Michigan State football lands top TE transfer target Jack Velling

What a series of days for Michigan State football. Jack Velling, the top transfer portal TE target for Jonathan Smith, committed on Monday.

Michigan State football has officially picked up another commitment from a pass-catcher. Tight end Jack Velling, who put up over 400 receiving yards in 2023 for Oregon State, is now a Spartan. This position was a huge need for the Spartans, and it gives Aidan Chiles a familiar face next season. 

🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Tw0oIoBDWE

— Jack Velling (@JackVelling) December 18, 2023

Jack Velling brings knowledge of Jonathan Smith’s system and a lot of production

Velling joins the Spartans after picking up a crystal ball prediction to East Lansing just a few short hours ago. He was ranked No. 847 in the 247Sports Composite and the No. 47 player in the country when he committed to Oregon State a few cycles ago. 

Despite the lower rankings, Velling saw the field as a true freshman, putting up a respectable season, recording 281 yards and three touchdowns. He sat behind Green Bay second round pick Luke Musgrave for the first few games before Musgrave’s injury, and stepped up. With Musgrave gone for 2023, Velling was a player expected to ramp up his production.

Velling did that, and more this season. He put up 438 yards and an astounding 8 touchdowns this season for Oregon State, including catching one from Michigan State’s new quarterback, Aidan Chiles. In only two years in Corvallis, Velling put up nearly 750 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Velling does not just bring receiving ability to the table, either. Some of the reviews of Velling out of high school also praise his blocking ability. After the blocking tight end for Michigan State last season was converted kickoff specialist Evan Morris, this is a massive improvement. 

On Dec. 6, Velling entered the portal, and a lot of Spartan fans hoped that Jonathan Smith would go all in to land him.

Less than two weeks later, those dreams came true.

Velling creates a future dynamic tight end duo with Brennan Parachek

Velling enters a Spartan tight end room that is losing Morris and Maliq Carr to the portal. Carr recorded 30 receptions for 352 yards and three touchdowns this year. When healthy this year, Carr was arguably the best Spartan pass-catcher. I believe that Velling fills this hole perfectly, and his prior knowledge of Jonathan Smith’s offensive system is a major benefit.

Additionally, Velling has been catching passes from Aidan Chiles since Chiles enrolled at Oregon State last year. 

Velling will join a tight end room that includes Brennan Parachek, Michael Masunas, and Tyneil Hopper, recovering from an injury suffered against Washington. Of these, I am very intrigued by the potential of Brennan Parachek, who recorded 6 catches for 55 yards last season. The Velling and Parachek duo makes two Spartan tight end formations next year a scary combination. Parachek earned his way to the field in the latter half of the 2023 season, and he is projected to make a leap in Smith’s system this year. Churning out multiple tight ends to the NFL is no small feat, and Velling and Parachek could be the next two.

I, for one, am very excited with the direction of Michigan State football in the last few days. Chiles and Alessio Milivojevic have received two major weapons to utilize in the last few hours, and the Big Ten should be on notice next year.