Michigan State football eyes transfer portal help at EDGE, TE as spring practice closes

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State closed its spring football season on Saturday with a practice and approximately 50 snaps of scrimmaging, but the Spartans’ work in the post-spring transfer portal is about to hit full-gear. Actually, it was well in motion days ago, if not longer. The college football transfer portal opened on Wednesday and will close next Friday. Players must enter the portal inside the transfer window in order to be eligibility to play at their next school in the fall. Michigan State lost one scholarship player to the portal on Wednesday when EDGE Anthony Jones entered. SpartanMag tentatively had projected him as the first-string EDGE, or stand-up rush end, heading into the spring. However, we noticed that he wasn’t in pads for at least some practices this spring. Sources indicate that Michigan State coaches knew he was angling toward the portal, and he entered it prior to the end of the Spartans’ spring practice season. Michigan State lost two other players, both walk-ons, to the portal late this week, defensive back DJ Kennard, and long snapper Jack Carson-Wentz.  Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith said on Thursday he didn’t anticipate losing mass numbers of players to the portal this spring, and therefore didn’t anticipate the need to add mass numbers. But some attrition and additions are expected. When asked if there are specific positions or areas of need for Michigan State in the spring portal, Smith said there are no limitations. "Honestly we have to be looking at all spots because you don't know, until 10 days or whatever, exactly what you've got,” Smith said.  But there are areas where Michigan State needs a competitive body or two, especially at that rush end/EDGE position.