MSU gets grad transfer DT Kevin Williams from Nebraska
Michigan State appears to have found an immediate solution to its shortage at defensive tackle within the Big Ten.
The Spartans announced Monday that Kevin Williams will join MSU as a graduate transfer to help their significantly depleted front four on defense. The former Nebraska player posted a picture to Instagram late Sunday evening of himself holding a Spartan helmet and wearing an MSU jersey.
"It was a little bit of everything on why I wanted to come to Michigan State,” Williams said in a release. “I had a previous relationship with the coaching staff during the recruiting process in high school. I also got a good idea of how the program was run by being in the same conference. I knew that even after coming to Nebraska, Michigan State would have been a good route to go as well out of high school. I’m excited to be a part of a championship level program."
Williams missed the 2011 and 2013 seasons for the Cornhuskers with knee injuries, which allowed for him to receive a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder from Holland, Ohio, has 27 tackles and three sacks among his 23 college games, which included four starts. Williams battled injuries in 2015 to play in eight games, two of them starts, and had four tackles, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
The 23-year-old earned his bachelor’s degree in management in August 2014 and spent the past two years earning his master’s in management from Nebraska. He plans to pursue a second master's in sports administration at MSU.
“We’re excited about the addition of Kevin to our football team,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said in a release. “We had a chance to get to know him during the recruiting process. He has the talent and experience to immediately contribute to our defense this season.”
The Spartans have lost a number of defensive linemen since last season’s College Football Playoff appearance.
MSU defensive tackle Damon Knox won’t return for 6th year
Three starters – tackle Joel Heath and ends Shilique Calhoun and Lawrence Thomas – all graduated. Defensive tackle Craig Evans and defensive end Montez Sweat left the program in early April for “personal reasons,” according to the school. MSU also announced Friday that defensive tackle Damon Knox, who was believed to be pursuing a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA as a graduate student, decided against it and to instead begin his career in law enforcement.
Williams was a three-star recruit in 2011 out of Springfield High in suburban Toledo. MSU was among six Big Ten schools to offer him a scholarship out of high school, but he chose Bo Pelini’s program after taking his only recruiting visit to Nebraska, according to Rivals.com.