Michigan State adds former James Madison long snapper Kaden Schickel via transfer portal
Michigan State received a transfer commitment from former James Madison long snapper Kaden Schickel on Tuesday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Schickel played in 13 games as a redshirt sophomore this fall. He redshirted his freshman season in 2021 and did not see game action in 2022.
Rubio Long Snapping, a popular scouting service for long snappers, rated Schickel a 4.5-star prospect out of high school. According to the Rubio Long Snapping website, that ranking translates to an “FCS freshman year starter, scholarship pick or FBS preferred walk-on.”
Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim vocalized his excitement about the addition on Twitter. Kim – who attended the same high school as Schickel near their hometown of Fredericksburg, Va. – will work with closely with Schickel and punter Ryan Eckley on special teams next season.
Hank Pepper, Michigan State’s starting long snapper to begin last season, stepped away from the program in late September. He will play at USC next season. Drew Wilson, who transferred to Michigan State last summer from Long Beach (Calif.) City College, took over long snapping duties for the remainder of the season.
Schickel will likely compete with Wilson for the starting long snapper job ahead of next season. Wilson will be a senior next year.
With his commitment, Schickel became Michigan State’s sixth transfer portal addition of the offseason. He joins Oregon State quarterback Aidan Chiles and tight end Jack Velling, Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield, Wisconsin linebacker Jordan Turner and Middle Tennessee State EDGE Quindarius Dunnigan.
