logo
Michigan State football picks up Texas Tech transfer DE Isaac Smith

Michigan State football picks up Texas Tech transfer DE Isaac Smith

Yahoo24-04-2025
Coach Jonathan Smith identified edge rushers as a position of need coming out of Michigan State football's spring practices last week.
The Spartans started rebuilding their pass rush Wednesday night with the addition of Texas Tech transfer Isaac Smith.
Advertisement
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Oklahoma native missed all of 2023 after suffering a knee injury, then returned to make 31 tackles with 2½ sacks in 12 games last season for the Red Raiders. After redshirting in 2021, Isaac Smith had 14 tackles in 11 games with a sack and a forced fumble in 2022. He started two games that season and six last fall.
Texas Tech's Isaac Smith goes through a drill during spring football practice, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
HEADING OUT: DE James Schott latest Michigan State football player to enter transfer portal
Smith went through spring practice with the Red Raiders before entering the portal last Wednesday when it opened. He will have two years of eligibility remaining, assuming the NCAA grants him a medical waiver for 2023.
Advertisement
In going 5-7 in Jonathan Smith's debut and missing a bowl game for the third straight season, MSU's defense finished tied for 111th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 19 sacks — 15 in the first four games and four in the final two. The Spartans did not get to an opposing quarterback between their final early-season sack in the third quarter at Boston College in Game 4 to their next on the first drive against Purdue in Game 11, a total of two months and a day — along with 385 minutes and 55 seconds of game play – between sacks.
Isaac Smith joins a revamped group of edge rushers for defensive coordinator that includes fellow transfers David Santiago (Air Force) and Anelu Lafele (Wisconsin). The Spartans also return Jalen Thompson and Quindarius Dunningan after losing Anthony Jones and James Schott to the portal this week since the portal opened.
The spring transfer portal window closes Friday for players to enter.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
Advertisement
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football picks up Texas Tech transfer DE Isaac Smith
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Former Spartan Pierre Brooks returns to East Lansing for Moneyball game
Former Spartan Pierre Brooks returns to East Lansing for Moneyball game

USA Today

time8 hours ago

  • USA Today

Former Spartan Pierre Brooks returns to East Lansing for Moneyball game

Former Michigan State guard Pierre Brooks showed up to the Moneyball Pro-Am tonight, playing with Jeremy Fears on Team Tri-Star A former Michigan State Spartan returned to campus to reunite with his former team to play in a Moneyball game on Thursday night. Pierre Brooks returned to the Lansing area to take part in the Moneyball games on Thursday night, teaming up with current Spartans point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. Brooks spent two seasons with Michigan State before he transferred out of the program and headed to Butler for the final two seasons of his collegiate career. While at one time, there may have been some tensions around Brooks and his departure, it appears that those are all gone and he is welcome back around the program with open arms. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner

Social media reacts to MSU basketball landing commitment from 4-star PG Carlos Medlock Jr.
Social media reacts to MSU basketball landing commitment from 4-star PG Carlos Medlock Jr.

USA Today

time18 hours ago

  • USA Today

Social media reacts to MSU basketball landing commitment from 4-star PG Carlos Medlock Jr.

See how fans and media reacted on social media to the Spartans landing a commitment from 4-star PG Carlos Medlock Jr. the best decision you'll ever makecongrats Carlos & go green!! 💚 Michigan State basketball picked up their first commitment of the 2026 class on Friday night. Carlos Medlock Jr. of Branson, Mo. -- formerly Wayne, Mich. -- announced his commitment to Michigan State on Friday evening. Medlock is the first commitment for the Spartans in the 2026 class, and is expected to now help lead the way as the future point guard of Michigan State basketball. Medlock is four-star prospect, with a recruiting rating of 95.54 in 247Sports' composite system. He ranks as the No. 10 point guard and No. 118 overall prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings. Medlock committed to Michigan State over notable offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Creighton and Iowa. He had an explosive summer on the recruiting trail, but held true to the Spartans -- who were one of the first big-time programs to identify him as a top-tier prospect and extend him an offer. So what did the fans and media have to say about the news of Medlock's commitment to Michigan State? Check out some of the best social media reactions following Medlock's announcement on Friday night: Medlock Jr averaged 21.1 PPG, 2.9 APG, 4.1 RPG on 47/36/79 splits shooting 5.5 3FGA per game on the Adidas circuit this summer. Three level bucket getter who plays with a chip. Re-establishes home recruiting turf. Big land for the good guys. Can't wait to buy your jersey. Spartan. DAWG!!! Nice start to the '26 class for MSU hoops with the commitment of four-star PG Carlos Medlock. From Detroit, but playing his senior year at Link Academy in story from @JustinThind Stuffed Dusty May in a locker BREAKING: #MichiganState has landed 2026 four-star point guard Carlos Medlock Izzo's next PG is MSU's 1st commit of the 2026 cycle. He'll now help recruit for the chose MSU over Michigan & (FREE) PG established ahead of a huge fall recruiting weekend. Welcome to the family Carlos!!! GO GREEN!!!! Mateen Valentine. (could play 1-3)Cassius Fears Medlock Izzo has really build PGU in East Lansing. Point guard Carlos Medlock Jr. pledges to MSU basketball for factoid: 20 years ago, Carlos Medlock Sr. (Eastern Michigan) and Jeremy Fears Sr. (Ohio) were dynamic freshman guards together in the Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store