Michigan State football to host coveted Grand Valley DT transfer this weekend

Michigan State football is getting set to host coveted Grand Valley State defensive tackle transfer Jay’viar Suggs this weekend.

Defensive linemen have been the most sought-after position in the transfer portal this cycle. Elite programs are offering top-tier money for even average defensive linemen. Michigan State football has been the victim of defensive line room raiding with the departures of elite playmakers Derrick Harmon and Simeon Barrow and high-potential redshirt freshman Bai Jobe.

The staff continues to work its connections to try and replace the two starting defensive tackles they lost. On Friday, the staff secured a huge commitment from Brandon Lane out of Stephen F. Austin. Now, the Spartans are turning their focus to adding much-needed depth at the position.

One of the top defensive linemen in the transfer portal is Grand Valley State’s Jay’viar Suggs. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound run-stopper has garnered plenty of interest from SEC and Big Ten schools. Per 247Sports, Suggs has recently updated his visit schedule and current is slated to be in East Lansing starting on Sunday.

NEWS: #MichiganState is expected to host transfer DT Jay’vier Suggs on Sunday, per @AllenTrieu.

He’ll have visited FSU, Arkansas, Wisconsin and UK by then. MSU last up.

Suggs has 36 offers and is one of the top DTs in the portal.https://t.co/rrKq03JyU9 ($) @JayviarSuggs7 pic.twitter.com/Vymj4yv27o

— SpartanTailgate.com (@SpartanTailgate) April 30, 2024

Other schools currently interested in Suggs include Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Florida State.

Defensive linemen in the portal are being offered large NIL deals to transfer.

As Suggs makes his rounds, Michigan State has an edge when it comes to location. Grand Valley is located around Grand Rapids, Mich., which is just a short drive from East Lansing.

The Clarkston, Mich., native went unranked in high school and held just one offer: Grand Valley State. As a late-bloomer, Suggs recorded 42 tackles in 22 games with the Lakers including 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and a forced fumble. More than half of these stats were recorded during the 2023 season when he really popped off.

The undergrad transfer portal window closes on May 1 and Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith will continue to push hard to add to a position group that went from the team’s greatest strength to a potential weakness in the matter of days.

There has been no indication who the favorite is to land Suggs right now but keep a close eye on this recruiting battle to come to a close in the next week or two.