Michigan State football offers first-team All-MAC transfer DB

If you’re familiar with the defensive back room in East Lansing, you’d know that Michigan State football could use all the help it can get.

Not only did cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin depart this offseason, but so did rising freshman Jaylen Thompson (to be closer to home) and All-Big Ten honorable mention selection Charles Brantley. The defensive backfield also saw Dillon Tatum, Malik Spencer, Chance Rucker, and Khalil Majeed suffer season-ending injuries throughout the year.

It’s safe to say that this position group could use some help ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Jonathan Smith signed a solid 2025 defensive back class via the high school ranks, but he did lose LaRue Zamorano to a decommitment when Martin announced he’d be leaving for UCLA. So to supplement that, he needs to hit the portal hard.

And he’s doing just that.

On Wednesday, the first-year head coach extended an offer to one of the top defensive backs in the transfer portal: Raion Strader.

Michigan state offered @CoachCPz @MSU_Football pic.twitter.com/UJglA2vdku

— RaionStrader (@RaionStrader) December 11, 2024

This is a big-time offer because Strader feels like an attainable target for the staff. While Martin (arguably the team’s top recruiter) has moved on, Blue Adams is still around to pitch the improvement the defensive backfield experienced in 2024. He helped make Brantley’s career year possible. That has to be intriguing for a young defensive back.

Strader was named a Freshman All-American in 2023 after he finished with 57 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, and 13 pass breakups. The Miami (OH) product had an even better sophomore year in 2024, recording 53 tackles, two picks, and an FBS-leading 18 pass breakups. Strader’s 31 pass breakups are good for the 10th-most in the MAC since 2005 — and he did this in just two years.

For his efforts in 2024, Strader was named first-team All-MAC.

Now it’s time for Smith to get Strader to campus. A visit to East Lansing changes the entire outlook of Strader’s recruitment, but he’s going to have a lot of potential suitors.