By Tony Thomas
The Spartans return talent at the skill positions, including a combined 1500 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in the backfield and a plethora of pass-catching talent on the perimeter.
The defense will be the strength of this team, as that side of the ball returns 74% of last year’s production. From the transfer portal, Head Coach Jonathan Smith and the Spartans found some talent to fill critical positions, and three transfers could make an immediate impact in 2024.
QB Aidan Chiles
Previous School: Oregon State Beavers
6’3”, 200 lbs.
In 2023, Aidan Chiles played in nine games as a true freshman for Oregon State and posted 309 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero INTs, and completed 68% of his passes. In addition, Chiles added three rushing touchdowns. Chiles was ranked as the #7 quarterback recruit in the Class of 2023.
Calling all Transfer Portal and Class of 2024 WRs that want to catch these 60-yard cannon shots from Aidan Chiles:
See you in East Lansing. pic.twitter.com/1g3D8nIS8F
— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) December 4, 2023
Following Smith to Michigan State, Chiles knows the offensive scheme that Smith likes to run, so you can pretty much pencil him in as QB1 on the depth chart as we approach the start of spring practice. That stands to reason when you consider that the Spartans had three quarterbacks from last year’s team to the transfer out of East Lansing.
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TE Jack Velling
Previous School: Oregon State Beavers
6’4”, 241 lbs.
A 2nd Team All-PAC-12 selection, Jack Velling hauled in 29 passes for 438 yards and a team-leading eight touchdown receptions. Velling’s season-high in 2023 came against the Cal Bears, when he caught three TD passes in a 52-40 victory.
#MichiganState junior tight end Jack Velling is a player to watch in 2024. Transfer from Oregon State
8 TD catches tied for lead in FBS last season. Really comfortable in the passing game and feel for coverage pic.twitter.com/wpqVx5Hez8
— Clint Brewster (@clintbrew247) February 12, 2024
With former Spartan TE Maliq Carr entering the transfer portal and moving on, Velling should be TE1 and get the bulk of the targets at the position. He will be a highly dependable weapon for presumed starter at QB, Aidan Chiles.
LB Jordan Turner
Previous School: Wisconsin Badgers
6’1”, 238 lbs.
As the 3rd leading tackler on the Badgers team, Jordan Turner racked up 61 tackles, to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups, three QB pressures, and one forced fumble. Turner recorded four games with eight or more tackles, including eight tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack vs. Indiana.
Wisconsin transfer LB Jordan Turner committed to Michigan State @mfarrellsports https://t.co/S4iBGo5gEq
— FarrellPortal (@farrellportal) December 19, 2023
Also, Turner comes to a MSU defense that returns four of their top returning tacklers, including LB Cal Haladay (91 tackles in 2023).
Coach Smith and his staff are working to improve a team roster that managed just two conference wins last season and a paltry 289 yards of total offense per game (#128 in the FBS). At Oregon State in 2023, Smith’s offense ranked #46 nationally at 409 yards per game.
With the weapons he has returning on offense, and adding Chiles and Velling to the mix, the Spartans will most certainly rise well above that second to last Big Ten ranking in total offense in 2023.
