The Pat Signal Strikes Again: Michigan State Lands Coveted LB Matthew Brady

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The Pat Signal was on full display Tuesday, June 2, meaning dominoes were starting to fall as Michigan State continued locking in the future foundation of Pat Fitzgerald's program.

If you're not familiar, Fitzgerald has been posting a glowing green Spartan helmet on social media anytime a commitment is landed for Michigan State. On Tuesday, there were two different signals sent out.

Then Spartan Nation sat and waited.

Waiting for any news to drop about which of the many official visitors from last weekend had decided East Lansing was the place for them.

Finally, on Wednesday morning, the first commitment was announced, and it was a big one.

One of Michigan State's highest-priority recruits during this cycle, Matthew Brady, announced his commitment to the Green and White.

Brady is a versatile, well-built linebacker who stands at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. According to 247Sports, he carries an 85 rating as a solid three-star prospect. He ranks as the 45th-best recruit in Illinois, where he plays for Central Catholic High School in Bloomington.

Brady is also ranked as the No. 124 linebacker nationally by 247Sports. His composite score, which combines rankings from multiple recruiting services, sits at 0.8500, matching his individual 247Sports rating. That composite ranking places him No. 1,360 nationally, No. 122 among linebackers, and No. 46 overall in Illinois.

The Spartans currently have four linebackers on the roster who are expected to graduate following the 2026 season, meaning there will be plenty of opportunities opening up in the years ahead. Because of that, this likely won't conclude Michigan State's linebacker recruiting efforts in the class.

Even in the era of the transfer portal, Fitzgerald and new co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Max Bullough will make sure they bring in the right players who fit the culture and play the position the right way.

That process starts with Brady.

The Illinois native held a lengthy offer sheet featuring programs from both inside and outside the Big Ten. With his commitment now secured, Brady will no longer take scheduled visits to Northwestern, Nebraska, Illinois, and Minnesota.

It's easy to see why so many schools were pursuing him when you turn on the film.

Brady's 6-foot-4 frame immediately jumps off the screen. Pair that size with his ability to fly to the football, and it's hard not to be impressed. He can still improve his initial burst and occasionally make decisions a fraction of a second faster, but those are traits that typically develop with experience. The more repetitions Brady gets at linebacker, the more aware and instinctive he'll become.

The potential, however, is through the roof.

Brady's ability to cut through defenders on offense is mirrored on the defensive side when he's sent on a blitz. He has a knack for slipping through blockers and finding his way into the backfield, where he can quickly disrupt plays. Once Brady arrives, quarterbacks and ball carriers often find themselves scrambling to avoid a massive defender closing in fast.

His nose for the football and relentless pursuit show up throughout every highlight reel available.

In some ways, Brady reminds me of a young Max Bullough. Not necessarily because of how he plays, but because of how he appears to think the game. The passion, intensity, and motor are impossible to miss. His energy rivals the type of fire Bullough brought to Michigan State during his playing days, and now he'll have the opportunity to be coached by the very player he evokes.

That combination could bring out the best version of Brady.

The Spartans landed a huge commitment in Brady, and there's still another floating Spartan helmet waiting for its reveal.

Fitzgerald and the Michigan State staff have been working overtime on the recruiting trail, and if the early returns are any indication, that hard work is beginning to pay off.

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