It's been a busy offseason so far for Jonathan Smith. After taking over as Michigan State football coach in the winter, he was forced to turn around a recruiting class that had lost just about everyone. The Spartans' class went from the 90 range nationally all the way up into the top 40.
Now, he has to build his roster through the transfer portal after losing dozens of players to just that over the past few months.
The spring transfer window has been a whirlwind as projected starters like Derrick Harmon, Simeon Barrow, Geno VanDeMark, and Jade Mangham all went portaling. Replacing them won't be easy, but Smith is doing his best to supplement the current roster with talent from the portal.
With the defensive line getting hit hard by the portal, Smith has set up two official visits this weekend that should address that issue.
We already knew about Jay'viar Suggs, a coveted defensive line transfer from Grand Valley State who is visiting this weekend but now there's another player who will be on campus: Ru'Quan Buckley. The former three-star defensive lineman from Grand Rapids will be in East Lansing this weekend for an official visit, according to Allen Trieu of 247Sports.
Nebraska DL transfer Ru’Quan Buckley is taking an official visit to Michigan State beginning tomorrow.
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) May 4, 2024
He is a Grand Rapids native. (VIP)https://t.co/klFKLPeac1
Buckley doesn't have the stats to really make him a coveted transfer as he's appeared in just nine games over three years with Nebraska, recording two total tackles, but he has the frame at 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds to make him a legit Big Ten-ready lineman. He just needs a change of scenery.
Plus, Michigan State recruited him when Mel Tucker was still in town but lost him to Scott Frost.
We'll see if Smith can land one or both of these defensive line transfers who have ties to the state of Michigan.