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Michigan State football Transfer Tracker: Every incoming and outgoing player following Jonathan Smith hire
The Jonathan Smith era at Michigan State football has arrived, and with it, we are going to see a TON of player movement as Smith tries to keep much of this talented roster intact while presumably bringing in guys from Oregon State and other schools around the country to put his stamp on the roster.
Below, we will keep track of every player who either enters the portal to leave, or joins MSU via the portal following the Smith hire at Michigan State.
Former MSU QB Katin Houser has his new home:
The third quarterback on Michigan State’s roster that decided to enter the transfer portal, Katin Houser has found his new home. Houser will be headed to the American Athletic Conference to play for the East Carolina Pirates.
Houser took over the starting quarterback job for the Spartans in their sixth game against Rutgers, and held it for the rest of the season, throwing for 1,130 yards on 58.6% passing with 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Committed đ´ââ ď¸ #burntheboats pic.twitter.com/0vm48J8ar0
— Katin Houser (@katinhouser) December 16, 2023
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Michigan State QB Katin Houser intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal
In a bit of breaking news that is somewhat surprising but also somewhat expected, ESPN reported on Monday that Michigan State football starting quarterback Katin Houser will enter the NCAA transfer portal.
With new MSU coach Jonathan Smith taking over and potentially bringing in his own quarterback, or choosing to roll with Oregon native Sam Leavitt, Houser will explore his option elsewhere. The former 4-star recruit started seven games for MSU this year and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Michigan State redshirt freshman QB Katin Houser tells ESPN that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining and will be immediately eligible. Houser started seven games for Michigan State this year. pic.twitter.com/YVlydJvePO
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 27, 2023
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10 current MSU players Jonathan Smith should heavily focus on retaining:
The first thing on the list for Jonathan Smith upon arriving to East Lansing will be meeting with the current roster, and recruiting the current roster to stick around and not hit the transfer portal.
No one is denying that the Spartans have a plethora of young talent on the roster, with the past two recruiting classes being very good, and it will be imperative that Smith can keep that talent in East Lansing for his staff to develop.
Let’s take a look at ten players Michigan State and Coach Smith need to retain on the roster:
Katin Houser named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Following a road win over conference rival Indiana, Michigan State football redshirt freshman quarterback Katin Houser has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Houser went 25-for-39 in the win, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns. However, it wasn’t a perfect day for Houser, as he did throw two interceptions, but he did get the job done.
â¨@bigten Freshman of the Weekâ¨@katinhouser had a day on Saturday.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/cgckA4lp7z
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 20, 2023
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WATCH: Katin Houser hits Maliq Carr for the game winning touchdown against Indiana:
Michigan State went into Bloomington on Saturday afternoon and took down the Hoosiers, taking the Old Brass Spittoon back from Indiana, winning 24-21.
The Spartans won the game on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Katin Houser to Maliq Carr, who broke several tackles on his way to the endzone with just 1:19 left in the game. It was the perfect finish to an outstanding game from Carr, securing 9 passes for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Watch the game winning touchdown catch from Carr:
Imagine thinking you can tackle Maliq Carr pic.twitter.com/xWDtRFEIUk
— Barstool Spartans (@BarstoolMSU) November 18, 2023
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Michigan State is bringing Old Brass Spittoon back to East Lansing after defeating Indiana on the road
The Old Brass Spittoon is coming back to East Lansing after the Spartans went on the road to Bloomington to knock off Indiana, 24-21.
MSU avoided being on the wrong side of history, avoiding back to back losses to the Hoosiers for the first time since a three game losing streak from 1967-69.
Down 21-17, it was redshirt freshman QB Katin Houser leading the Spartans on an 8-play, 75 yard game winning touchdown drive, capped off by a 36-yard touchdown pass to Maliq Carr.
With just over a minute to go, the Spartans needed one more stop to hold off the pesty Hoosiers, and they did just that. A bend-don’t-break drive left Indiana a 50-yard field goal that went wide right, securing the win for MSU.
Houser finished the game throwing the ball 26-for-41 and 245 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Spartans were led by Carr with 9 receptions for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Montorie Foster added 7 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.
The Spartans, now 4-7, will head to Ford Field for the season finale against Penn State next week.
Click here to see the best photos from the Spartans rivalry win over Indiana
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Katin Houser will start, Sam Leavitt will play, according to Harlan Barnett in his pregame radio show
On his pregame radio show ahead of Michigan State’s game against Nebraska, Harlan Barnett has announced that Katin Houser was going to be the starting quarterback for Michigan State against Nebraska.
He did mention, true freshman Sam Leavitt was going to get some playing time in this game as well, meaning a 2-QB system could be on the horizon.
Harlon Barnett: âWe will look to play Sam (Leavitt) today but Katin (Houser) will start at quarterback.â
— Jim Comparoni (@JimComparoni) November 4, 2023
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Official: Katin Houser taking over as starting QB for Michigan State football vs. Rutgers
Through the Michigan State football bye week, it has been heavily speculated that redshirt freshman Katin Houser will be taking over as the starting quarterback for Noah Kim, and we just received confirmation of that, finally, about 30 minutes before kickoff against Rutgers.
In his pregame radio show, acting head coach Harlon Barnett confirmed that Houser will be the starter today versus Rutgers.
MSU coach Harlon Barnett on pregame radio show confirms redshirt freshman QB Katin Houser will make his first career start today at Rutgers. Noah Kim has started first five games.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) October 14, 2023
It sounds like Michigan State will go with Katin Houser as the starting quarterback on Saturday
Graham Couch normally has a good read on the Michigan State football program and he believes the Spartans will be switching things up at quarterback.
Couch — who writes for the Lansing State Journal — published his determining factors and prediction for the Michigan State-Rutgers matchup on Thursday. As part of that article, he wrote that he expects freshman Katin Houser to take over as the starting quarterback and replace Noah Kim.
Here are 5 determining factors and a prediction for Michigan State's football game Saturday at Rutgers.https://t.co/291uhLng6J
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) October 12, 2023
The switch from Kim to Houser is expected by many after Kim’s recent struggles. Head coach Harlon Barnett also was non-committal to Kim remaining as the starter earlier this week — which generally indicates a change is coming.
Should Houser get the start, it will be the first of his career. Houser has appeared in four games this year in relief of Kim.
Kickoff between the Spartans and Scarlet Knights is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Saturday. This game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
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