Michigan State football: 5 potential transfer portal QBs to target

Michigan State football is officially without a quarterback heading into the offseason. Here are some transfers to target.

As the Jonathan Smith era begins in East Lansing, he will immediately be tasked with rebuilding an already poor Michigan State football roster that has lost multiple starters. The quarterback position is the most interesting aspect, though. All three scholarship quarterbacks — Katin Houser, Sam Leavitt, and Noah Kim — have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal.

That begs the question of who might be under center for the Spartans next season.

Aidan Chiles, Oregon State

Aidan Chiles is finishing up his true freshman season in Corvallis. So far, he has been the clear fan favorite for the QB1 spot next year, and for good reason. Chiles was the No. 152 overall recruit and No. 12 quarterback in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite. If he were to enter the portal, he would have three years of eligibility left. That means would have the time to build back up MSU’s program and forge a true legacy in East Lansing. 

Chiles has also looked great in his limited action. He is 24-for-35 through the air for 309 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. There is some mobility, too, as he has 79 rushing yards on 17 carries and three rushing touchdowns. The move makes tons of success for both sides. Michigan State gets a potential three-year starter, and Chiles gets to follow his coach to East Lansing towards an expanded role. 

D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson/Oregon State

This one is less likely to happen but it would not shock me. Uiagalelei should have one more year of eligibility left due to the COVID-19 year and there could be a desire to follow Smith as well (although his dad may have something to say about that). The former five-star recruit has been solid for the Beavers this season. Uiagalelei has completed 57 percent of his passes for 2,638 yards, 27 total touchdowns, and seven picks. He has proven he is a Power Five level starter and could continue his revival in Spartan Stadium. 

Tyler Van Dyke, Miami

A man that received a little bit of early-season Heisman hype, Tyler Van Dyke has run into troubles towards the end of the season. He enters the portal following a season of 20 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Turnovers are definitely a concern, but he had 11 combined in the two years prior. He threw for 25 touchdowns compared to just six picks in 2021. Van Dyke would also be a one-year deal. The fact that he has shown he can be a great quarterback in the past and his amount of experience could make him an attractive target for Smith. 

Tyler Shough, Oregon/Texas Tech

Set to be a sixth-year collegiate player next season, Smith does have some familiarity with Tyler Shough. His Beavers got a win against Shough during the 2020 season and he went 20-for-31 for 285 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions in that game. 

Even though he has played five seasons of football, Shough could potentially argue he has two years of eligibility left. He has played more than four games in a season three times, and one of those was the COVID-19 year. Shough would probably be seen as more of a backup option, due to stats that are not exactly eye-popping and the fact he has been unable to hold onto starting jobs at Oregon and Texas Tech. 

Will Howard, Kansas State

This would probably be a long shot. When entering the portal, Will Howard probably has a starting job at a program with more recent success than Michigan State football in mind. Regardless, there is nothing wrong with trying to take a run at the man that led Kansas State to their first Big 12 championship in a decade. Doing so would require Smith to sell Howard on a vision that involves immediate success, as Howard has one year left. 

Frankly, that almost certainly won’t happen. Even more frankly, I would not be shocked if that is the quarterback that Michigan State sees when it visits Michigan Stadium if J.J. McCarthy was to enter the NFL Draft. 

Katin Houser

Entering the transfer portal does not mean someone has to leave. Charles Brantley did so last offseason. It can certainly make sense for Houser to stay in East Lansing. Firstly, Jonathan Smith played quarterback for Oregon State from 1998-2001. That means he has a special appreciation for what Houser is going through and how to help him. Additionally, the definite exit of Sam Leavitt means Houser’s main competition for the starting job next season is no longer there. Fans have an appreciation for Houser. He handled the Mel Tucker fiasco and the end of the season about as well one could ask him to. He helped bring back the Old Brass Spittoon from Indiana at the very least.

Vast improvement for Houser could be expected with someone not named Jay Johnson calling plays, an easier schedule that does not include Washington, Ohio State, or Penn State, and just another offseason to improve underneath his belt. 

Through all the chaos between a coaching change and the portal, keep in mind that this is very early in the whole process. More quarterbacks will inevitably hit the transfer portal and the list for Michigan State football could grow a lot.