Michigan State Football Offers Scholarship to DT Anthony Johnson

Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith is determined to build a formidable defensive line.

The spring transfer portal is about to open, and the Michigan State Spartans already plan to tackle what has become a collegiate free agency.

MSU has offered a scholarship to a defensive lineman from Youngstown State, who is currently in the portal. The Spartans have prioritized building their defensive line with quality talent that is a step away from the most talented players in the country.

Defensive lineman Anthony Johnson recently announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had received a scholarship offer from the Spartans. Johnson marks yet another talented defensive lineman who has been on Coach Smith and the Spartans’ radar this offseason.

Coach Smith has prioritized defensive linemen in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail. He has a clear-cut plan for improving the Spartans' defense, one of the lower-ranked defenses in the conference last season.

Johnson would immediately beef up the Spartans' defensive line, as the defensive tackle stands at 6’3 and nearly 300 pounds. Johnson spent his first season in college at Bowling Green before transferring to Youngstown State. After entering the transfer portal earlier this offseason, he initially committed to play for Illinois.

Johnson then transferred to Youngstown State, where he would catch the eyes of many more prominent schools.

Michigan State will compete against other schools for Johnson’s commitment. Since entering the transfer portal, Johnson’s X profile notes that he has also received offers from other schools like UAB and Georgia Tech.

Coach Smith and the Spartans depend on their ability to recruit players with various levels of talent. This shows Smith’s ability to prioritize positions of need and his ability to plan, as the Spartans will certainly miss out on a few players they have offered scholarships to, which is par for the course in college football recruiting.

Johnson is the type of player who would fit in perfectly for MSU. His style of play and his mentality, coming from a smaller yet well-known and respected football program, ensured Johnson would arrive in East Lansing focused on producing on the football field.

As Coach Smith continues to build his defense, he will need all the help he can get along the defensive line. Players with Johnson's size and potential will be pivotal in Coach Smith's defensive plans, which are coming more into focus with each scholarship offer.

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