Where Tunmise Adeleye and Michigan State’s portal transfers rank heading into 2023 season
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State landed 17 transfers in the 2023 cycle, the most of Mel Tucker’s three classes so far.
Two of the Spartans’ incoming transfers are ranked amongst the Top 300 transfer players, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. On3 ranks Michigan State’s 2023 portal class No. 52 in the nation.
Of Michigan State’s Big Ten opponents, Wisconsin has the most incoming transfers ranked inside the Top 300, with seven. Two of those transfers played for new head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati. In the Big Ten, Michigan has the second most players in the Top 300 with six, followed by Maryland, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State (4), Minnesota, Nebraska (3), Michigan State, Purdue (2) and Penn State, Northwestern (1).
Penn State’s one Top 300 transfer commit, former Kent State wide receiver Dante Cephas, is ranked No. 15 overall – the highest-rated incoming transfer of any Big Ten team.
Here is where each incoming Michigan State transfer ranks in the 2023 On3 Transfer Portal Player Rankings in terms of overall (Top 300) listings and positional rankings:
Overall: No. 118
Positional Ranking: No. 11
Adeleye comes in as Michigan State’s highest-rated transfer commit. The former Texas A&M d-lineman was a consensus high four-star prospect coming out of Katy (Tex.) Tompkins High School. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Adeleye was ranked the No. 3 EDGE prospect in his high school class by The On3 Consensus Rankings.
Adeleye redshirted his freshman season with the Aggies in 2021 and played in three games last season, starting two of them. Adeleye missed the remainder of the season with an ankle injury. Adeleye will play a large role in trying to improve Michigan State’s pass-rush this fall.
Overall: No. 171
Position: No. 12
Carter (5-10, 190) spent the last three seasons at Connecticut, though Carter only has two years of playing experience because the Huskies did not compete in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carter’s athleticism showed in the four games he played last season before missing the remainder of the year with a shoulder injury. The former three-star high school prospect, per the On3 Industry Rankings, rushed for 405 yards and one touchdown on 65 carries.
Carter started four of Connecticut’s 12 games the season prior. He led them in rushing that year as a true freshman, totaling 578 yards and two touchdowns on 125 carries. Carter made a solid impression this spring and will likely split carries with Jalen Berger and Jaren Mangham this fall.
LS Mason Arnold
Position: No. 1
Arnold (6-0, 230), the top-ranked portal long snapper, transferred from Ohio State to Michigan State in January. He will look to provide depth behind starter Hank Pepper, or compete for the starting job if Pepper is not healthy. The Spartans struggled at this position when Pepper was unavailable last season.
On June 17, Michigan State added junior college transfer long snapper Drew Wilson to the commitment list, prompting speculation that Pepper’s availability for 2023 remains in question.
Position: No. 3
O’Shaughnessy (6-3, 205) played behind starter Jesse Mirco last season at Ohio State. Michigan State will need one of O’Shaughnessy or walk-on Ryan Eckley to step up at punter following All-American Bryce Baringer’s graduation.
Position: No. 5
Kim handled kickoff duties for North Carolina in 2020 and 2021 while the Tar Heels had other kickers focus on field goals and PATs during that time. Kim entered the transfer portal in September 2022 and committed to Michigan State in December 2022. The Spartans will look to Kim or walk-on Stephen Rusnak to take over kicking duties in 2023 after the Spartans struggled at that position last year with true freshman Jack Stone and Auburn transfer Ben Patton. Stone (transfer to Baylor) and Patton are no longer in the program.
DT Jalen Sami
Position: No. 28
At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, Sami figures to be an instant-impact reserve defensive tackle for Michigan State this fall. He spent five seasons at Colorado – including Tucker’s one season in Boulder in 2019 – before transferring to the Spartans this spring. Sami finished with 38 total tackles last season (three for a loss) in 12 games played. He started 32 of 36 games played at Colorado.
Position: No. 39
The older brother of Michigan State safety Jaden Mangham, Jaren comes to Michigan State as a graduate transfer after spending the past two seasons at South Florida. Before that, Mangham played two years at Colorado, where he was coached by Tucker for one season.
At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Mangham is a big-bodied running back who will be used frequently in short-yardage situations. A former three-star high school prospect, per the On3 Industry Rankings, Mangham played in four games last season for South Florida to preserve his redshirt. The season prior, Mangham made eight starts for the Bulls and led them in rushing with 671 yards and 15 touchdowns on 160 carries.
