Michigan State football opens the first spring practice of the Jonathan Smith era on Tuesday in East Lansing.
On Monday, MSU released its numerical roster. Spartans Illustrated has confirmed that running back Jaelon Barbarin, wide receiver Aubrey Dawkins and linebacker Ma'a Gaoteote are no longer on Michigan State's roster.
As a true freshman in 2023, Barbarin appeared in one game for Michigan State, recording one carry for one yard against Iowa on Sept. 30. Later, on Oct. 14, Barbarin was listed on the Big Ten football availability report as having a season-ending injury.
Dawkins joined the program as a preferred walk-on in 2020. He redshirted as a true freshman and did not play that year. He did not see game action in 2021, 2022 or 2023 either. He was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in both in 2021 and 2022.
Gaoteote, a four-star recruit in the 2021 class, dealt with injuries in 2023 and did not see the field. MSU listed him with a season-ending injury on the availability report ahead of its game at Minnesota on Oct. 28. Gaoteote appeared in 20 games in his first two seasons in East Lansing, and recorded 15 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one pass defended. He briefly entered the transfer portal in the winter of 2022, before opting to withdraw and rejoin the Spartans.
Here are some notable number changes on the Michigan State roster along with the numbers for all the newcomers:
Notable number changes:
- No. 3 WR Montorie Foster Jr. (was No. 83)
- No. 4 WR Jaron Glover (was No. 15)
- No. 4 DL Derrick Harmon (was No. 41)
- No. 9 DL Jalen Thompson (was No. 55)
- No. 11 DL Ken Talley (was No. 44)
- No. 40 DB James Burbar (was No. 92 and a LB)
- No. 67 OL Drew Reif (was No. 61)
- No. 83 TE Ademola Faleye (was No. 88)
- No. 88 TE Tyneil Hopper (was No. 23)
Transfers:
- No. 2 QB Aidan Chiles (Oregon State)
- No. 7 LB Jordan Turner (Wisconsin)
- No. 10 QB Tommy Schuster (North Dakota)
- No. 12 TE Jack Velling (Oregon State)
- No. 26 LB Wayne Matthews III (Old Dominion)
- No. 30 DB Aveon Grose (Southern Illinois)
- No. 47 LS Kaden Schickel (James Madison)
- No. 61 OL Tanner Miller (Oregon State)
- No. 86 P Carson Voss (Western Michigan)
- No. 94 DL D'Quan Douse (Georgia Tech)
- No. 99 DL Quindarius Dunnigan (Middle Tennessee)
Early enrollee true freshmen:
- No. 12 DB Justin Denson Jr.
- No. 14 QB Alessio Milivojevic
- No. 15 WR Nick Marsh
- No. 16 QB Ryland Jessee
- No. 16 DB Jaylen Thompson
- No. 28 RB Brandon Tullis
- No. 31 DB DJ Kennard (preferred walk-on)
- No. 45 LB Brady Pretzlaff
- No. 75 OL Charlton Luniewski
- No. 79 OL Mercer Luniewski
Jonathan Smith pre-spring practice press conference video:
