Tag: Michigan State

Former Michigan State wide receiver enters transfer portal again

Former Michigan State wide receiver enters transfer portal again

Back in 2023, Christian Fitzpatrick decided to leave Michigan State and transfer to Marshall. This was Fitzpatrick’s third stop in his college football journey, as he started his career with Louisville. On Monday, Fitzpatrick announced he is set to transfer one last time with his final season of eligibility.

Fitzpatrick had, easily, his best season of college football this past year for the Thundering Herd, accumulating 576 yards and six touchdowns for Marshall.

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Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss tells touching story about Tom Izzo

Jake Boss told a touching story about Tom Izzo in his press conference this week

At this point, if you are reading this post, you probably know how much Tom Izzo loves Michigan State and all the faculty, students and alumni there. But, in case you had any doubts, Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss told an anecdote on Wednesday that should those up for you.

Coach Boss lost his mother over the weekend. Tom Izzo had one of his biggest games of the season on Sunday against Illinois, but that didn’t stop him from calling both Coach Boss, and Boss’ father, multiple times on Sunday to check on them and give his condolences.

You can watch him tell the story below:

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Former MSU standout Malik Hall acquired by Detroit Pistons’ G-League affiliate

Malik Hall is coming back to Michigan

In his time at Michigan State, Malik Hall was a versatile and beloved player for the Spartans, known for his quiet demeanor and strong post moves for a wing. Now, Hall will return home to Michigan, as he was acquired by the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons’ G-League affiliate, on Friday.

Hall, who averaged 12 points per game in his last year with MSU, was originally selected in the first round of the G-League draft by the Greensboro Swarm, the Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate.

Details of how the Cruise acquired Hall have not yet been reported on, but it will be great to see Malik back in Michigan where fans will be able to see him play basketball again in person.

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Former Michigan State football tight end commits to Miami

A former Michigan State tight end has committed to Miami

After two seasons at Michigan State and one season at UAB, former MSU tight end Jack Nickel is transferring to Miami.

Nickel was a former 3-star recruit in East Lansing who took a redshirt in 2022, played in ten games in 2023, then transferred to UAB. Nickel entered the transfer portal after one season at UAB back on December 9.

Now, Nickel will join his younger brother Luke Nickel, a 2025 quarterback signee, at Miami.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Tom Izzo comments on ‘specialness’ of Michigan State basketball program

For Tom Izzo, Thursday night’s alumni game against Washington was ‘bigger than the game’

One common refrain I have noticed from Tom Izzo in his later years is his constant mission to make sure that fans, alumni, faculty, media members – basically anyone who comes in contact with the Michigan State basketball program – appreciates what a unique program they have in East Lansing.

On Thursday night, the Spartans blew out the Washington Huskies on alumni night, and after the game, Tom Izzo made sure to give credit to all the alumni who came back and noted the ‘specialness’ of the program he has overseen all these years.

Watch it below:

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Ohio State basketball vs. Michigan State: How to watch, stream the game

Beat Sparty #GoBucks

With all the madness of the College Football Playoff, you may have forgotten Ohio State has a basketball team too. The Buckeyes are fresh off wins over Valparaiso, Kentucky, and Indiana State as the team seems like it’s starting to find its rhythm.

The non-conference portion of the schedule is over and it’s Big Ten play from here on out starting tonight. Ohio State welcomes No. 18 Michigan State to Value City Arena for a rare Friday night tip. The Spartans are fairly balanced on the offensive side of the ball and play a typical Tom Izzo style of basketball with solid fundamentals and few mistakes. Michigan State comes into the contest with an 11-2 record and sits atop the Big Ten standings.

Here’s how to catch all the action.

Basic info

When: Friday, January 3, at 8 p.m. ET

Where:  Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

How to watch/stream/listen:

Broadcast: Fox

Radio: IMG Radio Network (flagship station WBNS 97.1 The Fan)

Radio announcers:

  • Paul Keels (play-by-play)
  • Ron Stokes (analysis)

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Wisconsin top freshman edge rusher transfers to a Big Ten rival

Wisconsin top freshman edge rusher transfers to a Big Ten rival

Wisconsin transfer outside linebacker Anelu Lafaele committed to Michigan State on Sunday.

The former four-star recruit joins a growing list of former Badgers to find new transfer destinations, joining outside linebacker Leon Lowery (Illinois), cornerback Amare Snowden and safety Braedyn Moore (Toledo), CB Jonas Duclona (South Florida), S Justin Taylor (Wyoming) and tight end Riley Nowakowski (Indiana).

