A majority of players from the Mel Tucker era of Michigan State football haven't fared well since leaving the program, and another former Spartan is the subject of some bad news on Tuesday.
We've seen guys like Bai Jobe, Andrew Depaepe, and several other "star" recruits from the Tucker era fizzle out at their new programs, but we can't overlook guys like Katin Houser, Germie Bernard, and Sam Leavitt who have all become stars since leaving Michigan State.
Unfortunately, a new "fizzled out" former Spartan has emerged -- for now.
According to reports, former Spartan wideout Aziah Johnson has left the North Carolina program after playing in just one game for the Tar Heels this season.
https://x.com/TransferPortal_/status/1968009836358144477
Johnson transferred from Michigan State this past offseason after catching 16 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns as a promising redshirt freshman for the Spartans in 2024. He was expected to be one of the key contributors to the receiving corps in East Lansing this season before he left for Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels.
There, he's fallen behind on the depth chart and had just one reception for six yards in three weeks of action. Following a Week 3 win over Richmond, he has reportedly left the program.
Nothing concrete has been reported regarding the reasoning for his transfer, but I have been told by Keeping it Heel's Nick Delahanty that he's heard Johnson "wasn't a fit" at North Carolina.
It'll be interesting to see where he goes from here. He went from having a promising redshirt freshman season under his new coaching staff to leaving a program he transferred to in the offseason just three weeks into the season.