Hours after Michigan State fired head coach Jonathan Smith, the program has its first resulting player departure. Sophomore running back Makhi Frazier, the Spartans’ leading rusher this season, announced on social media his intention to enter the transfer portal.
A former three-star recruit from Texas, Frazier originally committed to Smith at Oregon State before following him to East Lansing. After playing mostly on special teams as a true freshman, he earned the starting role this fall. He finished the season with 520 yards and two touchdowns on 116 carries, posting 100-yard games against Western Michigan and Michigan. Frazier, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, missed three of the final four games, including the season-ending win over Maryland.
His announcement comes as multiple reports indicate Michigan State plans to hire former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to replace Smith. Frazier was part of a three-man backfield this season, alongside fellow sophomore Brandon Tullis and graduate transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver.
Under new NCAA rules, players on teams with a head coaching change are granted a 15-day window to enter the transfer portal, which opens five days after a new coach is officially hired.
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