Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith
As Michigan State football gears up for its first season under head coach Jonathan Smith, the coaching staff is diligently working on recruiting and building relationships with local talent.
Coach Smith recently visited Wayne State University to speak at the National College Showcase camp, where he discussed various topics including the Spartans’ upcoming season, the excitement surrounding the program, and the return of a Friday night season opener.
However, the most notable revelation was Jaden Mangham’s surprising transfer destination. Mangham chose to transfer to Michigan, Michigan State’s in-state rival.
In a photo shared on X by SpartanMag.com, Smith is seen interacting with camp participants. Speaking with Matt Wenzel from MLive, Smith addressed the unusual nature of transferring to a rival school, acknowledging it as a growing trend in modern college sports.
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“This landscape, this day and age across the country, guys have opportunities to transfer,” Smith said. “I think it will become more and more common.”
Historically, transfers between Michigan State and Michigan were rare, but the trend has gained traction in recent years. It began with Edward Warinner in 2020, who left the Spartans for the Wolverines due to his father’s coaching role at Michigan. Ben VanSumeren followed, moving from Michigan to Michigan State the next summer.
While Mangham’s departure is a blow to the Spartans, it highlights a broader shift in college sports where player loyalty to a single team is diminishing.
Smith emphasized that while not extremely common, rival transfers will happen occasionally in the current landscape.
“It’s bizarre to see someone who played for your team wearing the rival’s colors, but it’s something everyone will have to get used to,” Smith remarked.
This new reality underscores the evolving nature of college athletics and the increasing frequency of transfers between rival programs.
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