Why Zeeland's Carson Gulker chose MSU after hitting transfer portal
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ZEELAND – Carson Gulker has had a wild week.
The Zeeland West High School graduate entered his name in the college football transfer portal on Tuesday and his phone blew up immediately.
When the dust settled, he chose Michigan State University.
“Yeah, I am going to MSU. Go Green!” said Gulker, who grew up as an MSU fan. “I had to make 8-year-old me happy. It’s unbelievable. I’m pretty pumped.”
Gulker spent the past four years at Ferris State University, where he was a part of three NCAA Division II National Championships. He will have one year of eligibility with the Spartans.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Gulker spent his first two years as a quarterback for the Bulldogs. But he broke his leg in Game 2 of his third season. So he got a medical redshirt. During that season, it opened up the door for quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who is now a star at Ole Miss.
When Gulker returned, Ferris State coach Tony Annese suggested he become a tight end instead.
“We moved him to that position thinking ‘OK, he’s probably an NFL-caliber athlete.’” Annese told the Sentinel on Oct. 25. “If NFL organizations don’t know about this player, they should start. He’s a legit athlete.”
Last season, Gulker caught 34 passes for 548 yards and seven touchdowns as a tight end. As a QB, he was 8-of-15 passing for 141 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball. Gulker had 81 carries for 541 yards and five touchdowns.
So what does MSU plan to do with him?
“Mainly I’d be a tight end,” Gulker said. “But they’ll get creative and try get the ball in my hands (in other ways).”
On Tuesday morning, Gulker got a call from MSU tight ends coach Brian Wozniak.
“They called me as soon as I got in the portal,” Gulker said. “I hope to get a shot in the NFL. They were one of the first to hit me up on Tuesday morning. (Wozniak) said, ‘Why don’t we get you to MSU tonight? So I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Why did he choose Michigan State?
“I had a really good feeling when I met the coaching staff and what they were looking for,” he said. “I like their creativity. It’s a good fit for my skill set.”
How much NIL money was involved?
“I have no idea,” Gulker said. “My agent will tell me at some point. I didn’t make my decision on money at all.”
He had other offers, too. Specifically from Louisiana State University, which just hired coach Lane Kiffin.
“I had a lot of interest, which was really cool,” Gulker said. “LSU offered me. I had other offers, too. Which is a blessing. I talked to their tight ends coach, Joe Cox.”
The whirlwind doesn’t stop for Gulker. He is getting enrolled and already has to be on campus this week. MSU’s new coaching staff wants to get to know its new players.
“I’ll move in the next few days,” Gulker said. “I’ll be there Friday, and we’ll start on Sunday. We have a team meeting. Most of the staff just got there three or four days ago.”
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Why Carson Gulker of Ferris State chose to transfer to Michigan State
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