Two former Michigan and Michigan State football players switched sides of the in-state rivalry within hours of each other.
At 4:56 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2024, former Spartan safety Jaden Mangham announced that he is heading to Ann Arbor.
Go Blue🔵🟡 pic.twitter.com/exfHdRaGSb
— S1ENDERMAN (@JadenMangham) May 17, 2024
The 6-foot-2 safety was a four-star recruit and the No. 7 prospect in the state of Michigan during the 2022 cycle. In two years with Michigan State, he racked up 73 tackles and four interceptions across 19 games.
As a sophomore last year, Mangham started 10 games and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media and coaches.
Mangham had five tackles and a pass break-up in a loss to Michigan last season.
About two hours later, at 7:02 p.m., former Michigan linebacker Semaj Bridgeman announced his commitment to the Spartans.
#GoGreen🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/I6vscME88G
— Semaj Bridgeman (@SemajBridgeman7) May 17, 2024
Bridgeman was a four-star recruit in 2023 out of Philadelphia with offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and dozens of others. He didn’t see game action as a true freshman on Michigan’s national championship team.
It’s strange for fans to see players leave for a heated rival, but we’re likely to see much more of this in the future as transfers continue to increase.