HAROLD JOINER

EAST LANSING – When Michigan State’s running backs huddle up, Harold Joiner isn’t hard to spot. At 6-foot-4, Joiner stands three inches taller than any other Spartans running back. Michigan State had the sixth-worst rushing offense in Division 1 last year. Coaches haven’t given any indications as to who will be at the top of the rotation when Michigan State opens next Friday at Northwestern. “I have to get low, low, instead of just low like a regular back,” Joiner said.

Today’s position: running backMark Dantonio’s retirement brought massive change for the Michigan State football program. “The run game was not nearly good enough, we all know that,” Tucker said in March. Michigan State has plenty of options in the backfield this fall but the goal remains the same as previous seasons. I expect our run game to be much better this season.”Related Michigan State football stories:3-star Georgia TE Jack Nickel commits to Michigan StateSpartan Confidential podcast: Who will Michigan State start at QB and RB? Top recruits: Michigan State OT commit Ashton Lepo has grown to 6-8, 280, and he’s not doneMel Tucker officially adds Detroit Cass Tech’s Thomas Wilcher to Michigan State’s staffMichigan State football chief of staff Geoff Martzen resigns

Mel Tucker’s roster overhaul through the transfer portal continues. Marqui Lowery Jr., a former cornerback at Louisville, announced his commitment to Michigan State on Saturday. Michigan State is now up to 10 transfer additions, either through those already enrolled or those who are committed. Michigan State is thin at cornerback after Shakur Brown left for the NFL draft and four others at the position entered the portal. Related Michigan State football stories:Michigan State lands commitment from Louisville transfer CB Marqui Lowery Jr.Curtis Blackwell’s latest lawsuit against Mark Dantonio and others is also dismissedMichigan State graduate assistant Cordae Hankton leaving for job at TexasMichigan State unveils new script “State” helmetsMichigan State boasts strong group of receivers with top targets returning

The Michigan redshirt sophomore linebacker who entered the transfer portal on Feb. 12 announced his commitment to Michigan State on Saturday. His younger brother, Alex VanSumeren, is a 2022 four-star defensive tackle at Essexville Garber who decommitted from Michigan on Feb. 11 and Michigan State is among the schools recruiting him. After two seasons at Michigan State, Edward Warinner transferred to Michigan last January. Michigan State has lost 17 players to the portal since Nov. 16 but coach Mel Tucker has also been aggressive pursuing transfers. Michigan State signed two linebackers in its 2021 recruiting class in four-star Ma’a Gaoteote and three-star Carson Casteel.

Michigan State just landed another player from the transfer portal. He entered the transfer portal in December and has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Michigan State is thin at cornerback after losing Shakur Brown to the NFL draft and four at the position to the transfer portal. Michigan State has lost 16 players to the transfer portal since Nov. 16 and coach Mel Tucker has been aggressive in adding players from other schools. Related Michigan State football stories:5 ways Michigan State football changed in Mel Tucker’s first yearMichigan State football mailbag: Tackling transfers, recruiting and positions of improvementMichigan State WR Jayden Reed charged with OWIHamp Fay diving into Michigan State’s tense quarterback competitionWhat Mel Tucker and his staff see in Michigan State’s six midyear transfer additions

Michigan State made roster additions and is now in preparation mode for next season. Michigan State signed a pair of linebackers to its 2021 recruiting class in four-star Ma’a Gaoteote and three-star Carson Casteel. Michigan State was scheduled to begin spring practice last year on March 17 with the spring game on April 18. Despite returning nine offensive linemen who started at least one game in 2019, Michigan State’s front five didn’t make the improvement many (myself included) expected. Related Michigan State football stories:Michigan State WR Jayden Reed charged with OWIFormer Michigan State WR Tre’Von Morgan transferring to KentuckyFrom fresh snow to dirty laundry, Michigan State football’s early enrollees settling inTakeaways from Michigan State football’s revised 2021 scheduleMat Ishbia’s $32 million donation will make ‘profound impact’ on Michigan State football

Mel Tucker’s debut season as head coach at Michigan State ended almost two months ago and his first recruiting class is now official. Michigan State’s 2021 recruiting class stands at 19 players and ranks 43rd in the nation. “Our recruiting brand is strong across the country,” Tucker said on Wednesday, “and we continue to go out and find the best players in the nation that fit this program.”A look at Michigan State football’s 2021 recruiting class and what Mel Tucker said about the playersMichigan State may be finished adding to its 2021 recruiting class but Tucker’s roster overhaul continues. That means continuing to search the transfer portal and Tucker is looking for up to nine more additions via that route before fall camp begins. En route to a 2-5 finish, Tucker said there would be significant roster turnover and that has transpired with 16 Michigan State players entering the portal since Nov. 16.

And the Michigan State coach’s aggressive approach already paid off with roster additions. Here are five positions Michigan State could target for additional transfer portal players ahead of fall camp:LinebackerAntjuan Simmons led Michigan State in tackles each of the last two years and the two-year starting linebacker is now gone. Michigan State signed two linebackers to its 2021 class last month in four-star Ma’a Gaoteote and three-star Carson Casteel. Palaie Gaoteote was high school teammates at Bishop Gorman with Michigan State redshirt sophomore receiver Jalen Nailor and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Jacob Isaia. There are clear connections with Michigan State but there will be plenty of competition for him from schools across the country, including Ohio State.

Reviving an ineffective running game was a priority for first-year Michigan State coach Mel Tucker and a new offensive staff this season. The continued lack of production – Michigan State finished 114th in the nation in rushing in 2018 and 113th in 2019 – came with a surprise in personnel usage. Michigan State hasn’t finished better than 62nd in the nation in rushing since 2014 and is attempting to remedy that in a backfield that is now very crowded. Michigan State also signed Davion Primm, a three-star prospect from Oak Park High School, to its 2021 recruiting class. Walker committed to Michigan State on Jan. 6, just two days after entering the portal.

Kenneth Walker III, a sophomore running back from Wake Forest, announced his commitment to Michigan State via Twitter on Wednesday. He is the second running back transfer to commit to Michigan State in less than a month, following Auburn redshirt sophomore Harold Joiner. Michigan State coach Mel Tucker has stressed being aggressive in searching the portal for talent and that is playing out. Michigan State signed one running back to its 2021 recruiting class in Davion Primm, a three-star prospect from Oak Park High School. Related Michigan State football stories:Michigan State true freshmen recap: Who stood out and a glimpse at next seasonSpartans in the NFL: Raequan Williams records first sack to cap rookie seasonMichigan State WR Tre’Von Morgan enters transfer portalFormer Michigan State LB Jeslord Boateng transferring to AkronFormer Michigan State QB Rocky Lombardi transferring to Northern Illinois

For the second time in a little more than 24 hours, Michigan State landed a commitment from a player out of the transfer portal. Auburn redshirt sophomore running back Harold Joiner announced Thursday night via Twitter he’s committed to Michigan State. First-year Michigan State coach Mel Tucker has repeatedly stated his intention to search the portal for roster additions and that’s proving to be true. Sophomore Brandon Wright has only six carries while sophomore Anthony Williams Jr. entered the transfer portal after appearing in two games. Michigan State has 17 players signed to its 2021 recruiting class and the group includes three-star running back Davion Primm from Oak Park High School.