Former Michigan State receiver announces transfer destination

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels01/21/22

ChandlerVessels

Former Michigan State receiver Ricky White III will transfer to UNLV, he announced Friday. He entered the transfer portal on Dec. 6.

White did not play this past season. As a true freshman in 2020, he appeared in three games for the Spartans, finishing with 10 catches for 223 yards and a touchdown. A large chunk of his production came during a 27-24 upset of Michigan in which he caught eight passes for 196 yards.

A native of Marietta, Georgia, he came to East Lansing as a three-star recruit. White was the No. 84 receiver in the 2020 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He helped Marietta High School to a state championship as a senior in 2019, finishing with 97 receptions, 1,3`19 yards and 16 touchdowns.

White is set to join a Rebels team that finished 2-10 this past season. UNLV is entering its third season under Marcus Arroyo, who went 0-6 in his first year. The last time the Rebels made a bowl game was back in 2013. UNLV finished this past season eighth in the Mountain West with 202.5 passing yards per game, so could use some help.

The receiver leaves behind a Spartans squad that went 11-2 in Mel Tucker’s second year at the helm. MSU defeated Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl to close out the year. They started the season 8-0 before losing two of their final four games in the regular season.

The Michigan State transfer receiver will get his first opportunity to impact his new team on Sept. 3 when UNLV opens its 2022 season against Idaho State. Look for White to try to get involved from the get-go and show off the talent he displayed as a Spartan freshman.