EAST LANSING -- The momentum from Michigan State's Big Ten championship season paid dividends on Friday when Montae Nicholson of Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa., announced he will be signing with the Spartans in the Class of 2014.

Nicholson, a 6-foot-2, 202-pounder, had more than 30 offers, picking Michigan State over Florida State, Pittsburgh, Oregon and Virginia Tech.

Both Rivals.com and 247 Sports ranks Nicholson as a four-star prospect.

According to Rivals.com, Nicholson is the No. 13 safety prospect in the nation, No. 1 player in Pennsylvania and No. 135 overall in the nation.

"I think it was the atmosphere up there," Nicholson told Rivals.com in a recent interview. "It was really nice and I enjoyed myself. They are telling me I could play on both sides of the ball. It's play on defense first then we'll see about the offense. The players up there seem very happy about how things are going.''

Michigan State offensive line coach Mark Staten served as Nicholson's primary recruiter, along with Spartans secondary coach Harlon Barnett.

According to 247 Sports, Nicholson is the nation's No. 15 safety and the No. 3 player in Pennsylvania.

Nicholson's addition brings the Spartans' Class of 2014 up to 18. Michigan State is expected to take at least one more player, and quite possibly as many as three more players.

Nicholson's senior highlight video is at the bottom of the story.

Michigan State true freshman QB Damion Terry, a fellow Pennsylvania product who is redshirting this season and is expected to compete for a starting job next season, was quick to congratulate Nicholson on Twitter:

MICHIGAN STATE CLASS OF 2014

S Montae Nicholson, (6-2, 202), Monroeville, Pa.

TE Montez Sweat, (6-6, 230), Stone Mountain, Ga.

RB Madre London, (6-1, 205), Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

RB Gerald Owens, (6-1, 235), Westville, N.J.

OC Brian Allen, (6-1, 287), Hinsdale, Ill.

DT Enoch Smith (6-2, 270), Chicago

LB Deon Drake (6-1, 220), Detroit

LB Chris Frey (6-3, 215), Columbus, Ohio

TE Matt Sokol (6-5, 225), Rochester, Mich.

RB Vayante Copeland (6-1, 185), Dayton, Ohio

DE Robert Bowers (6-6, 210), Columbus, Ohio

S Matt Morrissey (6-3, 180), Lincolnshire, Ill.

CB Jalen Watts-Jackson (6-0, 172), West Bloomfield, Mich.

ATH Byron Bullough (6-1, 190), Traverse City, Mich.

OT Chase Gianacakos (6-6, 280), Saint Charles, Ill.

DT David Beedle (6-6, 285), Clarkston, Mich.

P Jake Hartbarger (6-4, 195), Whitehouse, Ohio

OT Nick Padla (6-6, 280), Berrien Springs, Mich.