New coordinator Joe Rossi continues to build the future of Michigan State football’s defense from inside the state borders.

DiMari Malone pledged to become part of the Spartans’ 2025 recruiting class on Sunday. The Macomb Dakota junior joins fellow three-star linebacker Charles “DJ” White, from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and quarterback Leo Hannan, from California, as giving commitments to new coach Jonathan Smith for the next recruiting class.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Malone is rated No. 11 in the state for 2025, the 83rd-best linebacker in the nation and No. 773 player overall, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings. He chose MSU and Smith over offers from Illinois, Minnesota, Pitt and several Big Ten and MAC programs.

INCOMING MONARCH: Michigan State football lands Old Dominion DT Jalen Satchell from transfer portal

Linebacker has been a major point of emphasis on defense since Smith and Rossi arrived in the winter.

Rossi, who previously was defensive coordinator with the Gophers, also pulled four-star linebacker Brady Pretzlaff away from a commitment to Minnesota in the 2024 class. The Gaylord native enrolled at MSU in January.

The Spartans also brought in three transfer linebackers for 2024 in January enrollees Jordan Turner (Wisconsin) and Wayne Matthews III (Old Dominion) along with recently committed Marcellus Pulliam (Miami-Florida). Turner originally is from Farmington.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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Many people in Michigan got a chance to see the Northern Lights on Friday and Saturday night, and if the weather cooperates, we might get another chance Sunday night.

When is the best time to look for Northern Lights in Michigan?

According to the NOAA, the best time to view the aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight. So, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Northern Lights forecast map

Here’s a look at the projected forecast: The red line shows how far south the aurora could stretch.

Northern Lights viewing tips:

• Look north! The aurora will likely be on the horizon but higher in the sky the further north you are.

• Dim the lights: Find an area with less light pollution for your best chance.

Michigan Panthers (4-2) vs. D.C. Defenders (3-3)

Kickoff: Noon Sunday.

Where: Audi Field in Washington.

TV: ESPN.

Streaming: Check out the Michigan Panthers on Fubo (free trial).

THE JAKE BATES SHOW: Bates hits another game-winning field goal in Michigan Panthers’ 28-27 win

BOX SCORE

Game notes: The Michigan Panthers can virtually clinch a United Football League playoff berth — and the franchise’s first .500-or-better record in three seasons — with a victory today. Memphis’ loss Saturday afternoon eliminated the 1-6 Showboats, and 1-5 Houston faces 4-2 San Antonio this afternoon at 3 p.m.. D.C.’s playoff hopes are on the edge, as they enter the day trailing St. Louis (which won Saturday) by 2½ games and San Antonio by a game with three weeks to play after today.

This should be a good matchup for the Panthers, who entered the weekend with the No. 2 rushing offense in the league, averaging 108.2 yards a game on the ground. The Defenders, meanwhile, are doing anything but; D.C., led by notorious ex-NFL defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, is next-to-last in stopping the run, at 112.5 yards a game, and stopping the pass, at 200.7 yards a game.

The Panthers have won two straight with backup QB Danny Etling under center; the former Purdue and LSU standout is completing 63.1% of his passes for 482 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Etling might not get the start vs. the Defenders however, with reports suggesting former Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke is now atop the Michigan depth chart. The Panthers’ top target has been the do-everything Marcus Simms, who has 19 catches for 385 yards — No. 2 in the league — and three touchdowns while also delivering seven kickoff returns for 201 yards; he’s fifth in all-purpose yards.

There’s also likely to be a shuffle among the Panthers defenders, with star linebacker Frank Ginda — last season’s USFL Defensive Player of the Year — potentially out for the season. Ginda was tied (with Kai Nacua) for the team lead in tackles with 35 (21 solo).

D.C., meanwhile, features former Lions practice squadder — they’re all over the place — Jordan Ta’amu at quarterback. The former Ole Miss star — and the XFL’s Offensive Player of the Year last season — is completing just 53.6% of his passes, but is third in yards (1,067) and second in TDs (eight). He’ll be looking for Kelvin Harmon, who has 338 receiving yard on 25 catches — more than twice as many as any other Defenders option.

After today, the Panthers return home for their Ford Field finale against the Showboats at 4 p.m. Saturday. (They wrap up the season with a visit to Houston on May 26 and a stop in Birmingham, Alabama, on June 1.) The Defenders, meanwhile, hit the road for two weeks — first at St. Louisin May 19 and Memphis on May 26 — before closing things out at home against Arlington.

Contact Ryan Ford at rford@freepress.com. Follow him on X (which used to be Twitter, y’know?) @theford.