Two Michigan State Players Leave Football Program
There has been on-going speculation on whether Michigan State football would suffer a "mass exodus" of players to the transfer portal in the wake of head coach Mel Tucker's firing.
When Tucker was ousted on Sept. 27, that opened a 30-day window for MSU players to immediately enter the NCAA transfer portal. Thus far, we have not seen any new entries from the Spartans' roster to the portal, but Michigan State has suffered its first two departures.
Defensive back Justin White and long snapper Hank Pepper are no longer with the program, an MSU spokesperson confirmed ahead of the Spartans' 26-16 loss to Iowa this past Saturday. After the game, interim head coach Harlon Barnett cited playing time as the reason for White's departure, while noting that Pepper's motivation was tied to saving a year of eligibility.
"If that's what they choose to do, that's their choice," Barnett said. "We let them know what we're going to do, as far as that's concerned. Still love those guys, Justin and Hank. Wish them well, but that was the decision that they made. Okay, more power to you."
During Tucker's tenure, there were rare times when Michigan State players would enter the transfer portal but still be allowed to practice with the team. That happened with linebacker Ben VanSumeren ahead of the Spartans' 2021 Peach Bowl victory, as well as in spring practice last year.
Barnett said that's not how MSU will handle portal entrees or departures this season.
"We're going to fight with the guys that are still in the locker room," he said. "And, as you can see, these guys are fighting. They're giving us everything they got."
Pepper, a junior, has not used a redshirt yet during his collegiate career, opening the door for him to do so by sitting out after playing in the first four games of 2023.
Last season, Pepper played in five games before missing the final seven games due to injury. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2021, and has been a reliable snapper for the Spartans' special teams when healthy. Michigan State had several issues with long snapping last season with Pepper out of the lineup.
White, a redshirt senior, appeared in three games this season (Central Michigan, Richmond and Washington). He recorded three tackles, including a tackle for loss, in 36 defensive snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus.
White transferred to Michigan State from Division II Colorado Mesa in 2020, but sat out for one season to accommodate the NCAA's transfer rules at that time. He then played in all 13 games in 2021 and in eight games in 2022 before being suspended in the final four games for his role in the tunnel incident at Michigan Stadium.
In 24 career games as a Spartan, White totaled 33 tackles, including one for loss, an interception, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery. White retains one season of collegiate eligibility in 2024.
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