Palatine (Ill.) Fremd safety Kenney Lyke keeps the Michigan State momentum going on the recruiting trail with his Friday commitment to the Spartans.

Lyke chose the Spartans over offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Baylor and Penn State during a ceremony at his school.

Such is the case with a lot of MSU's commits in the 2016 class, the Spartans were one of the first major programs to show interest in Lyke, one of the first to get him on campus and the first power-five school to offer.

"I always knew," Lyke said of his commitment to Michigan State.

Lyke also knew when he wanted to announce. His mother's birthday was on the 15th and his father's the 18th, so this was the perfect weekend in his mind to give his pledge as a present to them.

"I just want to thank them for all the help they've given me throughout the whole process," Lyke said.

Lyke is commit No. 13 for Michigan State as the Spartans inch closer to UCLA for the country's No. 8 recruiting class according to 247Sports. He is the sixth commit for Mark Dantonio and his staff in the month of May.

"The players that are coming in, the coaches, just the place itself," Lyke said adding he can't wait to be a Spartan.

"Those words itself. They have a good fan base and with all the kids their getting it's probably going to be a top-five class."

Recruited by Brad Salem and Harlon Barnett, Lyke felt comfortable with the Michigan State staff.

"They come out all the time," Lyke said. "A lot of different coaches come out all the time."

Ranked by 247Sports as the nation's No. 17 safety and No. 9 recruit in the state of Illinois regardless of position, the 6-foot-2, 182-pound Lyke feels he can develop at a high level in East Lansing.

"They're sending guys to the league, and you have Coach Dantonio who is one of the best coaches in college football, Coach Salem, Coach Barnett, just great coaches."

Lyke looks forward to recruiting Top100 defensive linemen Auston Robertson and Josh King to East Lansing along with Detroit King Top100 teammates Donnie Corley and Lavert Hill among others.

Stay tuned to 247Sports/Spartan Tailgate for more on Lyke's verbal to Michigan State.