Jonathan Smith has a chance to finish the job that Mel Tucker started. The former Michigan State football coach did a really good job recruiting five-star defensive lineman David Stone who ultimately decided to take his talents to Norman despite calling East Lansing "home" during the recruiting process.
Stone, a five-star in the 2024 class, had a final three of Oklahoma, Miami, and Michigan State before ultimately choosing the Sooners and breaking Spartan fans' hearts Jabari Parker-style.
In the end, he decided to pick a program that was going to be the best for his future and that just sadly wasn't Michigan State at the time. Looking back, he avoided disaster with the Tucker firing, but he could give the Spartans another chance with Smith in charge and in need of defensive line help.
On Friday, Stone entered the transfer portal after just one season at Oklahoma in which he recorded six total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. He's already the No. 10 transfer in the portal.
And it might be time for Smith to reach out and finish the job Tucker started.
It's unclear whether or not there will be interest from Stone in the new coaching staff because all the relationships he built in East Lansing prior to his Oklahoma commitment were with Tucker's guys. Now, Smith is in charge and he'd have to forge all new relationships but Stone is familiar with Michigan State and seemed to love campus.
We'll see what happens here, but it's worth a phone call from Smith because the groundwork was already laid with the previous coaching staff. Smith can sell playing time and the potential for a program turnaround with him in town.