The number of Michigan State football players hitting the transfer portal continues to grow, with defensive end Jalen Thompson among the latest.
EAST LANSING — On the final day of 2025, the potential transfer-portal attrition continued to grow for Michigan State football.
Defensive end Jalen Thompson, offensive lineman Kristian “Big Dooley” Phillips and wide receivers Chrishon McCray and Evan Boyd became the latest Spartans to announce they plan to test the portal when it opens officially Friday, Jan. 2.
Thompson, who has one year of eligibility remaining, had 30 tackles and 2½ sacks in 11 games this season. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Cass Tech product and former four-star recruit has 66 tackles and 4½ sacks over 31 games the past three seasons. He originally was part of Mel Tucker's 2023 class and played the past two seasons for Jonathan Smith, who was fired after going 4-8 this season and replaced by Pat Fitzgerald.
MSU also had edge rusher Tyler Gillison announce he plans to explore the portal.
Phillips, a 6-4 and 310-pound Georgia native, arrived to play for Tucker in 2022 but has battled injuries over the past two seasons. He started four games this season at right guard but played in just six games after suffering a season-ending injury in the first game of 2024. Phillips joins fellow guard Gavin Broscious and center Cooper Terpstra as Spartans who started on the offensive line this season headed into the portal. A fourth offensive lineman, Cole Dellinger, also announced his plan to enter the portal on Wednesday.
After wide receiver Nick Marsh previously announced he plans to explore the portal, MSU had two more wideouts reveal their intention to do so as well Wednesday.
McCray arrived via transfer from Kent State prior to this season, and the 5-10, 171-pound native of Avon, Indiana, finished with 24 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Boyd, an East Lansing native, spent his first two seasons at Central Michigan before transferring to MSU last offseason and has two years remaining. The 6-3, 208-pound wide receiver finished with just three catches for 54 yards, all of which went for first downs, while playing in every game this season 110 snaps on offense and 32 snaps on special teams.
The portal closes Jan. 16, and players do not necessarily have to leave their current program; players can use the transfer process as a means of contract negotiations with schools for increased name, image and likeness deals and additional revenue sharing money.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football players to portal, including DE Jalen Thompson
Category: General Sports
