Two MSU offensive tackles withdraw from transfer portal, LB Jacoby Windmon enters
The transfer portal giveth and the transfer portal taketh away.
Michigan State football had more activity in college athletics' version of free agency on Monday, as offensive tackles Ethan Boyd and Brandon Baldwin both withdrew their names from the portal to remain Spartans, while linebacker Jacoby Windmon entered the portal to continue his career elsewhere.
The returns of Boyd and Baldwin is a significant development for Michigan State, which had seen seven offensive lineman enter the portal since the conclusion of the 2023 season. Building a strong offensive line is one of the most difficult thing to do in football, and for a time it appeared as if new MSU O-line coach Jim Michalczik was going to have to start from scratch. Now, with Boyd and Baldwin back in the fold, Michalcizik at least has a starting point.
Boyd, a native of East Lansing, could be in line to be Michigan State's starting right tackle next season. The 6-foot-7, 320-pounder will bring experience to the table next season as a redshirt junior. Boyd appeared in 10 games, primarily on special teams, while playing 23 snaps on offense as a redshirt freshman in 2022. This past season, Boyd took on a larger role as a primary backup and part-time starter. He played in all 12 games for MSU, making three starts and totaling 313 snaps at right tackle.
Baldwin, likewise, brings a lot of experience back to Michigan State's offensive line group and could be the left tackle starter opposite Boyd in 2024. The 6-foot-7, 315-pounder appeared in nine games with five starts at left tackle in 2022 as a redshirt freshman, logging 405 snaps. In 2023, Baldwin started in all 10 games in which he played for the Spartans, missing two games due to injury. He totaled 533 snaps this season.
The return of Boyd and Baldwin can only be viewed as positives for Michigan State, but the departure of Windmon is an unfortunate end to a once-promising Spartans career. Transferring to MSU from UNLV ahead of the 2022 season, Windmon made himself a household name in his first eight games as a Spartan, recording 49 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He added a nation-leading six forced fumbles, three pass breakups and an interception for MSU.
However, Windmon was suspended for Michigan State's final four games of 2022 for his involvement in the now-infamous tunnel incident at Michigan Stadium. Reinstated ahead of the 2023 season, Windmon started at linebacker in each of the first three games for the Spartans this year before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 3 against Washington. He totaled 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in his limited playing time this season.
With today's activity, Michigan State currently has 24 players from the 2023 roster who have entered and remain in the transfer portal. 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. Offensive linemen Keyshawn Blackstock, Spencer Brown, Geno VanDeMark, Kevin Wigenton and Kristian Phillips remain in the portal as well.
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 in addition to Windmon. Backup punter Michael O'Shaughnessy also entered the portal.
Boyd and Baldwin are the second and third Spartans, respectively, to withdraw from the transfer portal this season. They join redshirt junior linebacker Darius Snow withdrew his name, who was the first MSU player to enter the portal this offseason but ultimately decided to continue his career in East Lansing.
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