Michigan State football: 2 Spartans-turned-Wolverines may be out for Saturday’s game

The annual Michigan vs. Michigan State football game takes center stage not just in the state of Michigan but also in the college football world. While it’s not always a matchup between two ranked teams (especially not lately), it’s always heated and there are usually fireworks.

The fireworks (at least on the field) have been missing over the past two seasons but Michigan State is trying to bounce back.

Players know how meaningful this game is, especially if they’ve appeared in this game before or are from the state of Michigan. Every player or recruit who was raised in Michigan knows just how much these two schools hate each other. It’s palpable.

So there’s real hatred between the teams when they face each other.

But that didn’t stop a couple of former Spartans from transferring or flipping to Michigan. Despite knowing just how deep the hatred runs in this rivalry, former starting safety Jaden Mangham opted to transfer to Michigan this past offseason despite adamantly stating he was sticking it out in East Lansing through the coaching change because “why quit now?” — per his own words.

Well, he may miss Saturday’s game with an injury and he really hasn’t had any effect on his new program, playing in just one game this season and recording zero statistics. He talked a big game this summer, too.

The other former Spartan who could miss Saturday’s rivalry game against his former team is Rayshaun Benny. While he was never officially a Spartan, he was committed for a while and then flipped to the Wolverines on signing day. He, too, knew how much this rivalry meant. Benny, unlike Mangham, has had a decent season thus far on the defensive line with 21 tackles, three tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Another familiar name in this rivalry, Enow Etta, could also miss the game. He was considered a Michigan State lean for a while during recruiting before surprising everyone by picking Michigan. He is also listed as questionable for Saturday.

If you’re like me, you want to see all of these guys suit up for Michigan and give the Spartans their best shot.