Michigan State football lands UCF DB transfer Nikai Martinez

Michigan State football has landed yet another impactful transfer, this time it’s UCF safety Nikai Martinez.

Another day, another transfer commitment for Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football.

Just a couple of days after landing Ben Roberts from Oregon, the Spartans picked up a commitment from UCF starting defensive back Nikai Martinez who projects to play safety in 2024.

BREAKING: Michigan State picks up a huge commitment from the transfer portal, adding former UCF Safety Nikai Martinez, a highly productive player who has 2 years of eligibility
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— Corey Robinson (@C_Robinson247) May 17, 2024

This may not be a familiar name, but Martinez started all 13 games for UCF in 2023 as a true sophomore and he had a solid season with 54 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and a pass breakup. He was one of the better defensive backs on the team and started 13 games in a tough Big 12. In two years with the knights, he had 75 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions, and three pass breakups.

That’s enough for me to hear that he can contribute right away in East Lansing.

While the Spartans do have Malik Spencer and Dillon Tatum projected to start at the safety spots, I think that Martinez is the perfect depth piece and potential 2025 starter who can fill holes if guys get injured or just need breathers. He’s also good enough to start, so he could push both Spencer. and Tatum this summer — although I think those two are locked in as starters.

Jaden Mangham’s transfer probably had something to do with this addition, but I feel like even if he was returning next season, the staff needed to add some depth at safety. Martinez is the perfect addition to the position group and should make the defensive backfield better.

Martinez is the latest defensive back to commit via the transfer portal, joining Ed Woods and Lejond Cavazos and there’s chatter that Kobee Minor from Indiana will also join the mix.

This team is coming together nicely under Smith.