The Only Former Michigan State Spartan Now Playing for USC

One former Michigan State player will face his former school on Saturday.

Jan 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the USC Trojans helmets and Cotton Bowl logo during the game between the USC Trojans and the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

One of the things that the transfer portal has caused in college football is the massive increase in instances where athletes go up against their former schools.

When Michigan State takes on No. 25 USC, there will be one player of that on the Trojans' side. It'll impact one of the more subtle aspects of the game, as that player is long snapper Hank Pepper.

Pepper's MSU Career

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Helmets at the line of scrimmage as Southern California Trojans long snapper Hank Pepper (31) snaps the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

As far as long snappers go, Pepper was about as good a get as Michigan State could've gotten coming out of high school. Coming from Chandler High School in Arizona, he was ranked as the No. 1 long snapper in the entire class of 2021 by 247Sports.

Pepper started right away for the Spartans as a true freshman, and will always be a contributor to that 11-2 year in 2021 that featured MSU's last victory over Michigan and a Peach Bowl victory. He started all 13 games that year.

The following year, Pepper only played in the first five games before missing the remaining seven contests due to injury. In 2023, he only played in the first four games before preserving his redshirt season in the wake of the Mel Tucker firing and then headed to USC during the ensuing offseason.

For those perhaps wondering --- no, Hank is not related to Taybor Pepper, another former MSU long snapper who has played in seven NFL seasons.

USC Career

Pepper played in all 13 of USC's games last year and clearly did a good job. He was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection.

Through three games this season, Pepper has continued to be the team's top long snapper.

MSU's New Long Snappers

Sep 7, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; A detailed view of Michigan State Spartans helmet on the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

It's easy to dismiss the long snapper position. But think it this way --- when the long snapper isn't doing their job, it's extremely noticeable. It's a more extreme version of the offensive line; at least when they play well, people notice a bit. No one (on the outside, at least) compliments the long snapper for a job well done.

MSU now has two players who specialize at that spot --- Kaden Schickel and Jack Wills. Linebacker and 2025 team captain Sam Edwards has done it a bit in the past, as well.

Schickel suffered an ACL injury during Michigan State's game at U-M last year, and there were some issues with snaps for the Spartans after he went out.

Schickel is still recovering from that injury a bit as the 2025 season has begun, so the true freshman Wills has stepped in. Nothing has sailed over a punter's or holder's head through three games, so so far, so good for him.

Michigan State's head coach Jonathan Smith claps while looking on during the second overtime in the game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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