Michigan State loses its starting QB and top WR to the transfer portal

It was a bad day for the Michigan State Spartans and head coach Mel Tucker.

Two starters from the 2022 squad have entered the transfer portal. While that's a reality all across college football, the two starters MSU is losing will be hard to replace.

It's being reported that quarterback Payton Thorne and wide receiver Keon Coleman are leaving East Lansing.

Thorne was Michigan State's starting quarterback for the past two seasons. He threw for 2,769 yards and 19 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last season. The year before, he threw for 3,240 yards and 27 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions—helping lead the Spartans to an 11-2 season that saw them beat No. 6 Michigan as well as No. 12 Pitt in the Peach Bowl.

Speaking of leading, the other player transferring is Michigan State's leading receiver from last season, sophomore wideout Keon Coleman. He caught 58 passes last season for 798 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 13.8 yards per catch.

The gap at quarterback is going to be huge with Thorne heading out the door, but Coleman's departure may sting even worse because whoever ends up being MSU's new quarterback is going to be down not one but two major weapons. Keep in mind, MSU's second-leading receiver last season, Jayden Reed, just got drafted by the Green Bay Packers.

Redshirt junior Noah Kim is now the favorite to start at quarterback for Michigan State, though it's worth noting he only thew 19 passes last season.

Thorne will be a redshirt senior in 2023. Coleman still has multiple seasons of eligibility left.