Michigan State football reaches out to former Michigan LB in transfer portal

Michigan State football has reached out to former Michigan linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green in the transfer portal.

A few years ago, Michigan State football was able to land a Michigan linebacker in the transfer portal. That linebacker went on to have a successful Spartan career before getting signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent.

Yes, I’m talking about Ben VanSumeren.

Michigan State took a chance on him when Michigan didn’t have a spot for him anymore.

It looks like that situation may be playing out again, although the Wolverines are trying to get Nikhai Hill-Green back. The former four-star linebacker started his career at Michigan before transferring to Charlotte. He had a solid 2023 season before deciding to jump back in the portal this spring and he’s garnering interest from some major programs, including Michigan State.

Charlotte LB Nikhai Green-Hill is officially in the transfer portal.

The former Michigan Wolverine had 73 tackles & 2 sacks for Charlotte in ‘23.

He is currently hearing from Arkansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Florida State, Colorado, & Texas A&M.

🔗: https://t.co/CxjRdjWENr pic.twitter.com/HdkW5vlVAF

— Phillip Dukes (@DukestheScoop) April 16, 2024

According to Phillip Dukes of On3, Hill-Green is hearing from Colorado, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Florida State, and Michigan (again) along with the Spartans. That’s a fairly loaded group there and each has something different to offer.

Michigan State would likely be able to offer a spot on the two-deep.

The Spartans are bringing back Jordan Hall, Cal Haladay, and Darius Snow while bringing in Jordan Turner and Wayne Matthews from the transfer portal. Now could this recent interest in Hill-Green mean that Jonathan Smith is expecting another departure from this group? Possibly, but he did just lose Ma’a Gaoteote to the transfer portal which hurt the depth a bit.

The Spartans have room for another solid linebacker and Hill-Green would be a good fit.

Michigan is a team to watch here, though. The Wolverines obviously broke ties with him when he transferred, but Sherrone Moore clearly likes his game and wants him back in Ann Arbor. He had 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a pass breakup with the Wolverines in 2021. With Charlotte in 2023, he finished with 73 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He’d look good in green and white.

Let’s hope he takes the Ben VanSumeren route.