Michigan State Football: Ranking all transfers for the 2021 season

Info: Player profile
Former team: Alabama
Eligibility: One year with a possibility of a second
Position: Cornerback
High school recruiting rating: 4-star
Expected role: Become a starter at one of the cornerback positions

You can’t blame Ronald Williams for not being a starting defensive back on a national championship team. However, you can understand why he decided to transfer to Michigan State to more than likely be one of the starters and a potential lockdown corner in the Big Ten.

Willams was also hindered by an arm injury early in the season last year but he did get some playing time for the national champion Crimson Tide. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds and prior to transferring to Alabama, he was an NJCAA All-American as a sophomore at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.

Mel Tucker and his staff expect Williams not to only start for the Spartans but to potentially be one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten this season.

Williams will have his opportunity to dominate this season and be possibly be named to an All-Big Ten team.

Info: Player profile
Former team: Tennessee
Eligibility: Two years
Position: Linebacker
High school recruiting rating: 4-star
Expected role: Become a starter at one of the linebacker positions

Like Williams, Quavaris Crouch will not only be expected to start for the Spartans at one of the linebacker positions but to potentially be a difference-maker, creating turnovers and earn an All-Big Ten selection.

As a freshman, Crouch appeared in all 13 games with one start for the Volunteers. Last season, he started all 10 games at middle linebacker for Tennessee and was an impact player in SEC play. Like Williams and Kimbrough, he’s played against great competition in the SEC and he’s a player that Michigan State fans are very excited about.

Crouch is listed at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds and if he was able to start as a middle linebacker against SEC competition, he is well suited to be an impact player in the Big Ten. His combination of speed, strength, and quickness will make him a very important player for Tucker.

Info: Player profile
Former team: Wake Forest
Eligibility: Three years
Position: Running back
High school recruiting rating: 3-star
His expected role this season: Become the starting running back

With so many talented and impactful transfers who decided to play for Michigan State this season, Kenneth Walker III is arguably the most important, exciting, and anticipated player to produce for the Spartans.

To demonstrate his potential impact on the Michigan State running game, last season the collection of Spartan running backs had zero rushing touchdowns while Walker had 13 at Wake Forest.

To be clear and with no disrespect intended to all of the other incoming transfers at Michigan State, Walker has the potential to not only be a difference-maker but he could win essentially single-handly win a game or two with his ability to reach the endzone as he has already demonstrated in the ACC. He deserves the No. 1 ranking here due to his past production, his position he plays, and the anticipated impact he will have.

Michigan State is done adding transfers and Tucker and his staff are building something special in East Laning and we shall see how many wins it translates to in 2021.