Michigan State football: Nick Marsh enters the transfer portal

Michigan State football star wide receiver Nick Marsh entered the transfer portal on Monday.

Following the official announcement of former head coach Jonathan Smith’s departure from the program, and the anticipated hire of former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Marsh announced his decision with intentions, even sending a message to the entire Spartan fanbase via an Instagram story.

His post read: “Appreciate everything Spartan Nation, its been a hell of a fight.  Loved and cherished every moment here and wouldn’t take it back for anything, the good and the bad.  SD4L.  Go Green!”

After losing both Marsh and the Spartans starting running back, Makhi Frazier, this past season, the new staff has some work to do in the offseason.  Of course, this does not mean you can count out a return to MSU if Fitzgerald gives him a call, but for now it is looking like it will stay this way and Marsh will head to another program to play the rest of his two years of eligibility.

Nick Marsh’s time at MSU

The former River Rouge (MI) product shined in his two seasons with MSU.  During his tenure as a Spartan, Marsh had 1,311 receiving yards on just 100 total receptions.  He also scored nine overall touchdowns in East Lansing.

Coming out of high school, the four-star committed to the Spartans during the Mel Tucker era.  He briefly decommitted when Tucker was fired, but recommitted after Jonathan Smith was hired, and preceded to break out his freshman season.

His true breakout game took place in week two against Maryland, where Marsh put up 194 receiving yards on eight receptions, and a touchdown. That mark was second-best for single game performances by a true freshman receiver in program history.  That performance, and some crazy catches over the course of the season, pushed Marsh as a top freshman receiver in the game, and had many speculating that he would transfer out of East Lansing after the season.

Marsh did not however, and stuck true to the green and white.  This past season, Marsh had nice consistency and was routinely found by both quarterbacks on the field.  His final game as a Spartan was once again against Maryland, and Marsh tore off once more, hauling in seven receptions for 85 receiving yards and a touchdown to help MSU get their first win since week 3.

The portal does not officially open until Jan. 2nd, although Marsh will have opportunity to enter during the 15-day window Spartan players have following five days following Pat Fitzgerald’s hiring. Officially, he can enter on Friday, December 5.  If the new staff wants him back, they have a month to change his mind, and finish his career in East Lansing.