Gophers targeting Michigan State brothers in the transfer portal

Minnesota has its eyes on two Big Ten transfers in the secondary.

Oct 25, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Aydan West (2) warms up prior at a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images | Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images

The Gophers are busy on day one of this year's transfer portal. Two of their most notable offers have gone out to Michigan State defensive back transfer brothers Aydan and Elisha West

Aydan West, CB

PORTAL: The Gophers have offered Michigan State transfer CB Ayden West (@AydanWest0).

He played 380 defensive snaps this season as a true freshman for the Spartans. Minnesota offered his brother Elisha earlier today. https://t.co/PUaMAebZms pic.twitter.com/oDsiVjlVoo

— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) January 2, 2026

Subscribe: Sign up to receive the free Gophers On SI newsletter

Aydan West is one of the most intriguing cornerbacks in the transfer portal. He was a three-star high school recruit and a top 800 prospect in the class of 2025, according to the 247Sports Composite. He quickly outperformed those expectations in East Lansing with more than 400 snaps as a true freshman.

Listed at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, he finished with 19 total tackles, 1 pass breakup and 0.5 sacks in 2025. He had a 61.0 defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He'll likely be pursued heavily from multiple programs in the transfer portal, and he already holds another notable offer from Kentucky. He'll have four years of eligibility remaining.

Elisha West, S

PORTAL: The Gophers have offered Michigan State transfer DB Elisha West (@EVsDaWorld).

Listed at 5-foot-11, 194 pounds, he began his career at Merrimack. He played 14 snaps on special teams in 2025. Three years of eligibility remaining. https://t.co/PUaMAebZms pic.twitter.com/Kpr05iRCMe

— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) January 2, 2026

Elisha West joined his brother Aydan in East Landing in 2025 after one season at FCS Merrimack College. He redshirted in 2024, and he played 14 snaps on special teams in 2025. Listed at 5-foot-11, 194 pounds, he's viewed more as a safety, and he will also have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

What it means

It's entirely fair to wonder if Elisha and Aydan are a package deal, and whether or not they're interested in continuing to play with each other at their new school. Minnesota has had a handful of brothers on the team before under P.J. Fleck, so it seems like a realistic possibility they could do that again.

Aydan West has proven himself as a Big Ten starting-caliber cornerback, and he could be the perfect option to line up alongside John Nestor at the outside. Minnesota could lose Koi Perich to the transfer portal, so they need depth at safety, and a player like Elisha West could provide that. According to On3's Dylan Callaghan Croley of Gophers Nation, Minnesota already has a visit lined up with Elisha, so the recruitment of both players could move fast.

The transfer portal officially opened on Jan. 2, and it will close on Jan. 16. That is just the window for players to enter their names. There will be commitments and signings well beyond that, and the West brothers are two early names to watch for Minnesota.