Where undrafted Michigan State football players are signing in NFL for 2024
Jacoby Windmon's two seasons with Michigan State football both got cut short.
The next time he plays may be in the NFL.
The linebacker signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an as undrafted free agent Saturday evening, the first Spartan from the 2023 squad to agree to a deal following the conclusion of the seven-round, 257-pick NFL draft that was held in Detroit.
Here's a look at MSU's undrafted players who've reportedly agreed to terms as free agents:
DRAFTED SPARTAN: C Nick Samac selected by Baltimore in 7th round
Jacoby Windmon to Pittsburgh
Windmon played just three games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending pectoral muscle injury. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound New Orleans native had 15 tackles, with a sack among his two tackles for a loss.
Upon arriving from UNLV via transfer before the 2022 season, Windmon broke out by becoming the first MSU defensive player to earn three Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. He started the first eight games between defensive end and linebacker before being suspended for the final four games of 2022 for his role in an altercation in the Michigan Stadium tunnel following the Wolverines’ 29-7 win in Ann Arbor.
At the time of the suspension, Windmon led the nation with six forced fumbles and a team-high 5½ sacks among his 49 tackles. He also had an interception and a fumble recovery and was a second-team midseason All-American edge defender, according to Pro Football Focus, but did not receive postseason Big Ten honors.
Windmon played three seasons at UNLV, twice earning All-Mountain West honors, before transferring to MSU. He opted to return to the Spartans instead of declaring for the 2023 NFL draft.
Other signings
Two other former Spartans who transferred out of the program also reportedly landed NFL free-agent deals with the Cincinnati Bengals: defensive back Michael Dowell, who left for Miami (Ohio) following the 2021 season, and quarterback Rocky Lombardi, who transferred to Northern Illinois after the 2020 season.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Where undrafted Michigan State football players are signing NFL deals
