Ken Talley becomes first Michigan State football player to hit the portal

Following a disappointing first season under head coach Jonathan Smith, Ken Talley has become the first Michigan State football player to seek an opportunity elsewhere.

Technically, this is not Talley’s first entry into the portal. The former four-star recruit originally signed his letter of intent with Penn State before transferring to East Lansing. A major factor in his recruitment was former Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker. After Tucker’s firing, Talley chose to stick things out under Jonathan Smith. Reading between the lines, it seems he was disappointed with how things played out.

Spartan Dawg 4 Life🤞🏾💚 #11out #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/GeUbGmedWB

— KEN “🃏” TALLEY (@KenTalley22) December 3, 2024

After a strong start, Talley saw his snap counts decline significantly as the year progressed. The undersized lineman had great potential due to his motor and ability to play fast. To truly succeed in the Big Ten, adding weight to his frame was likely a necessity.

It’s expected to be a busy portal season for the Spartans as they look to improve the trenches. Offensive and defensive lines were the two weakest position groups on the team. Failing to record a sack in six straight conference games, it was one of the worst defensive performances by any position group in recent memory.

Talley is the first Spartan to hit the portal and certainly won’t be the last. Word on the street says there were still some bad apples within the locker room (not speaking about Talley) this year, inherited from the previous regime. Jonathan Smith’s goals for this offseason should include eliminating all the baggage left from Tucker while also improving the trenches.

In all honesty, I was surprised it took this long to see the first departure. While players from other teams were entering the portal in a flurry, I was waiting for the first domino to fall.

I always liked Ken Talley. He appeared to be committed, played with passion, and was an outspoken member of the team. I wish him the best at his next stop and will keep an eye on his future games.

Go Green, and don’t forget to support the team in any way you can. We need it more than ever in the new NIL world.