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Michigan State Football: 3 transfers Mel Tucker could target in portal

By Conner Linsner

Michigan State Spartans coach Mel Tucker talks with cornerback Shakur Brown after a taunting penalty during the third quarter at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.Michigan
Michigan State Spartans coach Mel Tucker talks with cornerback Shakur Brown after a taunting penalty during the third quarter at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.Michigan /
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ATHENS, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 21: D’Wan Mathis #2 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up prior to facing the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 21: D’Wan Mathis #2 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up prior to facing the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

This option is easily the most controversial pick in this whole post. D’Wan Mathis was a former Michigan State commit back in 2019 when he was at Oak Park (Mich.) High School. The Spartans poached him away from Iowa State, but ended up losing his commitment to Ohio State. Then, on signing day, Mathis flipped to Georgia.

In only three games, Mathis has completed only 40 percent of his passes for 89 yards and he also threw one touchdown with three interceptions.

One might think those are some bad stats, and they are, but Mathis sat out all last season with a heart issue. Given he was sidelined all last year, he was not ready to be thrown out on the field this season. Georgia expected to play J.T. Daniels or Jamie Newman this season, not a redshirt freshman who was not able to practice last season.

The former four-star prospect is still just scratching the surface of his long term potential. Since Rocky Lombardi is not the answer long term for Michigan State at quarterback, why not spice up the room a little bit?

Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson clearly does not trust Payton Thorne or Theo Day to play quarterback, so it is clear there is a need to add a new player in the system.

You might think I’m crazy for adding Mathis to this list, but his upside is unmatched by any quarterback in the portal. Obviously, a more experienced player would be ideal to add through the portal at quarterback, but there are not any exciting names that would help Michigan State right now.

Michigan State might want to wait until a more experienced player comes through the portal that can help right away, but for right now Tucker should be keeping contact with Mathis.

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