Michigan State football: Who are the current transfer OL targets?

Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith admitted that the trenches needed some help. So what has he done? He’s gone out into the portal to look for it.

Smith has offered a handful of guys and he’s even gotten visits scheduled. Not all of his targets have been offensive linemen, but with how poorly that group fared this season, fans are focusing on that position group.

Let’s take a look at the current targets in the 2025 transfer class — and one in the high school ranks.

OL Caleb Carter (Western Carolina)

Caleb Carter was part of FCS Western Carolina’s pass-heavy offense last season, with the Catamounts leading the nation in passing yards per game. He is quite used to the pass blocking elements, however, there is a drawback: his unit averaged less than 4.0 yards per rush and was in the bottom 20 in the FCS for sacks allowed. He visited with the Spartans on Monday.

OL Josh Thompson (Northwestern)

The Fenton, Mich., native is a player that has been receiving plenty of calls, and the Spartans are trying to get his talents and fend off the Michigan Wolverines. Both Michigan and Michigan State football have set up visits with the multi-year Wildcat starter at tackle. He would be a massive recruiting victory for Smith, as a failure to secure Thompson’s commitment means that he and rush end coordinator Chad Wilt likely gameplan for him next season when the Wolverines come to town.

OL Luke Baklenko (Stanford)

Luke Baklenko is another player that has starting experience, with the lineman starting five games as a true freshman and then playing this season for the Cardinal. The Spartans are trying to court the former Pac-12/ACC product over SEC schools Oklahoma and Auburn. Michigan State, Auburn, and Oklahoma all have visits set up with Baklenko, so this recruitment has many twists and turns left.

OL Antonio Johnson (high school)

Antonio Johnson is a current target for the Spartans. Hailing from Orchard Lake, Mich., he would be the fourth St. Mary’s commit from the Spartans’ 2025 cycle, joining fellow state champs Bryson Williams, Jayden Savoury, and Charles White. Johnson projects as an interior offensive lineman. If the Spartans can land Johnson over Big Ten foes Illinois and Penn State, it would be a massive success to wrap up Smith’s first full MSU high school recruiting cycle. This is a battle that I could see lasting until National Signing Day Part II in February. He would join Williams at the table for players signing that day, as he was the only Michigan State football commit to not sign the new “unofficial” NILs last week.