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Lafaele entered the portal last week after one year with the Badgers. He was one of the highest-rated commits in the program’s class of 2024. He was the No. 601 overall player in the class and the No. 27 edge rusher.

The Hawaii native did not see the field as a true freshman and transferred out with four years of eligibility remaining. He is one of four members of Wisconsin’s class of 2024 to depart, joining CB Xavier Lucas, defensive lineman Hank Weber and quarterback Mabrey Mettauer.

Lafaele joins a Michigan State program that went 5-7 under first-year coach Jonathan Smith in 2024. Smith is working to return the Spartans to the level of success they sustained during the 2010s — just as Luke Fickell is trying to do at Wisconsin.

The Badgers will face Lafaele when they host the Spartans in 2026. Wisconsin is likely to have new faces at edge rusher by that date because seniors Darryl Peterson, Aaron Witt and Mason Reiger (transfer) are poised to lead the room in 2025. Rising junior Sebastian Cheeks and class of 2024 signees Thomas Heiberger and Ernest Willor Jr. appear next in line at the position. Lafaele would have competed for snaps with that second group. Now, he’ll be on the opposing sideline looking to rush the Badgers’ quarterback.

For more on where former Badgers are headed, including several to Big Ten destinations, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal departure tracker.

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UNC football lands key piece to its 2025 offense with Michigan State WR transfer

UNC football’s latest transfer portal addition is a former Big 10 wide receiver.

As we progress deeper into bowl season, the North Carolina Tar Heels continue to land transfer portal commitments.

UNC can thank its new head football coach, Bill Belichick, for making players want to continue their careers in Chapel Hill.

We have our transfer portal tracker here, North Carolina already has commitments from the likes of Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne, Michigan kicker Adam Samaha and East Carolina defensive tackle C.J. Mims.

You can add another transfer to the Tar Heels’ roster, as on Friday, December 20, Michigan State wide receiver Aziah Johnson committed to continue his college football career in Chapel Hill.

Johnson, who will enter his sophomore season during his first year at UNC, recorded 276 receiving yards and two touchdowns – on 16 catches – for the Spartans in 2024. Johnson was one of just five MSU pass-catchers with multiple touchdowns, plus his yardage total was fourth on the Spartans.

With top 2024 wide receivers J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum exhausting their eligibility, North Carolina was in desperate need of a wide receiver. Johnson fits that role: while his freshman year numbers weren’t eye-popping, Michigan State’s offense struggled as a whole.

Looking ahead at the Tar Heels’ projected 2025 roster, Johnson likely moves near the top of their depth chart. Kobe Paysour is currently in line to be WR1, but UNC also has a plethora of freshman talent.

Johnson will be catching passes from either Max Johnson or Ryan Browne. There’s also the possibility North Carolina adds another quarterback through the transfer portal.

Let’s give the Tar Heels’ newest addition a warm welcome. Here’s to hoping Johnson can be another piece of UNC’s electric offense.

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Former Michigan State cornerback projected to transfer to Miami

A new report has Charles Brantley projected to go to Miami.

This is the third time that Michigan State cornerback Charles Brantley has entered the transfer portal, and this time it appears it will be for good.

On3 released a new projection for Brantley’s transfer destination on Saturday, and they have him slated to go down south to Florida to play for Miami.

This move would make some sense as Brantley is from Florida.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe wore matching Grinch sweaters while coaching against each other

You probably haven’t seen this one before.

Something strange happened: The Michigan State and Oakland head coaches intentionally wore the same outfit to coach against each other.

Michigan State’s Izzo and Oakland’s Kampe played in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday. Izzo has led his Spartans to eight Final Four appearances, earning a title in 2000. He is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kampe has coached at Oakland, in Michigan, since 1984. You may remember Kampe as a beloved character from the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Last year, his program upset No. 3 Kentucky during the first round of March Madness.

Last night was not the first time he has worn an ugly sweater around this time of year, making headlines for this heinous 3-D moose outfit in 2016.

But getting Izzo to join in on the fun was a particularly nice touch.

After the game, the two coaches sat down for a rare but thrilling joint press conference.

Izzo made fun of Kampe for buying the “ugliest sweaters” ever and teased him for actually paying for the purchase.

Kampe also made jokes about his own team getting hurt during warmups.

The whole exchange was absurd and hilarious and we need more content of Izzo and Kampe together.

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