Xavier Henderson was once a Michigan fan, but now we take a look at how the Ohio athlete became a Spartan.

Spartan Tailgate takes a closer look at Xavier Henderson, a junior four-star athlete at Pickerington (Ohio) Central, and how the one-time Michigan fan became a Michigan State commitment. Henderson grew up in a Michigan household and started cheering for the Wolverines at the age of four, but he's now Spartans' first commitment in the class of 2018.

-- April of 2015: Henderson visited Michigan State with his coach. At the time, Henderson was only tagging along with his older teammates, Seth Currens (Freshman at Wisconsin) and Jaylin Bannerman (Freshman at Kentucky). That was when the relationship began with Henderson and the MSU staff.

-- May of 2015: Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel stopped into Pickerington (Ohio) Central and invited Henderson to Michigan State's elite football camp.

-- June of 2015: Henderson camped at Michigan State's elite football camp. Henderson was targeted as one of the top sophomores at camp.

-- Fall of 2015: Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel stopped in at Pickerington (Ohio) Central to check out Henderson's grades.

-- Feb. 14, 2016: Henderson visited Michigan State for the Spartans' basketball game against Indiana

-- Spring of 2016: Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel stopped into Henderson's school during the spring evaluation period.

-- March 23, 2016: Henderson visited East Lansing, and head coach Mark Dantonio told him the Spartans were going to offer him

-- April 23, 2016: Henderson visited Michigan State for the Spartans' spring game and MSU officially offered him. Henderson spent some time with his older cousin, MSU sixth-year linebacker Ed Davis.

-- May 20, 2016: Co-defensive coordinator and defensive back coach Harlon Barnett visited Henderson at his school. Barnett and Henderson really started to bond closer together.

-- June 18, 2016: Henderson camped at Michigan State's elite football camp. Henderson really enjoyed being coached up by co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett.

--Aug. 7, 2016: Henderson visited East Lansing for Michigan State's second day of practice and enjoyed his time spent with the MSU staff. -- Sept. 1, 2016: Henderson was contacted by three Michigan State coaches -- Mark Dantonio, Mike Tressel and Curtis Blackwell. The MSU staff made Henderson feel like a high priority.

--Sept. 9, 2016: Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel stopped in at Henderson's school. That day, Henderson told Mike Tressel he was ready to be a Spartan. Henderson called Mark Dantonio later on that day and committed to Michigan State.

-- Sept. 9, 2016: The 6-foot, 189-pound Henderson announced his committed to Michigan State over additional scholarship offers from Kentucky, Boston College, Iowa State, Ole Miss and several others. Henderson is the youngest non-legacy recruit to commit to Michigan State under Mark Dantonio.

Very excited to announce my commitment as a student athlete to Michigan State University! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/Yx9eIjmJrU — Xavier Henderson (@Xhenn5) September 9, 2016

Byron Bullough committed to Michigan State in August of his junior year.

-- Oct. 29, 2016: Henderson plans to visit East Lansing for the Spartans' matchup against Michigan.

-- Nov. 19, 2016: Henderson plans to visit East Lansing for the Spartans' matchup against Ohio State Look for Henderson to visit East Lansing several times next spring, summer and fall.

-- Jan. 2018: Henderson plans to enroll at Michigan State.

He has put himself in an academic position to early enroll at Michigan State.