Michigan State adds Aveon Grose as walk-on transfer; TJ Sheffield not enrolled
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith spoke with reporters on Thursday to provide an update on Spartan football operations and also to speak for the first time about some of the incoming players who have enrolled at Michigan State via the transfer portal.
There were two surprises on the transfer list. One was the omission of wide receiver T.J. Sheffield. The other was the inclusion of Aveon Grose, who is transferring to Michigan State as a walk-on from Southern Illinois.
Sheffield announced via social media on Dec. 18 that he had committed to transfer to MSU. He was regarded as one of the more accomplished receivers in the portal, with 118 career catches at Purdue for 1,209 yards and 11 touchdowns.
It’s unclear whether Sheffield will enroll at MSU in the summer, or what his plans are for the 2023 football season. Smith was not asked about Sheffield on Thursday, and technically is not allowed by NCAA rules to speak about players who are not enrolled. SpartanMag will continue to look into the situation.
Grose is the younger brother of current Spartan Angelo Grose. Aveon Grose (6-0, 187, Mansfield, Ohio) played six games at Charlotte as a true freshman in 2022. He played in the final six games, starting the last four. He finished the year with 16 tackles, including six stops against Middle Tennessee State.
Aveon Grose transferred to Southern Illinois in 2023, where he played four games. He will preserve sophomore status for 2024. He made five tackles for Southern Illinois in 2023.
Aveon Grose was a three-star recruit, ranked No. 25 in Ohio by On3 and No. 30 in Ohio by the overall On3 Industry Rankings.
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At Mansfield (Ohio) High School, Grose was a third-team all-Ohio defensive back. He had 59 tackles and an inteception in 2020. He led Mansfield to the 2019 Division III state title game.
Angelo Grose has 34 career starts at nickel and safety for the Spartans. He will be a fifth-year senior for Michigan State in 2024.
Smith said more additions could come during the spring transfer portal period.
“Guys have been putting in work, starting in the weight room last week and we’ve got some additions, some mid-year transfers, 11 guys that have joined the program and have started to work out,” Smith said. “Feel awesome about that group. On both sides of the ball, we were able to add to the roster – defensively at all three levels, on the d-line, linebacker and the secondary. Offensively: the quarterback position, solidifying that, feel really good there. O-line, tight end. So it’s a good group.
“That adds to the nine high school freshman that joined us last week. So close to 20 guys that have been added to the roster. Guys are going to work in the weight room with Coach Mack (Mike McDonald) and all of that.”
Michigan State’s incoming transfers:
QB Aidan Chiles 6-3, 210, Soph. (Oregon State)
DL D’Quan Douse 6-2, 290, R-Sr. (Georgia Tech)
DL Quin Dunnigan 6-4, 260 R-Sr. (Middle Tennessee State)
LB Wayne Matthews 6-2, 218, Jr. (Old Dominion)
OL Tanner Miller 6-1, 287, Gr. (Oregon State)
QB Tommy Schuster 6-0, 195, Gr. (North Dakota)
LB Jordan Turner 6-1, 238, R-Sr. (Wisconsin)
TE Jack Velling 6-4, 242, Jr. (Oregon State)
LSN Kaden Schickel 6-2, 192, Jr. (James Madison)*
DB Aveon Grose 6-0, 187, R-Soph. (Southern Illinois)*
P Carson Voss 6-0, 160, R-Soph. (Western Michigan)*
* Walk-ons.
(Below, Angelo Grose, right, returns to Mansfield High School on Sept. 9, 2020 to watch his brother, Aveon, left, play in a high school football game. Photo via USA Today Network).
