Michigan State football transfer portal tracker 2026

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Michigan State football transfer portal tracker 2026

The coaching change at Michigan State football is firing up the transfer portal again.

The school fired Jonathan Smith on Nov. 30, and that started the anticipated roster churn that comes with those personnel decisions, including top receiver Nick Marsh and former starting quarterback Aidan Chiles. MSU hired Pat Fitzgerald as its new coach on Dec. 1.

Less than 24 hours before the the portal officially opens Friday, Jan. 2, the Spartans had 10 offensive linemen planning to enter, though right tackle Conner Moore announced via social media Thursday evening that he plans to return for his final year of eligibility. The portal window closes Jan. 16.

Here is a look at the Spartans who have announced they plan to enter the portal; they also can withdraw their name and return to MSU.

* Previous transfer addition

OT Ashton Lepo (Jan. 1)

Michigan State's Ashton Lepo, right, and Charlton Luniewski run an offensive line drill during the first day of football camp on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in East Lansing.

A redshirt junior from Grand Haven, the 6-foot-7, 316-pound Lepo has started 14 games as a Spartan. But after starting all 12 games in 2024, he moved into a backup role this season after starting twice at right tackle, against Nebraska and UCLA, before sitting the final six games with an undisclosed season-ending injury. He has two years of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer. He is the 10th Spartan from MSU’s 2025 offensive line group to announce he plans to enter the portal, along with fellow former starters Kristian Phillips and Gavin Broscious.

CB Aydan West (Dec. 31)

Nov 1, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Javon Tracy (11) attempts to catch a pass as Michigan State Spartans defensive back Aydan West (2) defends during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

West emerged as a starter for four of his 12 games as a true freshman, finishing with 14 of his 19 tackles in the final four games. The 5-11, 190-pound Maryland native had one pass breakup and half a sack.

DE Jalen Thompson (Dec. 31)

Michigan State's Jalen Thompson, right, celebrates his tackle for a safety against Western Michigan during the third quarter on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in East Lansing.

Thompson, who has one year of eligibility remaining, had 30 tackles and 2½ sacks in 11 games this season. The 6-3, 260-pound Cass Tech product and former four-star recruit has 66 tackles and 4½ sacks over 31 games the past three seasons. He originally was part of Mel Tucker’s 2023 class.

OG Kristian Phillips (Dec. 31)

Michigan State offensive lineman Kristian Phillips (71) and wide receiver Nick Marsh (6) celebrate a touchdown against Boston College during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

Phillips, a 6-4 and 310-pound Georgia native, arrived to play for Tucker in 2022 but has battled injuries over the past two seasons. He started four games this season at right guard but played in just six games after suffering a season-ending injury in the first game of 2024.

WR Chrishon McCray* (Dec. 31)

Michigan State wide receiver Chrishon McCray (13) runs the ball against Youngstown State during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, September 13, 2025.

McCray arrived via transfer from Kent State prior to this season, and the 5-10, 171-pound native of Avon, Indiana, finished with 24 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

WR Evan Boyd* (Dec. 31)

Michigan State's Evan Boyd catches a pass while warming up before the game against Youngstown State on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Boyd, an East Lansing native, spent his first two seasons at Central Michigan before transferring to MSU last offseason and has two years remaining. The 6-3, 208-pound wide receiver finished with just three catches for 54 yards, all of which went for first downs, while playing in every game this season, with 110 snaps on offense and 32 snaps on special teams.

LB David Santiago* (Dec. 31)

David Santiago, who spent one season in East Lansing after transferring from Air Force, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. The sophomore had 12 tackles and half a sack in seven games in 2025, with a fumble forced and another recovered. The 6-4, 253-pound native of North Carolina has two years of eligibility remaining.

K Martin Connington (Dec. 30)

Michigan State place kicker Martin Connington (29) kicks a field goal against Youngstown State during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, September 13, 2025.

The redshirt freshman announced via X his intention to explore the portal with three years of eligibility remaining. Connington, an Idaho native who was part of Smith’s first recruiting class in 2024, emerged as MSU’s starter this season. He made 12 of 16 attempts, including a 50-yarder, after missing all of preseason camp and the first game of the season; he also sent 19 of his 37 kickoffs for touchbacks, with one going out of bounds. Connington originally was committed to Oregon State before following Smith and his staff to East Lansing.

TE Michael Masunas (Dec. 27)

Michigan State tight end Michael Masunas (81) makes a catch against Western Michigan during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, August 29, 2025.

After emerging as a key contributor this season and graduating earlier this month, Masunas reportedly will enter the portal according to multiple reports. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound redshirt junior started eight games and caught 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. Masunas, part of MSU’s 2022 recruiting class, has two years of eligibility remaining and could petition for a third after playing just four games in an injury-shortened 2024.

QB Aidan Chiles* (Dec. 15)

Chiles’ mother confirmed his intention to enter the transfer portal. Chiles, who has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, was sacked 51 times in 20 starts at MSU over two seasons, after arriving from Oregon State with Smith.

In his career at MSU from 2024-25, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Chiles completed 60.8% of his passes for 3,807 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Chiles also ran for 452 yards and nine scores. He was benched for MSU’s final four games of 2025.

OL Gavin Broscious (Dec. 8)

Michigan State offensive lineman Gavin Broscious (74) walks by the Spartan statue ahead of the Michigan game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, October 24, 2025.

Broscious plans to enter the transfer portal, according to his agency Dec. 8. A 6-foot-4, 308-pound grad transfer, he played in 11 games in 2025, starting four. He reportedly did not allow a sack or quarterback hit in 485 snaps.

WR Nick Marsh (Dec. 1)

Marsh plans to enter the transfer portal. He led MSU with 59 catches for 662 yards with six touchdowns in 2025. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound River Rouge product set a true freshman program record in 2024 with 41 catches and 649 yards, including three touchdown catches. 

RB Makhi Frazier (Nov. 30)

Michigan State running back Makhi Frazier (5) runs against Western Michigan safety Micah Davis (18) during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, August 29, 2025.

Frazier became the first Spartan after Smith’s firing to announce his plans to enter the portal, his agent confirmed to the Free Press. The sophomore, who led the Spartans with 520 rushing yards and 116 carries with two touchdowns, has two years of eligibility remaining. He missed three games with an undisclosed injury. The Texas native originally was committed to play for Smith at Oregon State but flipped his pledge after MSU hired the coach in late 2023.

Others

LB Darius Snow (sixth-year senior), *LS Kaden Schickel (fifth-year senior), DB Ade Willie (senior), *DE Tyler Gillison (redshirt junior), *LB Marcus Pulliam (junior), *DB Jeremiah Hughes (junior), OL Cole Dellinger (redshirt freshman), OL Cooper Terpstra (redshirt sophomore), *WR Evan Boyd (redshirt sophomore), *LB Semaj Bridgeman (redshirt sophomore), *S Tracy Revels (redshirt sophomore), DB Justin Denson (sophomore), QB Ryland Jessee (redshirt freshman), DB Elisha West (redshirt freshman), TE Wyatt Hook (redshirt freshman), DE Stone Chaney (redshirt freshman), OL Mercer Luniewski (redshirt freshman), OL Charlton Luniewski (redshirt freshman), OL Payton Stewart (redshirt freshman), OL Rashawn Rogers (redshirt freshman), OL Justin Bell (freshman), DB George Mullins (freshman).

This will be updated as players announce their intention to enter the portal.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football transfer portal tracker 2026

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