Zach Washington never wavered in choosing Michigan State.

Despite the Spartans parting ways with head coach Jonathan Smith on Sunday, Washington remained committed to the team he pledged to during the summer. A FaceTime call with new coach Pat Fitzgerald, a former coach at Northwestern and a former assistant at Loyola who was hired Monday , gave Washington a major boost.

“I was building a relationship with coach Smith before he was let go,” Washington said. “I loved coach Smith and when I heard the news, it was big news for me and my family... A day after, coach [Fitzgerald] called me and I was one of his first FaceTime calls. He really wants me to stay and he sees me helping Michigan State.”

A strong relationship with wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, who will be staying at

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