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Michigan State tight end Maliq Carr enters transfer portal

Originally posted on FanNation Spartan Nation
By Matthew Lounsberry | Last updated 12/9/23

When head coach Mel Tucker was fired in late September, it was inevitable that Michigan State's football program would suffer losses both on the field and in the transfer portal in 2023.

The Spartans stumbled to a 4-8 record, and since season's end have now watched 21 players enter the portal, in addition to the four who entered in the 30 days following Tucker's ousting. On Saturday, the departures continued with starting tight end Maliq Carr and reserve offensive lineman Kristian Phillips.

Though he struggled with injury through much of the 2023 season, Carr was one of MSU's top offensive weapons this past season. In 10 games, the redshirt junior collected 30 receptions for 352 yards and three touchdowns in the best season of his collegiate career.

Starting his career at Purdue, Carr redshirted his first and only year as a Boilermaker before transferring to Michigan State in 2021. In three seasons as a Spartan, he's totaled 54 receptions for 696 yards and five touchdowns.

Phillips, meanwhile, was a member of Michigan State's 2022 recruiting class as a former three-star recruit out of Georgia. The redshirt freshman appeared in 11 games this season with the Spartans and has three years of eligibility remaining.

MSU's much-maligned offensive line has been hit hard by the transfer portal. In addition to Phillips, the Spartans have watched junior college transfer Keyshawn Blackstock, redshirt senior Spencer Brown, redshirt junior Brandon Baldwin and redshirt sophomores Geno VanDeMark, Ethan Boyd and Kevin Wigenton exit the program.

The Spartans have seen all three scholarship quarterbacks — Noah Kim, Katin Houser and Sam Leavitt — enter the portal, as well as wide receivers Jaron Glover, Christian Fitzpatick, Tyrell Henry and Sebastian Brown and tight end Evan Morris. On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan State has suffered departures from defensive ends Zion Young and Khris Bogle, defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Dre Butler and cornerback Charles Brantley. Backup punter Michael O'Shaughnessy also entered the portal.

After being the first Spartan to enter the portal this offseason, redshirt junior linebacker Darius Snow withdrew his name earlier this week while announcing a return to Michigan State.

Four other Spartans entered the portal during the 30-day window which opened to the program after former head coach Mel Tucker was fired — long snapper Hank Pepper, running back Jordon Simmons and defensive back Justin White. Additionally, defensive end Tunmise Adeleye, has left the program and will likely enter the portal on Dec. 4. Cornerback Terry Roberts, who transferred to MSU from Iowa last offseason, left the program before the season began and never played for the Spartans. All transfer portal activity for Michigan State football can be viewed here.

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