Michigan State football: Spartans prospects to watch on the field for 2025 NFL draft

So much has changed about college football in the past few years, especially from a personnel standpoint.

Yet some things remain tradition. Such as turning toward the 2025 NFL draft 24 hours after it ended and trying to project who will be selected from each school — even knowing the transfer portal remains open through Tuesday.

Predicting who might be the next Michigan State football player to get drafted at this point is every bit as challenging as projecting the preseason roster. Take Keon Coleman, for instance. He appeared to be a lock to go high in the draft after the 2022 season with the Spartans. And he did – but only after hitting the transfer portal one day after the 2023 draft ended, eventually landing at Florida State last season and becoming the No. 33 overall pick to Buffalo on Friday.

Two of MSU’s seemingly most likely draft possibilities for 2025, defensive tackles Simeon Barrow and Derrick Harmon, both entered the transfer portal in April and are not likely to return. And there is no telling who new coach Jonathan Smith might add to his roster by the Aug. 31 opener against Florida Atlantic.

Any draft projections at this point — for that matter, determining the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff field — are akin to starting a drive 99 yards from the end zone. So consider this the first snap toward trying to determine MSU’s long march to the 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay. (Players listed as seniors could also have an extra year of COVID eligibility remaining)

Seniors

OT Brandon Baldwin: Former basketball player in high school before going the junior college route to begin his college football career. Size (6 feet 7, 327 pounds) and footwork and the constant need for edge blocking will intrigue NFL.

DE Khris Bogle: The one-time Florida transfer needs a healthy and productive season, but his ability to attack opposing quarterbacks as a strict rush end in new coordinator Joe Rossi’s defense could boost his stock as a sixth-year senior. Has the size and physical attributes needed to get a chance to make an NFL roster.

RB Nate Carter: Size (5-10, 200) could be an issue between being drafted and getting an undrafted free-agent look, particularly with the NFL’s devaluation of backs. Former Connecticut transfer has the speed, strength and athleticism to make believers this fall if he can finish with a flourish in both the run and pass game. Incoming transfer Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams will cut into Carter’s usage, and also could emerge as a possible target in the draft or as a free agent.

WR Montorie Foster Jr.: Athletic ability always has been Foster’s premium, back to when he turned down Division I basketball interest to focus on football. However, he has been behind Jalen Nailor, Jayden Reed, Keon Coleman and Tre Mosley throughout his MSU career. Plays bigger and stronger than his 6-foot, 189-pound frame, and could emerge on draft boards when scouts see him catching more and more passes this fall from Aidan Chiles and potentially gets more reps in the return game.

ANALYSIS: Michigan State football spring game observations: QB Aidan Chiles looks legit in debut

DB Angelo Grose: Versatility and athletic ability have been his calling cards since high school, and his ability to float between safety and nickelback during his time at MSU will draw interest. Potential special teams contributor at the next level.

LB Cal Haladay/Jordan Turner: Like running backs on offense, off-ball linebackers have become more and more devalued every draft. Both Haladay and Turner need a strong summer and season of showing improvement in pass coverage to make a case.

DT Maverick Hansen/Quindarius Dunnigan/D’Quan Douse: A trio of sixth-year seniors the NFL could target based on their size, experience and age at a premium position. Douse (Georgia Tech) and Dunnigan (Middle Tennessee State) are both transfers, as is recently committed Brandon Lane (Stephen F. Austin), who arrives with two years left and might end up with the highest draft stock by next April.

K Jonathan Kim: Showed a strong leg and accuracy on both kickoffs and field-goal attempts, even after moving to harsher northern climates as a transfer from North Carolina.

C/OG Tanner Miller: Oregon State transfer will get an opportunity to show what he can do as a starting center, and NFL teams love versatile interior linemen who can play all three positions, as he has during his first five collegiate years.

Others: WR Alante Brown, DE Avery Dunn, TE Tyneil Hopper, DT Brandon Lane (incoming transfer), RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams (incoming transfer), RB Jaren Mangham.

Underclassmen

OL Ethan Boyd, CB Charles Brantley, WR Jaron Glover, DB Jaden Mangham, DB Malik Spencer, DB Dillon Tatum, OG Geno VanDeMark, TE Jack Velling.

Many of these players are at least another year away from leaving school for the draft, with the need for added strength for most (NFL rules require players to be three years removed from high school to be eligible for the draft). Perhaps the two most physically ready to do so early if they have a strong season are Spencer, a hard-hitting junior safety, and VanDeMark, a redshirt junior interior lineman who has the measurables and experience to emerge as a prospect. Velling could join them on talent, but needs to bulk up his 246-pound frame to withstand blocking NFL linemen.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football: Prospects to watch for 2025 NFL draft