Michigan State football: Freshman K Jack Stone to transfer
EAST LANSING — The trek to the transfer portal has started for Michigan State football.
Jack Stone became the latest as he announced via Twitter on Monday night he plans to “transfer after this semester.” That comes three days after the freshman kicker booted the longest field goal of the season for the Spartans, a 51-yarder at the end of the first half in an eventual 35-16 loss at No. 7 Penn State on Saturday.
Stone finished 2-for-4 on field-goal attempts, making a 43-yarder against Akron in Week 2 but missing from 44 vs. Western Michigan on his first career attempt and having a 45-yard try blocked at Maryland. The 6-foot, 190-pound Dallas native handled kickoffs all season and averaged 58.7 yards on 53 attempts with just 13 touchbacks.
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MSU added Auburn transfer Ben Patton during preseason camp in August, and the redshirt junior took over place-kicking duties from Stone. Patton went 4-for-8 on field-goal attempts, including missing the potential game-winner at the end of regulation and having an overtime try blocked in a two-OT, 39-31 home loss to Indiana on Nov. 19.
The following week, MSU's only field goal try at PSU went to Stone. Sophomore Stephen Rusnak handled the one point-after kick following MSU’s first touchdown. The Spartans went for two and failed following their second score Saturday.
Both Stone and Patton finished 15-for-16 on PAT kicks this season. Patton’s field-goal misses came from 22, 28, 31 and 33 yards.
Stone becomes the second freshman kicker in three seasons to leave Mel Tucker’s program. Jack Olsen, who was part of Mark Dantonio’s final recruiting class in 2020, transferred to Northwestern following spring practices in 2021. Stone is the second Spartan this season to announce his intention to transfer, along with wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr., who left the program in October.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football: Freshman K Jack Stone to transfer
