2026 four-star LB Braylon Hodge decommits from Michigan State

In an unsurprising move, class of 2026 four-star linebacker Braylon Hodge has decommitted from Michigan State. He announced the move on Friday.

Hodge originally committed to the Spartans on June 1 following an official visit. However, Hodge has put together an impressive senior campaign thus far and several other schools got involved as his recruitment ascended. Since September, Hodge has received scholarship offers from Michigan, Texas, Oregon, Missouri and Colorado. He was also selected to play in the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 10, 2026.

He took unofficial visits to Colorado and Texas early during the 2025 season, and then later scheduled official visits to Michigan on Oct. 4, Oregon on Oct. 11, Missouri on Nov. 8 and Texas on Nov. 22. However, Rivals reports that the Missouri official visit will no longer take place. Hodge was also planning to return to Spartan Stadium for Michigan State's rivalry game against the Wolverines on Oct. 25, but that is no longer expected to happen.

Based on all of the intel, it is highly unlikely that Hodge ends up signing with the Spartans, but he tells Spartans Illustrated that he will still consider Michigan State moving forward.

"I just want to be respectful of the program while I’m visiting other schools," Hodge said.

Hodge, out of Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado, ranks as the No. 273 prospect overall, No. 18 linebacker and No. 1 player in the state of Colorado, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He also ranks as the No. 348 prospect overall, No. 25 linebacker and No. 2 player in Colorado, according to the Rivals Industry rankings.

Following all of the new interest, Michigan State was aware that it would be an uphill climb to keep Hodge in the class and was prepared for his decommitment. Sources tell Spartans Illustrated that the Spartans will most likely not pursue another linebacker in the 2026 class. MSU does already have another linebacker committed in three-star Adam Shaw, who is a Spartan double legacy prospect and will return to East Lansing for MSU's homecoming game versus UCLA on Oct. 11.

Michigan State also recently lost the commitment of four-star wide receiver Tyren Wortham, who backed off of his pledge to the Spartans on Oct. 6.

With Hodge and Wortham no longer part of the group, Michigan State's 2026 recruiting class is now down to 21 total pledges with preferred walk-on athlete Jack Lansing III, and 20 scholarship commitments.