Why Transfer LB Wayne Matthews III Was Interested in Michigan State

Linebacker Wayne Matthews III joined Michigan State after playing three seasons at Old Dominion.

The Michigan State football program made a big move bringing in transfer linebacker Wayne Matthews III from Old Dominion this offseason.

Matthews comes off a 2023 season in which he finished second in the Sun Belt in total tackles (135). He was named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team for his final campaign with the Monarchs.

Matthews decided he would leave Old Dominion after three seasons with the program this offseason. He told reporters after the Spartans' spring practice on Thursday that he saw Michigan State as a "bigger and better opportunity."

"Well first off, it's a huge campus," Matthews said. "Coming from a school that doesn't really have a large campus, there's a lot more people here. Just the people around us [are] great people; the coaches are great, my teammates are great, they welcomed me with open arms. It was good scenes."

Matthews said he felt embraced by the Spartans' program the moment he moved to East Lansing.

"I feel like it's been a great process," he said. "Like I said, the team welcomed me with open arms. As soon as I stepped on campus, I felt like I was a brother along with everybody else, and I thank everybody for doing that for me."

Matthews discussed what MSU's coaching staff saw in the new Spartan linebacker.

"I'm an all-around linebacker -- pass coverage, I can play in the box, I can do everything, I can play multiple positions," he said. "So, that's pretty much what they told me."

Matthews has been learning a new system throughout spring practice, one he believes he can thrive in.

"I have multiple opportunities to learn different things. I feel like I've been excelling at that. Learning two or three positions, just knowing everything -- knowing the big picture has been a huge advantage."

Despite the big change, the transfer linebacker does not feel the learning process has been all that complicated.

"To be honest, it's just football. You're just learning different Xs and Os, different schemes. It's football, that's all."

Matthews was a two-star recruit by 247Sports before he blossomed into one of the best linebackers in the Sun Belt. The Spartan faithful can only hope that success now translates over to the Big Ten.

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.

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.