Michigan State WR Antonio Gates Jr. enters NCAA transfer portal

Michigan State wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr. has entered NCAA transfer portal, according to On3. He spent two seasons with the Spartans.

Gates redshirted his first season in 2022 with the Spartans and then played a limited role in his second season, catching five balls for 82 total yards this past year.

Gates Jr. played high school football at Fordson High in Dearborn, Michigan, just next to Detroit, where he as a four-star recruit according the On3 Industry Rankings. He was also rated the No. 290 overall player in the 2022 class, as well as the No. 47 wide receiver and the No. 7 prospect out of Michigan that year.

Of course, Gates is also the son of a legendary former NFL pass catcher, Antonio Gates. His father actually never played football in college, first attending Michigan State with the goal of playing football for Nick Saban and basketball for Tom Izzo. Coach Saban had no interest in Gates playing both sports and said he needed him to be football-only.

Well, Gates really wanted to play basketball, but he did recall Saban telling him he could be a future first round pick in the NFL Draft if he did choose to stick with football at MSU.

“He said you are a first-round pick. You’re what NFL teams are looking for. It blindsided me, because basketball was my life,” Gates told The Dan Patrick Show.

Gates would ultimately wind up playing basketball at Eastern Michigan for a year before transferring to Kent State, where he shined. Under coach Stan Heath, Gates helped Kent to a 30-win season in 2002, where he averaged 16 points and eight rebounds. The Golden Flash also advanced past the second round for the only time in school history, flaming out in the Elite Eight after taking down a 7-seed, 2-seed and 3-seed.

Antonio Gates became a March Madness star during that run. In 2003, he returned for one more run, averaging 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists before turning pro.

Done with hoops, Gates decided to try his hand in the NFL Draft, and he was selected by the San Diego Chargers in a tremendous selection in hindsight. Gates made eight consecutive Pro Bowls during his career and was a five-time All-Pro, retiring as one of the all-time greats at the tight end position.

Now, his son is enjoying his own college career, and like his father, gave Michigan State a try before deciding to transfer away.