Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald is just days away from making his first transfer portal calls in a few years, and he will have some talented players to consider.
The Spartans have lost a starting running back, a starting receiver, a projected starting tight end, a backup quarterback, and several other depth pieces so far this offseason, but those departures will be addressed in the portal.
Which early NCAA Transfer Portal entrants should Fitzgerald be targeting?
Nick Marsh, WR (Michigan State)
Does this really count since Nick Marsh just entered the portal a few weeks ago after Fitzgerald was hired at Michigan State? I’d say so seeing as Courtney Hawkins has returned and that has to change things for the sophomore sensation who has modeled his game around Megatron.
Fitzgerald has to at least make the call for one final push in the Marsh sweepstakes.
Jontez Williams, CB (Iowa State)
Hiring Hank Poteat away from Iowa State may pay some major dividends for Fitzgerald and Michigan State immediately. The new Spartan cornerbacks coach is one of the best at what he does in college football, and with his former student-athlete Jontez Williams in the transfer portal, he could make a run at him.
Poteat already has the relationship and Williams knows how good his former position coach is, so it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see Michigan State make a run at him.
Jibriel Conde, DL (Grand Valley)
Does this name look familiar? That’s because Jibriel Conde was supposed to visit Michigan State under Jonathan Smith before he committed to Wisconsin a week before the trip was set to take place. He then flipped his commitment to Kansas and that’s where it currently stands.
Fitzgerald could reach out and see if the interest is still there because Conde was at least willing to entertain Michigan State even with Smith likely losing his job.
Conde had 30 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 2025 with Grand Valley.
Jahiem White, RB (West Virginia)
There are several running backs who will get more attention in the transfer portal, but Jahiem White might be the most overlooked on the market. He suffered a season-ending knee injury just two games into the 2025 campaign so that may have hurt his stock a bit, but there’s no way he should be just the No. 21 back in the portal.
In each of his first two seasons at West Virginia, he rushed for over 800 yards and he’s never averaged under 5.5 yards per carry in his two-plus year career.
While Michigan State has Brandon Tullis and Jace Clarizio, White would be a nice option to take a bulk of the carries while the other two battle for RB2 duties.
Chaz Coleman, DE (Penn State)
Is it really worth pursuing the No. 1 player currently in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports? He’s going to have a who’s who of elite programs lighting up his phone when the portal window opens, and I wouldn’t be shocked if there were already teams reaching out to him about transferring in.
The early talk is Ohio State, but I would like Fitzgerald to at least make the call, especially since Michigan State hired one of the best young defensive line coaches on the market.
Chaz Coleman looked promising in his freshman season and he has ”future superstar” written all over him. Michigan State could use some pass-rushing help.