Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football didn't quite meet expectations they set for themselves ahead of the 2024 season and the former Oregon State head coach knew he needed to make some offseason moves.
Some fans wanted coaching changes at certain spots (offensive coordinator was a hot topic) but it looks like Smith is going to move forward with his guys for at least one more season. He did lose Demetrice Martin to UCLA but Blue Adams returns to coach the defensive backs and there's still an opening for cornerbacks coach.
With that change came some player attrition in the form of Charles Brantley and Jaylen Thompson and also LaRue Zamorano decommitted right before early signing day.
So the defensive backfield has been an area of concern for fans, and deservedly so. While the pass defense improved under Joe Rossi and in 2024 compared to the Mel Tucker era, it needed a boost if it was going to keep that trajectory going in a positive direction. For that reason, the portal would be a priority for the staff regarding the secondary.
And Smith has been killing it there.
Over the weekend, the first-year head coach landed NiJhay Burt from the FCS where he was incredibly productive as well as Connecticut defensive back transfer Malcolm Bell who had 94 tackles, five tackles for loss and 13 pass breakups over his three-plus years at UConn.
I can't speak on if Smith is done with the secondary in the transfer portal, but he's added three veteran players who have seen success at the collegiate level in the defensive backfield in Burt, Bell, and also Joshua Eaton from Texas State.
The secondary could be a strength in 2025.