PORTAL UPDATE: Michigan State lands former Wisconsin EDGE Anelu Lafaele
Michigan State landed another big transfer portal commitment on Sunday in former Wisconsin EDGE Anelu Lafaele. He announced his decision via social media after spending the weekend in East Lansing. Lafaele has four years of eligibility remaining.
The Kalihi, Hawaii, native reported offers from UNLV, Fresno State, Nevada, Middle Tennessee State and Western Michigan while in the portal, which he entered on Dec. 20.
Lafaele (6-2, 230) committed to the Badgers as part of their 2024 recruiting class. He redshirted this past season. A former three-star recruit out of Honolulu (Hawaii) Farrington High School, Lafaele was the No. 571 prospect, No. 51 edge rusher and No. 3 player from Hawaii in his class, per the On3 Industry Rankings.
Lafaele tallied 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 30 total tackles as a high school senior.
Three of the top four 2024 prospects from Hawaii now reside in East Lansing. Lafaele joins current Michigan State redshirt freshmen Rustin Young (offensive lineman, No. 1 player from Hawaii) and Kekai Burnett (defensive end, No. 4 player from Hawaii).
Michigan State rush ends coach Chad Wilt and defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa will add Lafaele to a wide-open rush end room. Sixth-year senior rush end Khris Bogle graduated from the program this offseason. The Spartans also lost rush ends Ken Talley and Avery Dunn to the transfer portal.
Michigan State will return sophomore Anthony Jones and redshirt sophomores Tyler Gillison and James Schott at the rush end position. Leonard Ah You, a class of 2025 signee originally committed to Oregon State, could join them in the room.
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Jalen Thompson headlines the strong side defensive end position for the Spartans. Burnett and three-star high school signee Cal Thrush are set to join him at that spot next season. It remains to be seen whether sixth-year senior defensive end Quindarius Dunnigan returns for the 2025 campaign. He did not participate in senior day festivities.
Lafaele represents Michigan State’s 11th transfer portal commitment of the cycle. He joins four fellow defensive additions: cornerback Joshua Eaton (Texas State), cornerback NiJhay Burt (Eastern Illinois), cornerback Malcolm Bell (UConn) and defensive tackle Grady Kelly (Florida State).
Michigan State also holds two wide receiver commitments from Chrishon McCoy (Kent State) and Omari Kelly (Middle Tennessee State).
The Spartans also hold commitments from former Sacramento State running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver and offensive linemen Caleb Carter (Western Carolina), Luka Vincic (Oregon State) and Matt Gulbin (Wake Forest).