Position: No. 39
Franklin comes in as a graduate transfer from Wisconsin with one year of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end began his career in Madison as an outside linebacker, but converted to his current position as a redshirt sophomore in 2020. Franklin totaled two receptions for 40 yards last season. He’s seen action on special teams throughout his career as well.
Franklin is one of three tight ends Michigan State brought in through the portal in the offseason. He made a solid early impression this spring and will provide veteran depth behind Maliq Carr in the fall.
Position: No. 41
Hopper comes to Michigan State from Boise State with one season of eligibility remaining. Hopper spent five seasons at Boise State, logging 11 starts in 45 games for the Broncos. He’s played nearly 1,200 snaps at tight end in his career and also has experience on special teams.
Similar to Franklin, Hopper will fill a veteran reserve role at tight end this season.
Position: No. 51
Faleye has good measurables at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds. He transferred in from Norfolk State in December 2022 after recording nine catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons in Norfolk. Faleye is quite raw and has a ways to go as a blocker, but he made some progress as a receiver at Michigan State during the spring.
Position: No. 61
The most recent transfer addition for Michigan State, Roberts confirmed his commitment to the Spartans on June 8. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Roberts transferred from Iowa to Miami during the winter, and participated in spring practice with the Hurricanes in March and April, but re-entered the portal on June 2.
Roberts made four starts in 33 games at Iowa over five seasons finishing with 47 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. Roberts played four games at cornerback last season, as well as one game on special teams. He missed the rest of the season due to injury.
Roberts will provide competitive depth at cornerback for Michigan State, and could vie for a starting job. He has a reputation as a quality special teams player.
Position: No. 70
A graduate transfer from Florida State, Jackson (6-6, 300) started his career at Louisville in 2018. Jackson totaled 12 tackles in 11 games last season. He started one game and also saw action on special teams.
The Spartans have Simeon Barrow, Maverick Hansen and Derrick Harmon as proven defensive tackles. Jackson figures to slot in at a reserve role at defensive tackle this fall, bringing good size to the position.
Position: No. 79
Smith (6-1, 205) transferred to Michigan State in the spring. He’s a young, hard-hitting safety who played 12 games for the Bearcats last season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining and figures to be a factor in the Michigan State secondary for years to come.
Smith logged 20 tackles and one interception last season, which came in the Fenway Bowl. Smith redshirted his freshman season in 2021.
A native of Detroit, Smith was a three-star prospect out of River Rouge High (Mich.) High School. Smith chose Cincinnati over offers from Michigan State, Iowa State and others.
Position: No. 82
Butler spent one season at Independence Community College of the JUCO ranks, where he was teammates with current Michigan State tackle Brandon Baldwin in 2019. Butler then transferred to Auburn, where he spent two seasons. Butler earned a start in the Citrus Bowl for the Tigers as a sophomore in 2020.
Butler (6-5, 300) then transferred to Liberty for the 2022 season, where he recorded 23 tackles (two for a loss) and 1.5 sacks in 13 games. Like Jackson, Butler will likely fill a reserve role in a crowded defensive tackle room this fall.
Butler is hoping his final year of eligibility at Michigan State will resurrect what has been an up-and-down career.
Position: No. 98
Alexander, a consensus three-star high school prospect, committed to Massachusetts out of Belleville (Mich.) High School. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker played three games for the Minutemen in 2022 to preserve his redshirt season. Alexander will serve as a depth piece in a veteran linebacker room this fall, and should be a contender for a special teams role.
WR Alante Brown
Position: No. 216
Brown (5-11, 190) transferred to Michigan State on May 26, nearly 10 days after Keon Coleman announced his intention to transfer to Florida State. A one-time Michigan State commit under Mark Dantonio, Brown made 10 starts at wide receiver last season for Nebraska, catching 16 passes for 191 yards. Brown occasionally returned kickoffs for the Cornhuskers as well.
Brown, a junior, will look to make a name for himself in a Michigan State wide receiver room with a lot of young, but unproven, talent behind Tre Mosley and Montorie Foster.
CB Semar Melvin
Position: No. 139
The 6-foot, 170-pound Melvin transferred to Michigan State after spending four seasons at Wisconsin. A redshirt senior, Melvin has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He will be a veteran depth piece at cornerback this fall after totaling 16 tackles and three pass breakups in 23 career games with the Badgers.
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