Michigan State football: Former Spartan TE Maliq Carr announces transfer destination

Maliq Carr made it official he’s not coming back to Michigan State football. He is Big 12 bound after entering the portal on Dec. 9.

Right as most college campuses are beginning their classes, Maliq Carr took to X to announce his transfer destination. The former Purdue and Michigan State football tight end will be heading to Houston.

Carr had 54 catches as a Spartan, going for just under 700 yards and five touchdowns. 

From Houston with Love 🖤❤️#gocougs pic.twitter.com/PemEGW6r2D

— maliq (@maliq_thefreak) January 8, 2024

Maliq Carr had potential, but it never panned out at tight end

Maliq Carr was a star in the 2020 recruiting class for Purdue, being rated as the No. 5 tight end and No. 126 overall by 247Sports. However, his freshman season, that potential was barely scratched. Carr only played in three games with the Boilermakers, recording a 15-yard catch. 

The Oak Park, Mich., product went to the transfer portal following the season, and Mel Tucker brought Carr closer to home. Carr spent most of his redshirt freshman season competing to be TE2 on the Michigan State football depth chart, as Connor Heyward had a resurgent final season.

That said, Carr had his first 50-yard game on Senior Day against Penn State, and followed that up with a 35-yard performance in the Peach Bowl. With Heyward on to the NFL, everyone expected big things from Carr. His athleticism was through the roof, as evidenced by his ability to walk-on to the MSU basketball team following the Peach Bowl. Carr, alongside Keon Coleman, got to be part of both Michigan State home victories against the Wolverines in the 2021-22 season. 

During the 2022 season, Maliq Carr was underwhelming, to say the least. The Spartan coaching staff brought in Daniel Barker and Carr again played second string tight end. Carr recorded modest improvements over his 2021 numbers, including his first two touchdowns. With Barker out of eligibility and none of the Spartans’ four transfer tight ends in the same ballpark as Carr’s potential, he was primed for a breakout 2023. 

Then, the transfer portal happened. Michigan State lost two top receivers (Coleman and Germie Bernard) and starting quarterback Payton Thorne. All of this would make life difficult for Carr, with a first-year starting quarterback alongside a receiver core that would not have the same impact. Additionally, Jayden Reed was off to the NFL, leaving Carr free to be the focal point of the passing game, which is good, until you realize all the Big Ten knew this, too. Despite this, I, alongside many others, believed Carr would establish himself as a late-Day 2 to early-Day 3 NFL draft pick this year.

Then, the season happened. Carr was productive for the Spartans in the receiving game this year. That said, the season was a mess. Carr started the season struggling with a few bad drops, notably one that smacked off his facemask against Central Michigan. The Spartans fired Mel Tucker and the rest of the season had issues with personnel management and misusage. Carr was on pace for a career game against Iowa until a concussion ended his game abruptly.

He also missed a game where he was listed as inactive on the injury report. Before that game, acting coach Harlon Barnett stating a player was out for disciplinary reasons. Carr and Noah Kim were the immediate guesses following this incident. However, I do want it noted that Carr took to X himself to state that it was not him. Additionally, multiple Spartans missed games this year that were not on the injury report.

Carr’s biggest struggle this season was his blocking, and an accused lack of effort during blocking. As a result, Carr did not start every game this season, only recording seven starts in 2023. One of his seven starts showed his real potential, however. He finally had his career game in the Spartans’ second-to-last game of the season, recording an amazing 117-yard performance against Indiana. This includes the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown, alongside one he had scored earlier. He finished the season with 30 catches, 352 yards, and three touchdowns. This is an average Big Ten tight end stat line, but I wonder how it would look with consistent coaching. 

After the season ended, Carr took to the portal Dec. 9, a bit after most of his teammates. The Spartan staff brought in promising tight end Jack Velling, who had been with head coach Jonathan Smith and quarterback Aidan Chiles at Oregon State. With the writing on the wall, Carr hit the portal. He also took to X to let the fans know that the new Michigan State football staff did not want him. He then deleted the tweet.

His career at the Spartans is a case of untapped potential. Carr had the gifts to be the best Spartan tight end since Josiah Price, but injuries, inconsistent quarterback play, and other distractions prevented him from truly flourishing. 

A new destination and 2024 Michigan State football outlook

After just under a month of deliberation, Carr announced he was going to the Big 12’s Houston Cougars. He will have a proven starter in Donovan Smith at quarterback for this season. The Cougars also went 4-8 this season, but their conference is losing powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. Perhaps this season Carr can flash the potential that had him as the No. 5 tight end in the country back in 2020. 

Carr joins Hank Pepper (USC), Justin White (Davenport), Noah Kim (Coastal Carolina), Spencer Brown (Oklahoma), Katin Houser (ECU), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Evan Morris (UCF), Jordon Simmons (Akron), Keyshawn Blackstock (Arkansas), Christian Fitzpatrick (Marshall), Kevin Wigenton II (Illinois), Tyrell Henry (Wisconsin), and Quavian Carter (Florida A&M) as Spartans to announce their next destination. 

The Spartan depth chart has Velling, Brennan Parachek, Jack Nickel, and Michael Masunas as scholarship tight ends for 2024. The staff also brings in Wyatt Hook, a three star in the 2024 class. Velling, Hopper, and Parachek are likely to take all the snaps at tight end this year barring injuries.