Projecting defensive starters for Michigan State football in 2024

Linebacker 2: Wayne Matthews III

Next up is another transfer linebacker in Wayne Matthews III, who comes to Michigan State after spending three years at Old Dominion.

Matthews is an easy choice for me here as he was ranked the fourth-best transfer linebacker in the country this offseason according to 247Sports.

Last year at Old Dominion, he was second in his conference with a whopping 135 tackles. This includes seven games hitting double digit tackles and amassing 14 tackles in their bowl game.

Matthews also was second on his team last season in tackles for loss and sacks with 9.5 and 3.5, respectively.

Matthews joins an already solid Michigan State linebacker room, but when you come across this type of talent you can’t pass it up. Matthews also still has two years of eligibility remaining, so he will surely become a household name in East Lansing before his career is over.