3 Michigan State Offensive Lineman Enter Transfer Portal
While Michigan State football's interim head coach Harlon Barnett was able to keep most of the Spartans' roster together after Mel Tucker was fired in late September, the dam has now burst in East Lansing.
On Monday, five more MSU players either entered the NCAA transfer portal or declared their intentions to do so when the fall portal window opens to undergraduate students on Dec. 4. It started with graduate linebacker Darius Snow, continued with starting quarterback Katin Houser and now includes a trio of offensive lineman.
Redshirt senior tackle Spencer Brown, redshirt sophomore tackle Ethan Boyd and redshirt sophomore guard Kevin Wigenton have also departed Michigan State's program. As a graduate, Brown's name has already been entered into the portal. As undergraduates, Boyd and Wigenton will have to wait until Dec. 4 to enter their names into the portal.
Spartan Tailgate's Justin Thind reports that both Boyd and Wigenton are open to the idea of returning to the roster and play for newly-hired head coach Jonathan Smith and new offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, but both want to weight their options in the days and weeks ahead.
In three seasons with the Spartans, both Boyd and Wigenton played extensively in reserve roles as Michigan State dealt with injuries along the O-line. Boyd appeared in 22 career games, including all 12 this season with three starts at right tackle. Wigenton played in 16 career games at MSU, including all 12 this season with six starts at the guard position. Both players have two season of eligibility remaining.
Brown announced his intention to enter the transfer portal earlier on Monday:
"Spartan Nation. East Lansing will always be home!," Brown wrote in his post. "I appreciate everybody who helped me become the man I am today since I arrived on campus. I want to thank Coach D [Mark Dantonio] for making my dreams come true! Thank you to the coached, support staff and my teammates for giving me a once in a lifetime experience! I have no regrets! Lastly, I want to thank the fans; you will always have a special place in my heart!"
During his five-year career at Michigan State, Brown appeared in 32 games and was a starter in 23 of those appearances. The redshirt senior started all 12 games at right tackle for the Spartans in 2022. He played in all 12 games for MSU this past season, making eight starts at right tackle and two starts at left tackle.
In addition to the five Michigan State players who entered, or announced their intentions to transfer, on Monday, four other players entered the portal during the 30-day window which opened to the program after former head coach Mel Tucker was fired — long snapper Hank Pepper, offensive lineman Keyshawn Blackstock, running back Jordon Simmons and defensive back Justin White.
Additionally, defensive end Tunmise Adeleye, has left the program and will likely enter the portal on Dec. 4. Cornerback Terry Roberts, who transferred to MSU from Iowa last offseason, left the program before the season began and never played for the Spartans.
For more coverage of Michigan State Athletics:
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @SpartanNationPodcast
- Follow us on Facebook: @SpartanNation
- Follow us on Twitter: @mlounsberry_SI | @a3danm
