Michigan State football to host top OL transfer Josh Thompson this week

One of the top offensive linemen in the transfer portal will be in East Lansing on Tuesday. According to reports from Justin Thind and Allen Trieu, Michigan State football will be hosting Northwestern offensive line transfer Josh Thompson.

NEWS: #MichiganState will host transfer OL Josh Thompson tomorrow, per @AllenTrieu.

The former #Northwestern RT/OG is one of the best linemen in the portal.

He’ll also visit Ohio State & Auburn this week, w/ Michigan, LSU & others planning dates.https://t.co/1T3DULvraH (VIP) pic.twitter.com/4Q0hNMCXWL

— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) December 9, 2024

Not only are the Spartans hosting him, but he’ll also be hosted by Ohio State and Auburn this week with Michigan, LSU, and others planning visits. He is from the state of Michigan and played the last four years at Northwestern where he started at right tackle but was graded as an interior offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus. Actually, PFF had him graded as the No. 2 guard in the Big Ten this year.

It’s not going to be easy for Jonathan Smith and Jim Michalczik to land the Fenton, Mich., native as his family is reported to be Michigan fans which can only mean he grew up the same way. While a lot changes when you play college sports elsewhere, he may opt to return to his home state to play for the team he probably grew up rooting for while helping protect the No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class.

Smith and Michalczik could knock his visit out of the park, however, and show him that he would not only be a starter in East Lansing, but he could be a key member in the Spartans’ turnaround efforts. That has to be an intriguing option.

Michigan State’s offensive line was one of the worst in the Big Ten this past season but to no fault of Michalczik. They were ravaged by injuries and the guys who were supposed to be solid struggled mightily.

Adding solid transfers along the offensive line for the second straight offseason is a priority for this staff and Thompson would be a perfect addition.

This is going to be a tough fight with the Wolverines and Ohio State for the Northwestern transfer.