All 3 Michigan State QBs enter transfer portal: Jonathan Smith’s rebuild begins

All three scholarship quarterbacks from Michigan State ’s 2023 football roster have entered the transfer portal . True freshman Sam Leavitt and redshirt freshman Katin Houser announced their decisions on Monday while Noah Kim followed suit on Tuesday as a grad transfer.

Thank you Michigan State pic.twitter.com/yzuHBWPa86

— Noah Kim November 28, 2023

Here’s what you need to know:

Kim started in each of the Spartans’ first five games this season but was benched after his completion percentage dipped from 70 percent in the first two games to 51.4 percent against Power 5 opponents Washington, Maryland and Iowa.

Houser took over the starting role after Michigan State’s bye week. He completed 112 of his 191 attempts for 1,132 yards with threw six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Leavitt appeared in four games in 2023. He saw the most action against Minnesota , completing 8 of 12 passes for 73 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Why now?

Michigan State’s tumultuous 4-8 season ended last Friday against Penn State . The next day, the Spartans also put an end to their coaching search by hiring Jonathan Smith . The former Oregon State head coach will replace Mel Tucker, who was fired for cause in September amid an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.

Leavitt, who attended West Linn (Oregon) High, told Rivals.com he “felt slighted” by Smith for not offering him out of high school to Oregon State. “I’m a hometown kid,” Leavitt said. “Why would they like me now when they didn’t like me before?”

The portal will officially open on Dec. 4, but grad transfers and players whose coach has been fired can enter immediately.

What’s next?

Roster turnover is common with any coaching change and that’s no different here. The Spartans are now down to walk-on Andrew Schorfhaar as the last quarterback listed on their roster. Smith, a former college quarterback himself, will have to tap into the transfer portal to bring in the program’s new leader on offense.

Other Michigan State players that have entered the portal include offensive linemen Spencer Brown , Kevin Wigenton II and Ethan Boyd , linebacker Darius Snow and wide receiver Tyrell Henry .

(Photo of Noah Kim: Jeffrey Becker / USA Today)