Michigan State adds second-team C-USA defensive end Quindarius Dunnigan
Michigan State picked up a key national signing day commitment on Wednesday with the addition of Middle Tennessee defensive end Quindarius Dunnigan, a 6-foot-4, 256-pound second-team all-conference selection in 2023.
As a redshirt junior at Middle Tennessee State last season, Dunnigan ranked first nationally among FBS defensive linemen with eight pass break-ups. He also led MTSU defensive linemen in snaps per game with 56.
Dunnigan was selected Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week once as a junior and was named team defensive player of the week on two different occasions. Dunnigan distinguished himself with his play in non-conference match-ups against Alabama and Missouri.
An 11-game starter as a junior, Dunnigan totaled 35 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks in his final season at MTSU. The Michigan State commitment ranked second on his team in quarterback hurries with five.
Dunnigan totaled four tackles against Alabama. Against Missouri, he recorded five tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
Dunnigan played sparingly during his first two seasons at MTSU, appearing in just nine games. As redshirt freshman he played a support role, making eight appearances with six tackles. After missing the entire 2021 season with an injury, Dunnigan broke through as a part-time starter for MTSU in 2022, finishing with 27 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 12 games.
Michigan State received a commitment from Dunnigan days after he returned from an official visit to the Spartans last week. Dunnigan announced his commitment to Jonathan Smith’s program via social media on Wednesday morning.
Dunnigan fills a critical need on the defensive line for Michigan State, which has lost both Khris Bogle and Zion Young to the transfer portal since the end of the 2023 season.
The Spartans have been selective in their pursuit of transfer portal recruits to this point in Smith’s tenure. Dunnigan joins a strong transfer portal class headlined by the trio quarterback Aidan Chiles, tight end Jack Velling, wide receiver TJ Sheffield, and linebacker Justin Turner.
Velling and Chiles are following Smith and his coaching staff from Oregon State. Chiles signed with Michigan State as the No. 6 transfer portal quarterback in the Class of 2024. Velling signed with Michigan State as the No. 6 ranked transfer portal tight end.
Turner is a former standout at Farmington High in Southeast Michigan, who spent three years as Wisconsin before entering the transfer portal after the 2023 season.
During his time at Purdue, Sheffield was a consistent producer at wide receiver. He has more than 1,000 receiving yards in his college career.
Dunnigan signed with MTSU as a three-star outside linebacker prospect in the Class of 2019. He totaled 110 tackles and four sacks as a high school senior at Chatanooga (TN) McCallie.
