Michigan State set to host loaded transfer visitor list over the weekend

Michigan State will welcome a healthy dose of transfer portal visitors over the weekend, especially at positions of need in defensive lineman and linebackers. SpartanMag.com breaks down who is visiting and what they bring, as each visitor is a proven contributor at varying levels.

Northwestern CB Rod Heard

Farmington, Mich., native Rod Heard will visit Michigan State for an official visit over the weekend. Heard is fresh off an official visit to Michigan (Jan. 3) and also plans to visit Notre Dame following the visit to East Lansing. The defensive back has one season of eligibility remaining.

He set career highs with 85 tackles and logged four passes defended in 2023 for Northwestern, He also forced two fumbles, had one sack and an interception. Heard will likely slot in as a starter in the 2024 Michigan State defensive backfield if he were to choose the Spartans. Michigan State faces stiff completion for the Michigan native.

Georgia Tech DL D’Quan Douse

Michigan State will welcome former Georgia Tech defensive tackle D’Quan Douse for a visit over the weekend. Douse (6-2, 290) is originally of Savannah (Ga.) Calary Day School, spending five seasons with Georgia Tech and making 22 total starts. Douse started two games as a freshman in 2020, seeing his role increase in 2022, starting 12 games for the Yellowjackets.

Douse started eight games for Georgia Tech in 2023. He logged 34 total tackles, two sacks, recording a tackle in every game played this season. North Carolina is another school pushing for an official visit.

Wisconsin DL Rodas Johnson

Another defensive lineman making his way to East Lansing over the weekend includes former Wisconsin defensive tackle Rodas Johnson, originally of Columbus, Ohio. Johnson (6-2, 295) signed with Wisconsin out of high school, redshirting in 2019.

He played four seasons with Wisconsin, logging 50 tackles, two and a half sacks, two pass defenses, and a forced fumble. In 2023, he logged 18 tackles with a half sack. Johnson has also visited NC State since entering the transfer portal. He is planning to visit Houston following his trip to East Lansing.

Louisville DL Jeffrey Clark

Michigan State will also welcome former Louisville defensive tackle Jeff Clark over the weekend. Clark spent one season with Louisville, previously spending his first three seasons with Georgia State. Clark totaled 92 tackles and nine sacks with Georgia State.

He had 14 tackles in his only season at Louisville in 2023. Arizona State, North Carolina, and California have also offered Clark since he entered the portal.

Duke DE Ryan Smith

The Spartans will host former Duke defensive end Ryan Smith, as the last confirmed defensive line visitor of the weekend. Smith (6-2, 232) has one year of eligibility remaining. He is a native of Acworth, Ga.

Smith played in 30 total games with the Blue Devils. In 2022, Smith won Duke’s Special Teams Player of the Year award. In his most recent season Smith logged 11 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one interception.

The defensive end tells SpartanMag.com he also visited Kansas on Jan. 3.

Old Dominion LB Wayne Matthews

Beginning the linebacker group visiting East Lansing this weekend is former Old Dominion linebacker Wayne Matthews, originally of Largo, Md. He logged 14 tackles and a sack in the Monarchs bowl game before entering the portal on Dec. 29.

Matthews has spent three seasons at Old Dominion. He had a breakout year in 2023, logging 39 tackles, three and a half sacks, three forced fumbles.

Idaho LB Xe’ree Alexander

Michigan State will also receive a visit from freshman linebacker Xe’ree Alexander, formerly of Idaho. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker had 75 tackles, four tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles 2023.

Alexander is a native of Auburn (Wash.) Kennedy Catholic and was named First Team All-State and Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He has announced offers from Nebraska, Washington, California, Washington State, Minnesota, Kansas, Oregon State, and others since entering the transfer portal.

West Virginia LB Jared Bartlett

Michigan State will also welcome 6-foot-2, 238-pound linebacker Jared Bartlett, formerly of West Virginia. The Miami, Fla., native spent five years at WVU, logging 135 career tackles, 14 sacks, and two forced fumbles in career. In 2023, Bartlett posted 49 tackles and four and a half sacks. He will have on year of eligibility remaining.

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