Former MSU Portal Target Commits to Stanford
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A highly productive transfer portal wide receiver who once visited Michigan State is headed somewhere else.
Yale wide receiver transfer Nico Brown has committed to Stanford, according to a Wednesday afternoon report by CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. Brown reportedly took a visit to East Lansing from Jan. 8-9 and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Brown was one of the best wideouts at the FCS level this year, which is why MSU went after him. In just 10 games, he totaled 71 receptions for 1,085 yards and 11 touchdowns. It felt less and less likely that Brown would end up becoming a Spartan as time went on, though, especially after Michigan State took in Michigan transfer Fredrick Moore and Notre Dame transfer KK Smith.
Another note is that Brown will now get the chance to be teammates with his brother, Marcus, who caught 12 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman in 2025. In addition, former Michigan State offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren is now on the Stanford staff as a quarterbacks coach.
Outlook for Michigan State's WR Room
With the transfer portal now closed to new entries, it certainly seems like the roster is mostly static now for Michigan State. Perhaps a new transfer portal commitment or two might eventually trickle in, but what is there is what is there, for the most part.
MSU had a fair bit to replace at the wide receiver position this offseason. The Spartans lost WR1 Nick Marsh to the portal, as he ended up choosing to transfer to Indiana, the eventual 2025 national champion. Michigan State also lost WR2 Omari Kelly due to the exhaustion of his eligibility.
Main backups Rodney Bullard Jr. and Evan Boyd also entered the portal. Bullard is uncommitted, while Boyd is headed to Iowa State.
Getting a player like Brown would have been a nice get for the Spartans, because neither of MSU's transfer portal pickups have a serious track record of proven production. Both Moore and Smith were backups at their previous schools. Moore has 15 career catches, 160 yards, and one touchdown. Smith has 11 catches, 161 yards, and two touchdowns.
It seems like Michigan State may be counting on internal development. Braylon Collier and Charles Taplin both redshirted in 2025 as true freshmen, but the previous coaching staff, as well as retained WRs coach Courtney Hawkins, seemed to be high on their potential.
MSU is also seeking to lock in speedy four-star wide receiver Samson Gash, who is still verbally committed to the Spartans, but Michigan State is trying to stave off Penn State in the final days of his recruitment. Gash is expected to sign during February.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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