermath of Michigan State's 13-1 Rose Bowl season.