National signing day at Michigan State

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio addresses the media during his national signing day press conference at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Wednesday February 4, 2015.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

DETROIT -- Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has a class of new recruits arriving on campus this month and a new class of recruits to assemble for the class of 2016.

But on Tuesday, he Dantonio across the country to go see a recruit who has already signed with the Spartans but who won't be on campus for more than two years.

"I really wanted to go out to see Mufi Hunt," Dantonio said on Thursday at an event to promote his appearance as grand marshal for the Quicken Loans 400.

Hunt, a three-star defensive end from Taylorsville, Utah, signed with the Spartans on signing day in February.

But instead of coming to East Lansing with the rest of his class this month, Hunt will soon head to Washington D.C. for the start of his two-year Mormon mission this summer. The Spartans took Hunt's signature in February, but he will officially be part of the class of 2017, and Michigan State is willing to wait.

"I think it's something that he's doing that demonstrates his faith and demonstrates who he is as a person, he's going to grow from that experience," Dantonio said. "I really won't see him for two years, so I really wanted to go out and just spend time with him and his family."

Dantonio said he attended a celebration at Hunt's church in Utah with 50 of his family members on Tuesday, an experience he called "very moving." Hunt posted a photo on Twitter, thanking Dantonio for making the trip.

I want to thank Coach Dantonio for spending my last FHE with my family and I. Spartans 4 life✳️ pic.twitter.com/UjSXrVduVG — Mufi Hill-Hunt (@YaBoiMuf21) June 3, 2015

This weekend, Dantonio said Hunt will have a graduation party with 1,000 people in attendance, before he leaves on his mission.

Once Hunt arrives in Washington, Dantonio said the two will be limited to emails once per week until Hunt makes his way to East Lansing two years from now.

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