Here are the Mississippi State football players who are in the transfer portal
STARKVILLE — Mike Leach isn't a fan of the transfer portal, but that doesn't mean he won't utilize it.
The Mississippi State football coach called wide receiver Makai Polk the "ultimate success story of the portal," and Leach benefited from adding quarterback Gardner Minshew while at Washington State.
Still, Leach would prefer the rapid transfer movement across the country to slow down, although most players he's lost from his teams over the years have been “guys we needed to lose.”
"Don't ignore it as a resource," Leach said ahead of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. "But at the end of the day, I think the core of your team needs to be built with high school kids."
INCOMING: After season of missed field goals, Mississippi State football makes kicking an offseason priority
BIG LOSS: Makai Polk, record-breaking Mississippi State receiver, declares for 2022 NFL Draft
Leach could have a few transfers incoming this offseason, such as a kicker, cornerback or wide receiver. But the Bulldogs also have several outgoing players. Here are which Mississippi State players have entered the transfer portal, along with their destination.
Jack Kristofek, quarterback
Jack Kristofek entered the transfer portal Feb. 7 after not seeing the field for Mississippi State. He made two appearances for Sam Houston State in 2019. The Bulldogs' quarterback room is crowded, leaving Kristofek with little room to rise.
Destination: TBD
Izuchukwu King Ani, defensive line
Izuchukwu King Ani, a depth defensive lineman, saw minimal time this season for Mississippi State. He played just 14 snaps. He joined the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit, ranking as the No. 379 prospect in the class of 2019, according to the 247Sports Composite. He'll have three years of eligibility remaining.
Destination: TBD
Jack Abraham, quarterback
Jack Abraham received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA for a seventh season of eligibility, a source told the Clarion Ledger. He also entered the transfer portal. Abraham didn't feature for Mississippi State in 2021.
Destination: TBD
Malik Heath, wide receiver
Malik Heath entered the transfer portal Jan. 18 after he had 34 catches for 442 yards and five touchdowns in 2021, building on 37 catches and three touchdowns in 2020. He's recovering from a serious car accident in December.
Destination: Ole Miss
Landon Guidry, safety
Another safety entered the transfer portal, with Landon Guidry the latest. Guidry didn't appear in a game this season for Mississippi State. He should have one more year of eligibility remaining. Guidry saw more playing time in 2020, making six appearances with one start.
Destination: TBD
Nolan McCord, kicker
Shortly after Mississippi State added junior college kicker Gabriel Plascencia, kicker Nolan McCord entered the transfer portal. McCord was Plascencia's main competition for the starting role next season. McCord hit nine of his 16 field goal attempts in 2021, including one out of six tries from beyond 40 yards.
Destination: W
Kyle Cass, safety
Kyle Cass entered the transfer portal Jan. 12 and will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next stop. Cass joined Mississippi State from Mississippi Delta Community College, but he had limited impact for the Bulldogs, playing eight snaps against Vanderbilt — his only game.
Destination: TBD
Quinton Torbor, wide receiver
Mississippi State lost its first wide receiver when Quinton Torbor entered the transfer portal Jan. 7. Torbor didn't register any stats during his time with the Bulldogs. The Destrehan, Louisiana, native is a former three-star recruit who picked up offers from Auburn, Indiana and Georgia, among others, in high school.
Destination: TBD
Calvin McMillian, offensive tackle
Calvin McMillian never played a snap in two seasons for Mississippi State, and he'll have four years of eligibility wherever he winds up. McMillian, a Houston, Mississippi, native, came in as a three-star recruit, per 247Sports.
Destination: TBD
Aaron Odom, edge rusher
Aaron Odom entered the transfer portal Jan. 4, and with it, Mississippi State lost some depth up front. Odom served as a backup to Randy Charlton along the defensive line. The redshirt senior will have one more season of eligibility. Odom recorded 17 tackles in 2021, along with three sacks and a forced fumble.
Destination: Southern Miss
Armondous Cooley, defensive lineman
Armondous Cooley, a reserve defensive tackle, didn't see any snaps in 2021. The former three-star recruit should have four years of eligibility at Southern Miss.
Destination: Southern Miss
Janari Dean, safety
Janari Dean entered the transfer portal on Dec. 13, coming off a season in which his main contributions came on special teams. Dean redshirted in 2020 and made his debut in 2021 against LSU. He recorded three tackles this season. In a statement posted to Twitter, Dean said he will play running back at his next stop.
Destination: Southern Miss
Aaron Brule, linebacker
Aaron Brule entered the transfer portal after the Egg Bowl. He graduated from Mississippi State in December and quickly announced his decision to join Michigan State. Brule was a force for the Bulldogs' defense, starting 19 games in his career. He recorded 142 tackles across 40 games, and his 53 tackles this season were the fourth most on the team.
Destination: Michigan State
Rodney Groce, linebacker
Rodney Groce departed the team after playing in four games in his second season at Mississippi State, credited with two tackles. He saw limited time as a freshman in 2020, too, featuring once and finishing without a tackle. Groce landed at Arizona State.
Destination: Arizona State
Londyn Craft, safety
Londyn Craft became the first Mississippi State player to enter the transfer portal, joining in October. He played in just one game this season, featuring on special teams. He has yet to announce a transfer destination.
Destination: TBD
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football players in the transfer portal 2022
