Michigan State adds former Tennessee linebacker from transfer portal

Tennessee transfer Quavaris Crouch has found a new home at Michigan State.

After spending the last two seasons on the Tennessee football team, linebacker Quavaris Crouch announced on Twitter Tuesday he is joining Mel Tucker’s Michigan State football program.

Crouch entered the transfer portal this offseason amid all the turmoil up in Knoxville. He was a former four-star recruit out of Charlotte by the Vols out of high school in 2019. Despite being a 10-game starter in the middle of the 2020 Tennessee defense, Crouch has decided to link up with Tucker and his Big Ten program on the rise than ride it out with new Vols head coach Josh Heupel.

Once again, Tennessee is having a total disaster in terms of being able to retain talent in 2021.

Michigan State football: Quavaris Crouch leaves Volunteers for Spartans

Leaving the SEC to go play in the Big Ten may be head-scratching to some, but going to play for a defensive-minded head coach in Tucker seems to be very important to him. This will be Tucker’s second season in East Lansing after spending a year as the Colorado Buffaloes head coach in 2019. He took over for the legendary Mark Dantonio very late last offseason upon his retirement.

For Michigan State to have a good 2021 campaign, the Spartans will need to achieve bowl eligibility and hold their own among what will be a surprisingly strong Big Ten East division. Michigan State does not need to contend for a division crown, but if the Spartans can knock off either the Michigan Wolverines or the Penn State Nittany Lions, that would be a great season.

With Crouch transferring to Michigan State, the Spartans are landing a big-time, blue-chip player.

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