Michigan State football’s defensive line got a little deeper Thursday night.
The Spartans picked up a transfer pledge from nose tackle Grady Kelly, who spent last season at Florida State and his first three at Colorado State. The 6-foot-2, 295-pound native of Navarre, Florida, has one season of eligibility remaining in 2025.
After playing two games and redshirting in 2021, Kelly had 79 tackles (nine for a loss and 2½ sacks) while starting 22 of his 26 games for the Rams. He was a College Football News Freshman All-American in 2022.
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Kelly transferred to FSU in January and had 19 tackles, 2½ of them for a loss and one of those a sack, in 12 games with the Seminoles. He re-entered the portal Dec. 12.
Kelly is the seventh transfer planning to head to MSU and the first defensive lineman for a defense that struggled to generate QB pressure and sacks last season. The Spartans lost Maverick Hansen and D’Quan Douse to expiring eligibility. Starter Alex VanSumeren is expected to return, along with key interior backups Jalen Satchell and Ben Roberts, plus veteran Ru’Quan Buckley and freshman Mikeshun Beeler.
Coach Jonathan Smith and his staff already have transfer pledges from wide receivers Chrishon McCray (Kent State) and Omari Kelly (Middle Tennessee State); offensive linemen Caleb Carter (Western Carolina) and Luka Vincic (Oregon State); running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (Sacramento State); and cornerback Joshua Eaton (Texas State/Oklahoma).
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football lands 7th inbound transfer in DT Grady Kelly
