Michigan State Football: Mel Tucker’s rebuild looks ahead of schedule

First, it was the transfers out of the Michigan State football program. Next, it was Mel Tucker signing his first recruiting class. Finally, it was been capped off with over a dozen transfers in and the second wave of departures.

What Tucker has done in just a year has been remarkable.

Sure, the Spartans finished just 2-5 a season ago, but with the roster makeup following a few lackluster recruiting classes in a row under Mark Dantonio, it seemed like the rebuild was going to take years. The two wins in year one were both against ranked opponents but with the roster he had to work with, it’s hard to believe they even won that many games.

And this was all without a real offseason and he hadn’t been able to work with his team at all and meet and develop a relationship with his players in person. Heck, he hasn’t even been able to recruit in person yet.

But he still finished with a better first recruiting class than Dantonio’s last and he’s brought excitement back to East Lansing.

Michigan State football’s rebuild ahead of schedule — on paper

On Tuesday afternoon, Michigan State landed former four-star JUCO recruit and Alabama cornerback Ronald Williams which marked the 15th transfer into the program.

This is the makeup of those incoming transfers:

Every single incoming transfer should have an impact right away for the Spartans and when you look at where Michigan State’s outgoing transfers headed (mostly the MAC), the roster flip has been positive, to say the least.

Michigan State will be far more talented in 2021, on paper, than it was in 2020.

The transfer portal has been utilized to perfection by Tucker as he’s landed former four-stars such as Williams, Maliq Carr, Quavaris Crouch, Itayvion Brown, Harold Joiner, and Drew Jordan. Don’t forget about high-impact players such as Jarrett Horst, Kenneth Walker III, Anthony Russo, Chester Kimbrough, and Christian Fitzpatrick.

What Tucker has done with the roster in one season proves two things: he wants to win now and he’s dedicated to recruited 24/7.

Michigan State might be more competitive in 2021 than anyone expected.