Michigan State football: After transfer portal roller coaster, here's how roster stands

Another offseason, another dramatic roster reset.

Mel Tucker in 2021 ushered in the transfer portal era for college football with immediate eligibility for incoming players when he overhauled Michigan State’s locker room following his first season in East Lansing. Those moves, matched with a number of returning veteran players and a few recruiting gems, took the Spartans from 2-5 during his pandemic-shortened debut to a New Year’s Six bowl victory and 11-2 season.

And helped solidify a blueprint for roster management.

Heading into his fourth year at MSU, Tucker and his program remain in the spotlight of transfer talk. Only now, it is from losing players — starting quarterback Payton Thorne and wide receiver Keon Coleman, specifically.

That duo headlines 20 outbound transfers in a third straight summer with a high-volume roster turnover for Tucker’s program. Entering June, the Spartans had 20 players from its final 2022 roster who entered the portal and 15 inbound arrivals, with questions remaining on both sides of the ball coming off last year’s 5-7 finish that was MSU’s second time in Tucker’s tenure without a bowl berth.

RAINER SABIN: MSU has sacrificed a lot. When is the Big Ten going to return the favor?

Here is a look at where the Spartans’ reworked roster stands, though further additions and subtractions with the portal remain possible into camp as we saw last August:

Offense

The departures of Thorne and Coleman, along with Jayden Reed’s ascent to the NFL and receiver Germie Bernard’s transfer to Washington in December, leave the Spartans’ offense with an entirely unproven passing attack.

Speaking during the National College Showcase football camp Thursday at Wayne State, Tucker addressed the two transfers.

On losing Coleman, who headed to Florida State: “We've seen it, right? We've seen it. We've gotten guys out of the portal. It's really common, so I don't think it's anything that anyone should be surprised about.”

On losing Thorne, who landed at Auburn as a graduate transfer: “I just wish Payton the very best of luck. He's a really good player, a better person. He's got a great family, and we wish him well.”

What already was an open quarterback competition through spring practice now is down to two, with fourth-year junior Noah Kim and redshirt freshman Katin Houser battling each other to replace Thorne — a two-year captain and starter who ended his MSU career among the school’s leaders in touchdown passes (49, fourth), passing yards (6,494, sixth), completion percentage (60.9%, fifth) and completed passes (524, sixth).`

Kim received spot duty mainly in nonconference action and Big Ten blowout losses for his first experience last season, going 14 of 19 for 174 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in 38 snaps in appearances against Western Michigan, Akron, Minnesota and Ohio State. Houser served as the No. 3 quarterback and got just six snaps to close out a lopsided victory over Akron.

A big difference from entering the season with Thorne’s 26 games of starting experience.

“We had a really good spring. It was very competitive…,” Tucker said Thursday of the quarterback battle, adding about the inexperience of Kim and Houser: “That was the same thing people were saying about Payton a couple seasons ago. Obviously, we feel good about our situation. Our guys are very, very competitive. We're gonna play the best players, and we're gonna have a good summer and good camp.”

Who the winner of the QB job will throw to, beyond Tre Mosley, also remains in flux.

SHOW ME THE MONEY: Mat Ishbia, UWM ending name, image and likeness partnership with Michigan State

Mosley returns as the only starting wide receiver, though fellow senior Montorie Foster received some starting experience early in his career before being limited last season after foot surgery. Junior Christian Fitzpatrick, sophomore Tyrell Henry and redshirt freshmen Antonio Gates Jr. and Jaron Glover all have a chance to make an impact and win the No. 3 spot alongside Mosley and Foster. And true freshmen Jaelen Smith and Aziah Johnson arrive this summer to join the competition for playing time.

MSU also lost veteran depth with the transfers of Terry Lockett (Eastern Michigan) and Cade McDonald (Miami-Ohio) but has not added any receivers from the portal.

“Young and talented,” Tucker said of his returning receiving corps. “Really good players.”

Tight end also sees a position reset, though junior Maliq Carr stands to be one of the Spartans’ potential breakout stars. Graduated are veterans Tyler Hunt and Daniel Barker, a one-year rental who spent most of his career at Illinois. In are experienced transfers Jaylan Franklin (Wisconsin), Tyneil Hopper (Boise State) and Ademola Faleye (Norfolk State), along with redshirt freshmen Michael Masaunus and Jack Nickel and true freshman Brennan Parachek. They’ll push Carr and one-time kicker Evan Morris for playing time.

