It's been a productive day in terms of talent acquisition for Michigan State football.
The Spartans are up to three additions today alone out of the transfer portal after former Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield and former Wisconsin linebacker Jordan Turner each committed to MSU, joining former Oregon State tight end Jack Velling.
Sheffield comes to East Lansing with one season of eligibility remaining after spending each of the last five years with the Boilermakers. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder has been a regular contributor in Purdue's passing attack over the past three seasons, in which he's averaged 38 receptions, 395 receiving yards and 3.6 touchdowns per season.
Michigan State is picking up a guy who has played a ton of football, as Sheffield has already played in 46 career games. At Purdue, he totaled 118 receptions for 1,209 yards and 11 touchdowns. That kind of experience will be invaluable for the Spartans in 2024, especially after MSU lost redshirt junior Christian Fitzpatick (Marshall), sophomore Tyrell Henry (Wisconsin) and redshirt freshman Jaron Glover (undecided) to the transfer portal this offseason.
On the other side of the football, Michigan State also adds its first transfer addition on defense in Turner. The 6-foot-1, 238-pounder adds another veteran at a position of need for the Spartans. A native of Farmington, Michigan, Turner spent the last four seasons at Wisconsin and was a starter for the Badgers each of the last two years.
In those two seasons as a starter, Turner has averaged 64.5 tackles, 6.25 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks per year. The redshirt junior totaled 135 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 30 career games as a Badger. Turner comes to Michigan State with one season of eligibility remaining.
At linebacker, the Spartans are expected to return redshirt juniors Cal Haladay and Darius Snow, and freshman Jordan Hall and redshirt junior to their roster in 2024, but those are the only potential returnees who have played meaningful snaps at the position for MSU. Redshirt senior Jacoby Windmon entered the transfer portal, while sixth year senior Aaron Brule has exhausted his college eligibility and declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
In total, Michigan State has added four players to its roster via the transfer portal, with today's additions joining former Oregon State freshman quarterback Aidan Chiles. Head coach Jonathan Smith and his staff will need to add more pieces out of the transfer portal to fill out their 2024 roster, but MSU is off to a great start.
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