MSU O-Line Coach Jim Michalczik: 'We're Going To Win'

As another transfer portal window looms, Michigan State offensive line coach Jim Michalczik hopes the current Spartans on the roster buy in to what MSU's new staff is preaching...

The transfer portal has changed college athletics, and football coaches around the country will be faced with uncertain waters in less than a week's time.

On April 16, with dozens of programs still going through spring practice, the spring transfer portal will open until April 30. With the NCAA currently unable to enforce any restrictions, it will be open season on every player on every roster in America.

There are no rules right now. Players can transfer multiple times without fear of having to sit out for a season. Coaches can contact and tamper with players not in the portal without fear of consequences. The NCAA is mostly powerless or indifferent to hand down punishment.

With that reality on the horizon, Michigan State offensive line coach Jim Michalczik offered his thoughts on the challenges the looming portal window brings to coaching staffs.

"It's a lot more challenging," Michalczik told reporters on April 2. "I'd like to think the kids are going to buy into our program, because of the way we do it and how we do it. We're going to win and they're going to be successful and they're going to feel a part of it."

MSU benefitted greatly from the winter transfer portal window with the additions of quarterback Aidan Chiles, tight end Jack Velling and offensive lineman Tanner Miller, each of whom followed head coach Jonathan Smith and about half of his staff from Oregon State to MSU. The Spartans also added a pair of experienced linebackers in Wayne Matthews III (Old Dominion) and Jordan Turner (Wisconsin), defensive tackle D'Quan Douse (Georgia Tech), defensive end Quindarius Dunningham (Middle Tennessee State), offensive lineman Luke Newman (Holy Cross) and others.

When the portal opens on April 16, MSU will still have two spring practices remaining, including the first "Spring Showcase" under Smith. And yet, programs that have already completed their spring practices will already be targeting players from other programs to bolster their rosters for the 2024 season. There's no doubt that MSU will look around for additional options as well, but, at the same time, the Spartans will have to continually recruit their own roster to make sure key pieces don't get snatched by outside programs.

The Michigan State Spartan Football Spring Green and White Game (Spring Showcase) will be held at the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation, Spartan Stadium, on April 20, 2024, at 2 p.m.

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