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Michigan State Spring Football: Players to Watch

With a new era underway in East Lansing, several returning Spartans will don new numbers in the fall...

Aedan Mulcrone

Spring football is underway for Michigan State and the Jonathan Smith era has begun. 

With a new season on the horizon, some familiar faces have changed their jersey numbers this spring. With several new transfers and early enrollees for the Spartans, here are a few names and numbers to look out for.

On offense, there are four players who changed their numbers, including two wide receivers and two tight ends. Senior receiver Montorie Foster Jr. changed his number from No. 83 to No. 3 and sophomore Jaron Glover has switched from No. 15 to No. 4. Defensively, there are three D-lineman that changed their numbers from last season. Redshirt junior Derrick Harmon changed from No. 41 to No. 4, sophomore Jalen Thompson from No. 55 to No. 9 and redshirt freshman Ken Talley from No. 44 to No. 11.

Michigan State added several intriguing transfers that Smith brought with him from Oregon State. The biggest name — and likely starting quarterback — sophomore Aidan Chiles will wear No. 2 for the Spartans in the fall. His teammate and one of his biggest targets, junior tight end Jack Velling, will be No. 12 for Michigan State. On the offensive line, the Spartans added All- Pac-12 guard Tanner Miller, who will wear No. 61. The three Oregon State transfers are each likely to start for the Spartans this season. 

MSU also got players out of the portal from other schools that will play important roles next season. Wisconsin transfer linebacker Jordan Turner is a likely starter who will wear No. 7. The Spartans also added two stars from ‘Group of 5’ schools, No. 99 will be Middle Tennessee State transfer defensive end Quindarius Dunnigan, and Old Dominion transfer linebacker Wayne Matthews III is No. 26. Dunnigan will be a key contributor to the Spartans’ new defensive line rotation, while Matthews is likely competing for a starting spot as well. 

In the modern era of college football, high school recruits enrolling early for spring practice have become the norm. The Spartans have nine 2024 recruits already participating in spring practice, with 12 more arriving for summer conditioning in June. A four-star prospect and one of the top wide receivers in his class, Nick Marsh, will wear No. 15 his freshman year. Currently listed at 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, he has tremendous size and has already added weight since he enrolled in January. Another early enrollee who could compete for playing time as a freshman is cornerback Jaylen Thompson, who will wear No. 16. Thompson was the first to commit to the Spartans’ 2024 class and has a chance to play right away at a position of need for Michigan State. 

MSU will look drastically different than they did last season schematically, personnel-wise and with new numbers for several returning players. Spring will give fans and coaches a chance to see what new players could make an impact in the fall and if any of the freshmen are ready for the college stage. 

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Aedan Mulcrone
AEDAN MULCRONE

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