While some teams are preparing for bowl games, others are preparing for the 2025 season.
All of them, though, have spent the past month monitoring and mining the transfer portal for what comes next.
Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football’s staff are among those whose efforts are focused on roster building after going 5-7 in their debut season in East Lansing. The Spartans missed a bowl berth for the fourth time in the past five seasons, with the performance on the field and lack of depth in key areas making it clear they had major needs that had to be addressed with immediate impact additions.
The biggest most visible needs were in the trenches, where the offensive line finished the season with five players available after injuries and preseason attrition and the defensive line desperately desired pass rush help. And MSU also dealt with more losses at wide receiver in the portal and in the secondary, requiring further reinforcements as Smith’s first two recruiting classes ready for their turn.
Here is a list of the Spartans’ pledges from transfer portal players who are expected to arrive in January for the winter semester (updated as they commit).
Michigan State football transfer portal additions for 2025 season
Commitments are ordered with the most recent first. Click on the player’s name for more information.
- LB David Santiago, Air Force, three seasons.
- OL Matt Gulbin, Wake Forest, one season.
- CB Malcolm Bell, Connecticut, one season.
- LB Anelu Lafaele, Wisconsin, four seasons.
- CB NiJhay Burt, Connecticut, two seasons.
- WR/PR Omari Kelly, Middle Tennessee State, one season.
- OL Luka Vincic, Oregon State, two seasons.
- WR Chrishon McCray, Kent State, two seasons.
- CB Joshua Eaton, Texas State/Oklahoma, one season.
- RB Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Sacramento State, one season.
- OL Caleb Carter, Western Carolina, one season.
- DL Grady Kelly, Florida State/Colorado State, one season.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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