Spartan Nation

Another Michigan State Defensive Starter Enters Transfer Portal

The Spartans' roster is getting stripped to the studs, and its up to Jonathan Smith to put a competitive team together this offseason...

Matthew Lounsberry

In this story:

Interim head coach Harlon Barnett did well to keep Michigan State's roster together to finish the 2023 season, but the Spartans have continually hemorrhaged talent since the conclusion of the year last weekend.

Fifteen members of the MSU football team have entered or declared their intent to enter the transfer portal this week, including starting defensive end Zion Young on Friday and offensive lineman Brandon Baldwin on Wednesday.

Young, who was pressed into a starting role for two games as a true freshman in 2022, was one of Michigan State's top defensive players throughout the 2023 season. Over his two-year career at MSU, Young appeared in 20 games (14 starts) and recorded 47 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Baldwin, a redshirt junior, played in 10 games for Michigan State this season, making multiple starts at tackle. He played in nine games with five starts at left tackle in 2022 for MSU. He joins a swath Spartan offensive lineman who have entered the transfer portal this week, including guard Geno VanDeMark, guard Kevin Wigenton, tackle Ethan Boyd and tackle Spencer Brown. Michigan State lost tackle Keyshawn Blackstock to the portal during the season.

Content is unavailable

In addition to Young and the offensive linemen, Michigan State has seen departures from nine others — quarterbacks Noah Kim, Katin Houser and Sam Leavitt, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, linebacker Darius Snow, wide receivers Jaron Glover, Tyrell Henry and Christian Fitzpatrick, and punter Michael O'Shaughnessy.

Four other Spartans 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. All transfer portal activity for Michigan State football can be viewed here.

For more coverage of Michigan State Athletics:

Published
Matthew Lounsberry
MATTHEW LOUNSBERRY

Home/Football