Michigan State football: 3 positions to address in post-spring transfer portal

With the spring transfer window closed and practices in the books, here are the positions Michigan State football needs to address.

The spring transfer portal window has officially closed for underclassmen but that doesn’t mean there won’t be more roster additions in the near future for Michigan State football. However, with spring ball in the books, it’s starting to take shape.

During the spring portal window, Michigan State lost several key players from position groups that were already thin.

Projected starters like Geno VanDeMark, Derrick Harmon, Simeon Barrow, and Jaden Mangham all hit the transfer portal and left holes on the current roster. The depth chart is thinner than Jonathan Smith would like, but he will address this in the portal in the coming weeks.

With dozens of Spartans hitting the portal this offseason, which position groups need to be addressed still by Smith and Co.?

Defensive line

Michigan State lost Harmon, Barrow, Bai Jobe, and Andrew Depaepe this offseason and Brandon Lane decommitted shortly after announcing he’d be transferring to the Spartans. This group took a massive hit and while there are still some solid pieces left over like Khris Bogle, Alex VanSumeren, Jalen Thompson, Ken Talley, D’Quan Douse, Maverick Hansen, Quindarius Dunnigan, and Avery Dunn, that’s not nearly enough depth.

The ends might be set up better than the interior heading into the 2024 season, but this is clearly a position group that needs to be addressed, especially after losing two of the best transfer defensive tackles in the nation.

Safety

Losing Mangham right before the transfer portal closed on May 1 was a major blow to this defense, especially since he’s hearing from some big-time schools and is reportedly considering that school down the road. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection and figured to be a big piece on the defensive side of the ball but his departure leaves the Spartans thin at safety.

Malik Spencer and Armorion Smith are back along with Khalil Majeed and Angelo Grose, but beyond them, there are no safeties to rely upon. Michigan State football truly has to address this position in the portal unless Joe Rossi feels comfortable with what he has in these four guys.

Wide receiver

Nick Marsh broke out during the spring game and the hopes are high for him to be a legitimate weapon in 2024 and Montorie Foster and Jaron Glover also return as valuable starting options. Alante Brown is back and Antonio Gates Jr. withdrew his name from the portal. Oh, and Aziah Johnson looked solid during the Spring Showcase, but who’s there beyond them?

Smith has already targeted a couple of transfer receivers like Ja’Varrius Johnson and Elijhah Badger and he’ll need to land someone to make up for the departure of TJ Sheffield who didn’t stick after transferring in from Purdue.

There’s still plenty of time for Smith to address these positions and I fully expect him to add some depth at all three.