Thorne, Coleman and Reed helped MSU's passing offense a year ago rank 57th in the country at 240.0 yards per game, though the Spartans often had to try and throw their way back from deficits and tied for 90th in the nation at 24.4 points per game.

MSU ranked 127th out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in time of possession (26:13) and 96th at 353.0 yards per game of total offense in large part because the run game languished among the nation's worst after losing Kenneth Walker III to the NFL and graduated a number of veteran offensive linemen after the 2021 season.

The Spartans finished 110th in the country at 113.0 rushing yards per game in 2022, averaging only 95.2 yards against Big Ten opponents. Second-leading rusher Elijah Collins transferred to Oklahoma State for his sixth season, leaving 2022 transfer Jalen Berger (Wisconsin) to fight for carries with newcomer transfers Nate Carter (Connecticut) and Jaren Mangham (South Florida). Returning program veterans Jordon Simmons and Davion Primm also hope to work into the mix.

In front of them, MSU added highly touted junior college offensive lineman Keyshawn Blackstock to compete with left tackle Brandon Baldwin and right tackle Spencer Brown, both returning starters. Veteran starting left guard J.D. Duplain and center Nick Samac are back for their extra year of eligibility, while Geno VanDeMark got experience at right guard last season.

Defense

While the departures on offense were much more magnified, MSU lost some key veterans along the defensive line in the departures of Jeff Pietrowski (Wisconsin), Jalen Hunt (Houston) and Dashaun Mallory (Arizona State).

However, the Spartans return significant depth in the trenches with defensive tackles Simeon Barrow, Derrick Harmon, Maverick Hansen and Alex VanSumeren. They added to that by reeling in transfers with starting experience in Jalen Sami (Colorado) and Dre Butler (Liberty) and a high upside, versatile inside-out pass rush threat in Tunmise Adeleye (Texas A&M) from the portal.

To shore up issues at defensive end, Jarrett Jackson (Florida State) arrived with a wave of talented edge rushers in freshmen Bai Jobe, Andrew DePaepe and Jalen Thompson. They join 2022 transfers Khris Bogle, who got hurt early last season after arriving via transfer from Florida and Ken Talley, who had to sit out after transferring to MSU from Penn State during preseason camp. Program veterans Avery Dunn, Brandon Wright and Zion Young also return.

WHAT CHANNEL'S THAT? MSU game vs. Washington to be streamed only, no TV broadcast

Injuries and suspensions along the defensive line decimated MSU’s typically stout run defense. The Spartans ranked 101st nationally by giving up 178.6 rushing yards per game, allowing eight straight Big Ten running backs to run for 100-plus yards, and their 29 sacks (tied for 56th) was a major dip from their 42 in 2021.

Young and Wright return after missing the final four games due to suspension for the fight in the Michigan Stadium tunnel, as does MSU’s first-half defensive player of the year and midseason All-American, Jacoby Windmon. Windmon opted to return for a fifth collegiate season and second in East Lansing after opening last season at defensive end and shifting to linebacker. He’s joined by returning starters Cal Haladay and Aaron Brule, backup Ma’a Gaoteote, impressive freshman newcomer Jordan Hall and redshirt freshmen Quavian Carter and Aaron Alexander, who arrives via transfer from Massachusetts transfer. That group could get a boost if Darius Snow returns fully healed from the opening-game leg injury that cost him essentially the entire season.

Coupled with its problems against the run, MSU’s defense continued to struggle against the pass for the second straight year. The Spartans finished next-to-last in the country (130th) with just two interceptions and ranked 87th in yielding 237.9 passing yards a game.

Gone is captain and communicator Xavier Henderson, along with NFL-bound Kendell Brooks to leave a big void at safety. Jaden Mangham and Malik Spencer emerged and saw increased action as a freshmen last season, while senior Angelo Grose has starting experience at safety and nickelback. Tucker added Armorion Smith (Cincinnati) through the portal after spring practice.

Charles Brantley entered but quickly withdrew from the portal and is the lone returning starter at cornerback. Justin White, Marqui Lowery and Khary Crump are joined by transfer Semar Melvin (Wisconsin) as a transfer from Wisconsin as veteran voices. Last year’s recruiting haul of sophomore Dillon Tatum and redshirt freshmen Caleb Coley, Ade Willie and Malcom Jones should push for the other starting job. Newcomer Chance Rucker arrived in January, and fellow freshmen Sean Brown, Philipp Davis and Eddie Pleasant III hope to impress during preseason camp in August.

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

Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football roster make-up after transfer porter mess