We are inching closer to the opening of the NCAA Transfer Portal and Michigan State fans are already licking their chops in anticipation of Pat Fitzgerald finding some gems.
The new Michigan State head coach has a tall task on his hands, trying to flip a roster that fell short talent-wise in the Big Ten during the entire Jonathan Smith era. It was very clear that Michigan State just didn’t have the talent to hang with the Oregons, Ohio States, and even Michigans of the Big Ten.
Fitzgerald is working on that already by hiring a quality coaching staff and he may have found his final piece on Monday night with the reported hire of Wisconsin running backs coach Devon Spalding.
The new running backs coach spent three years at Wisconsin under Luke Fickell and was also on his staff at Cincinnati that made the College Football Playoff. He’s coached some really good backs like Braelon Allen and Jaleel McLaughlin, but there’s one that could help him at his new job immediately.
That immediate help could come in the form of Wisconsin’s freshman running back Dilin Jones who just entered the transfer portal.
Dilin Jones could help Michigan State immediately
Jones was one of Wisconsin’s top-ranked recruits in the 2024 class and he is one of the highest-rated four-star backs to ever commit to the Badgers. Spalding helped bring him in.
As a true freshman in 2024, the former top-150 recruit rushed for just 88 yards, but he did average 5.5 yards per carry.
Jones was able to retain his redshirt and became Wisconsin’s starting running back in 2025, but the offense was a disaster and he finished with just 300 yards and two touchdowns on 3.9 yards per carry. He did show flashes against Michigan, rushing for 63 yards and a touchdown, and then he ran for 69 yards against Iowa.
He entered the transfer portal a week ago.
With the right offensive scheme, Jones could be a legitimate star at this level. If he wants to remain in the Big Ten, get RB1 touches, and play for someone he’s familiar with, Michigan State is the spot for him.
Michigan State brings back Brandon Tullis and Jace Clarizio but it lost Makhi Frazier to the transfer portal. Adding a legit RB1 like Jones would immediate upgrade the position and make MSU more balanced.
Spalding could work his magic right away.