Transfer Tally Hits Four as Jeremiah Hughes Leaves Michigan State

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The transfer portal officially opens for a two-week window beginning January 2nd. But even with a month to go, Michigan State is already feeling the effects.

On Tuesday, the Spartans saw their fourth player enter the portal as 6’0” defensive back Jeremiah Hughes announced his decision to transfer.

Hughes originally signed with LSU, played 13 games as a freshman, and transferred to Michigan State in May 2024. Over two seasons in East Lansing, he appeared in 12 games and recorded just seven total tackles, including one tackle for loss. Despite early expectations, Hughes never found a consistent role in MSU’s defense.

He now joins three other Spartans already in the portal:

  • Nick Marsh — WR: The team’s top receiver and one of the brightest young stars on the roster. The freshman standout posted 662 yards on 59 receptions, averaging 11.2 yards per catch with six touchdowns.
  • Makhi Frazier — RB: MSU’s leading rusher for much of the season. After a strong start, an injury opened the door for Davion Tau-Tolliver, who took over the job. Frazier finished with 520 rushing yards on 116 carries and two touchdowns, along with 12 receptions for 25 yards.
  • Stone Chaney — DE: A 2024 recruit from Catholic Central High School in Novi. He was ranked No. 59 in Michigan and No. 177 nationally among EDGE prospects.

While the Spartans have lost two offensive players and two defensive players, it’s the offensive departures that carry the biggest impact. Nick Marsh and Makhi Frazier were leaders both in their position groups and on the field, posting team-leading stats in nearly every major category. Replacing them will be a challenge—but not impossible. Pat Fitzgerald has a proven track record of building effective offenses from lesser-known talent, and with Michigan State’s recruiting pull, the Spartans can recover quickly if suitable replacements are found in the transfer portal. Without key reinforcements, however, it could be a long season for quarterback Alessio Milivojevic.

Despite the early losses, I do not expect a mass exodus from Michigan State. Newly hired head coach Fitzgerald has already announced he will retain defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and safeties coach James Adams, a move likely to stabilize the roster—especially among defensive backs who committed because of the current staff.

Fitzgerald’s decision makes sense. The Spartans' defense was the backbone of the team down the stretch. While closing games was an issue, MSU still held Iowa scoreless through three quarters, limited Penn State to 14 points through three quarters, and kept Minnesota to 10 points through three. The foundation is there, but stronger fourth-quarter execution will be a priority moving forward.

One positive development: starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic announced on Instagram that he will be “running it back” for 2025.

No incoming commitments have been announced yet, but that is expected to change soon. Fitzgerald will look to bring in his type of players quickly—and with $401 million fueling MSU’s resurgence, the Spartans may be aggressive in the portal as they rebuild the roster.

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