It’s been a few days since Michigan State football hired Jonathan Smith to be the 26th head coach in program history and he’s already dealing with some attrition.
Michigan State has lost a number of players to the portal early on after the Smith hire and some of the names have been shocking. Guys like Sam Leavitt, Katin Houser, Tyrell Henry, Ethan Boyd, and Geno VanDeMark stand out as shocking departures, but that’s bound to happen any time there’s a coaching change.
From all angles, this hire of Smith is a good one and although he seemed to leave Oregon State on bad terms (according to their fans), he said all the right things in his intro presser.
Now, he’ll be forced to deal with the attrition that he’s facing, especially the fact that he has now zero scholarship quarterbacks left after Noah Kim joined the rest of the quarterbacks in announcing their intentions to transfer.
Fortunately, there are some guys who are locked in such as Nathan Carter and Ken Talley who have both been active on social media lately.
But we’re going to keep you covered here with all of the transfer departures and those players who eventually decide to transfer in and join Smith’s program in East Lansing.
Let’s start with the departing Spartans.
Michigan State football transfer departures
love this city and state always will.
— ShowTYme Henry (@TyrellHenry12) November 28, 2023
God will lead me down the right path thank you💚 pic.twitter.com/z6v5pn8KnK
— Geno VanDeMark (@GenoVanDeMark) November 28, 2023
#MichiganState WR Christian Fitzpatrick has entered the @247SportsPortal, we’ve learned.
— SpartanTailgate.com (@SpartanTailgate) November 28, 2023
He transferred to MSU from Louisville.
Michigan State QB Noah Kim has entered the transfer portal, @mzenitz and I have learned for @247Sports.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) November 28, 2023
Kim is listed as a grad transfer in the @247SportsPortal. https://t.co/9n0azqF6Ev pic.twitter.com/9kJAs6Hyv4
— Kevin Wigenton II (@kevinwigenton71) November 27, 2023
— Ethan Boyd (@Ethan_Boyd1) November 27, 2023
Michigan State four-star freshman QB Sam Leavitt is expected to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @247sportshttps://t.co/vptFrVyOZJ pic.twitter.com/IOoT70H9Y2
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) November 27, 2023
I can confirm @PeteThamel’s report that Michigan State QB Katin Houser intends to enter the transfer portal.
— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) November 27, 2023
Three years of eligibility left for the former four-star recruit. @247SportsPortal
— spencer brown (@s_brown55) November 27, 2023
Michigan State football incoming transfers
So far, Michigan State has yet to land a transfer this offseason, but that’s likely to change when the portal opens on Dec. 4.