In April, the 3-star Orchard Lake St. Mary's product became head coach Jonathan Smith's second 2025 commit. White spoke with Spartan Nation about the lead-up to the decision.
Spartans coach Jonathan Smith made it clear from Day 1 that his goal was to re-establish Michigan State's recruiting presence in-state.DJ White is a three-star linebacker from Orchard Lake St. Mary's -- just outside of Detroit. He is the No. 14 player in Michigan and No. 81 at his position nationally, per 247Sports.The prospect said his main contact was Michigan State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Joe Rossi .Michigan State first contacted White in December.
"Coach Smith talked for a minute, he was telling me how he liked my film, and he liked how I play linebacker, and then he extended the offer to me," White said."Then I got in contact with Coach Rossi once he got hired -- we started talking a bit, getting to know me as a player. He said he saw my film, he was telling me that I'm a good sideline-to-sideline player and that he likes smart linebackers.""I didn't know what to expect," he said.
White attended Orchard Lake St. Mary's basketball state championship at the Breslin Center in March. It was there that he reconnected with Smith and Rossi."When I got there ... it felt like I'd known for years already," he said."That played a big part. So then I was in the middle of spring ball practice, just feeling everything, just looking around, and I pulled out my phone and texted my head coach and I was like, 'I wanna go here.
" got pulled into Coach Rossi's office later that day, and we started talking about defense and stuff like that, and then he was like, 'What can we do to get you on the boat?' and I'm like, 'Coach, I'm already on the boat, we just got to start rowing this thing.'"
Joe Rossi Jonathan Smith DJ White Exclusive Interview Michigan State Spartans Michigan State Football
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