Michigan State football DB enters the transfer portal after 2 seasons

Michigan State football lost its fourth player to the transfer portal.

On the morning of Dec. 8, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported that Michigan State defensive back Jeremiah Hughes was entering the transfer portal. Hughes played 13 games for the Spartans during his two-year stint.

This past season Hughes only appeared in four games for the green and white. Hughes logged three total tackles during his brief season. This leaves Hughes eligible for a redshirt if he so chooses. During Hughes’ time in East Lansing, the junior played 80 snaps on defense, and 57 on special teams. This season alone, Hughes played 21 coverage snaps and allowed four catches on six targets for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Prior to Michigan State, Hughes originally committed to play football at LSU during his freshman season. Hughes entered the transfer portal on April 19, 2024, and committed to the Spartans almost a month later on May 17.  The next school Hughes commits to will be the third of his career.

Coming out of high school at Bishop Gorman in Nevada, Hughes was a highly-ranked three-star, ranked No. 70 as a corner back and No. 8 in Nevada, with an 88 rating on 247Sports. After entering the transfer portal, Hughes slid down to an 84 rating while still retaining his three-star status.

Hughes had high expectations, especially coming from LSU, but never managed to live up to his star-power. Other cornerbacks Ayden West, Joshua Bell and Malcolm Bell held the starting spots this past season, and Hughes never beat any one of them out.

Hughes is the second defensive Spartan to hit the port, (Stone Chaney) and fourth overall. With defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and safeties coach James Adams being retained by Pat Fitzgerald and the new staff at MSU, expect to see less names enter the transfer portal, at least on the defensive side of the ball.