MSU lands verbal commitment from 3-star Colorado tight end Ryan Pankey

Michigan State football added to its 2027 tight end plans on Monday, getting a verbal commitment from Ryan Pankey, a 3-star prospect out of Montrose, Colorado. Pankey announced the decision early Monday morning, following an official visit window to East Lansing that reportedly ran June 4-7.

Pankey is listed as a tight end and has the physical traits the Spartans typically look for in the position, standing 6-foot-6 and roughly 235 pounds in at least one recent scouting write-up. His game is described more as a blocking-oriented tight end profile than a pure pass-catching centerpiece, with background production that also includes defensive-end reps in high school.

In recruiting evaluations, Pankey is described as a prospect whose size jumps out immediately, and his recruitment drew interest from multiple programs across the Power Four and group-of-five spectrum. The reported offer list includes Oregon State, Washington State, Colorado State, San Diego State, UNLV, and Navy, among others.

The timing matters for Michigan State because the Spartans’ current tight end group sits on the edge of turnover. Michigan State tight ends coach Brian Wozniak is working through a room that includes players in the final stretch of eligibility in the near term, meaning the program’s next class cannot wait until late recruiting periods to restock the position. One preview of MSU’s recruiting posture around this cycle noted the staff was actively looking for one or two tight ends for the 2027 class and did not have another high-profile name already locked in.

Pankey’s commitment also continues what has been a steady recruiting rhythm for the Spartans in early June. On Monday, the commitment came in the same general timeframe as another Michigan State pledge, and Pankey’s decision came after his official visit, suggesting the Spartans used the trip to close the last mile of the recruitment.

For Michigan State fans, the next step is less about immediate on-field impact and more about development track and role clarity. A blocking-first tight end can be a stabilizing piece in the run game, and if Pankey’s defensive-end background translates to athleticism at the line of scrimmage, he could become valuable in both scheme roles and in-space matchups as he grows into college strength and technique. Whether MSU adds more tight ends to round out the 2027 class may depend on how the coaching staff views Pankey’s fit alongside the younger players already on the roster.