Michigan State football picks up Texas Tech transfer DE Isaac Smith
Coach Jonathan Smith identified edge rushers as a position of need coming out of Michigan State football's spring practices last week.
The Spartans started rebuilding their pass rush Wednesday night with the addition of Texas Tech transfer Isaac Smith.
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The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Oklahoma native missed all of 2023 after suffering a knee injury, then returned to make 31 tackles with 2½ sacks in 12 games last season for the Red Raiders. After redshirting in 2021, Isaac Smith had 14 tackles in 11 games with a sack and a forced fumble in 2022. He started two games that season and six last fall.
Texas Tech's Isaac Smith goes through a drill during spring football practice, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
HEADING OUT: DE James Schott latest Michigan State football player to enter transfer portal
Smith went through spring practice with the Red Raiders before entering the portal last Wednesday when it opened. He will have two years of eligibility remaining, assuming the NCAA grants him a medical waiver for 2023.
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In going 5-7 in Jonathan Smith's debut and missing a bowl game for the third straight season, MSU's defense finished tied for 111th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 19 sacks — 15 in the first four games and four in the final two. The Spartans did not get to an opposing quarterback between their final early-season sack in the third quarter at Boston College in Game 4 to their next on the first drive against Purdue in Game 11, a total of two months and a day — along with 385 minutes and 55 seconds of game play – between sacks.
Isaac Smith joins a revamped group of edge rushers for defensive coordinator that includes fellow transfers David Santiago (Air Force) and Anelu Lafele (Wisconsin). The Spartans also return Jalen Thompson and Quindarius Dunningan after losing Anthony Jones and James Schott to the portal this week since the portal opened.
The spring transfer portal window closes Friday for players to enter.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football picks up Texas Tech transfer DE Isaac Smith
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