2026 three-star offensive lineman Quinn Buckey decommits from Michigan State

Class of 2026 three-star offensive lineman Quinn Buckey has decommitted from Michigan State.

Buckey, who currently attends Liberty High School in Bakersfield, California, announced on Wednesday that "after much thought and consideration," he will "reopen his recruitment."

He originally committed to head coach Jonathan Smith, offensive line coach/run game coordinator Jim Michalczik and Michigan State on June 13. He took an official visit to East Lansing in April. Buckey returned to MSU on Oct. 25 when the Spartans' hosted rival Michigan.

The decision from Buckey comes amidst uncertainty regarding the future of Smith, Michalczik and the rest of MSU's staff. Sitting with a 3-8 record on the 2026 campaign, including eight-straight losses and zero wins in Big Ten play, there are questions about whether or not Smith and his staff will be on the Michigan State sideline in 2026. There has been no vote of confidence or public decision either way from athletic director J Batt on the matter.

In June, Buckey listed an original top-four of Michigan State, Arizona, UCLA and Vanderbilt before pledging to the Spartans.

Buckey took official visits to each of the schools mentioned above, as well as Oklahoma State and California. He took an unofficial visit to Arizona this fall, but tells Spartans Illustrated that the trip to Tucson has nothing to do with his decision to decommit from Michigan State.

He has family connections to UCLA, as his brother, Grant, currently plays on the defensive line for the Bruins. He also has family connections to Stanford, as his dad, Jeff, played for the Cardinal, and his brother, Zach, currently plays there as a defensive end.

In addition to the schools already mentioned, Buckey also received scholarship offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Boston College, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon State, Purdue, Washington State and others.

The early signing period opens on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Buckey tells Spartans Illustrated that he is still plans to sign with a program during the early period.

Buckey ranks as the No. 858 prospect nationally, No. 77 offensive tackle and No. 64 recruit in California, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Meanwhile, Rivals/On3 ranks him as the 758 player nationally, No. 57 offensive tackle and No. 57 prospect in his home state in the Industry rankings.

Buckey becomes the third prospect to decommit from Michigan State's 2026 class, joining four-star wide receiver Tyren Wortham and four-star linebacker Braylon Hodge.

Michigan State's 2026 recruiting class currently consists of 21 scholarship prospects and 24 total commitments overall (three preferred walk-ons).

Sources tell Spartans Illustrated that Buckey likely would have ended up playing guard for the Spartans, and that Michigan State will look at other potential guard options to fill the spot ahead of the early signing period, but MSU will not add another offensive lineman unless the staff finds the right fit at the position.