The transfer portal is open once again in college football, for just 10 days this time, and Mississippi State still has needs to fill. The Dispatch is tracking all players transferring out of and into MSU during the spring portal window here.
Players leaving Mississippi State in transfer portal
Donterry Russell, redshirt sophomore linebacker
The younger brother of Bulldogs defensive lineman De’Monte Russell, who played his final season at MSU in 2024, Donterry Russell redshirted as a true freshman in 2022, appearing in three games. The following year, he played in eight games with five starts, finishing with 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Russell had the best game of his career that season against Alabama, but missed the final 11 games of 2024 after playing in the season opener. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Mason Clinton, sophomore defensive lineman
Clinton joined the Bulldogs as a junior college transfer from East Mississippi Community College in the winter after playing at Louisiana in 2023. He is from Petal, just east of Hattiesburg, and has already announced that he will transfer to Southern Miss. MSU opens the season on the road against the Golden Eagles on Aug. 30.
Jake Weir, senior quarterback
Weir, from Tupelo, has been on the Bulldogs’ roster for four years without appearing in a game after arriving as a preferred walk-on.
Jacorey Whitted, redshirt freshman offensive lineman
Whitted redshirted as a true freshman in 2024 as a tight end and switched to offensive line this spring. He is from McCalia, Alabama and still has four years of eligibility remaining.
Jesse Ramil, senior offensive lineman
Ramil just joined MSU in the offseason as a transfer from James Madison, where he started all 12 games in 2024 after previously playing at Saint Francis. He hopped right back into the portal and still has one year of eligibility remaining.
Luke Beard, sophomore long snapper
Beard has not appeared in any games during his two years with the Bulldogs, but he was the only long snapper on the roster this spring. The Choctaw County High School product has three years of eligibility remaining.
Malik Ellis, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman
Ellis played tight end as a freshman in 2023 due to MSU’s lack of depth there, then switched back to his natural position last season. He played in 11 games with four starts in 2023 but saw the field for just six snaps in the season opener in 2024 before missing the rest of the year. Because of that, he earned a redshirt and still has three years of eligibility remaining.
Wykece Johnson, senior running back
Johnson did not appear in any games over the last two seasons with the Bulldogs. He previously played at Holmes Community College in 2021 and 2022.
Karsten Upchurch, redshirt junior offensive lineman
Upchurch spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at East Mississippi Community College, where he became the No. 11 ranked junior college offensive line prospect. He did not play in any games with MSU last season, earning a redshirt.
Carson Lee, graduate student offensive lineman
Lee joined the Bulldogs in the winter portal window from Eastern Michigan, where he started 10 games in 2024 and six in 2023. He had previously played at Colorado, making five appearances in two years.
Players joining Mississippi State in transfer portal
Jakewon Bouldin, offensive lineman, Purdue
Bouldin is from Canton, Mississippi and played in 2022 and 2023 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He did not appear in any games last season with Purdue.
Blake Steen, offensive lineman, Virgnia
Steen started all 12 games for the Cavaliers last fall. He will be a redshirt junior with two years of eligibility remaining, and is an impact addition for the Bulldogs’ offensive line.
Sam West, tight end, Indiana
West played in two games as a true freshman in 2023, then became a more regular contributor last season, playing mostly on special teams for a Hoosiers squad that won 11 games and went to the College Football Playoff. He caught one pass for 37 yards against Charlotte and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Max Reese, tight end, Eastern Michigan
Reese is from Chicago and is coming off a solid 2024 season for the Eagles, catching 27 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He had a career-best seven receptions against Miami-Ohio in October, and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Ethan Myers, long snapper, Chattanooga
The Bulldogs were in need of a long snapper after Beard entered the portal, and they settled on Myers, who has played at the FCS level for Chattanooga and Austin Peay. He started for three years with the Governors and was twice an all-conference honoree. Myers has one year of eligibility remaining.
Jayvin James, offensive lineman, Maryland
James has transferred for the second time this offseason, joining Maryland from Akron over the winter. He appeared in all 12 games with nine starts in 2024 for the Zips as a redshirt freshman and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Brennan Smith, offensive lineman, Texas-El Paso
Smith came to UTEP from Austin Peay, where he started every game at right tackle in 2023. He played in all 12 games last year with the Miners as well and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Zechariah Owens, offensive lineman, Colorado
Owens redshirted as a true freshman at Clemson in 2023, playing 13 offensive snaps in two games. He was mostly a special teams player last year at Colorado, with just 11 offensive snaps. Owens has three years of eligibility remaining.
Colin Coates, defensive lineman, Charlotte
Coates has made 27 total tackles in his two seasons at Charlotte. He played in just two games as a freshman, earning a redshirt, so he has three years of eligibility remaining.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
