Michigan State's Ricky White, C.J. Hayes enter transfer portal

East Lansing — The shuffling of Michigan State’s roster continued Monday as sophomore wide receiver Ricky White and fifth-year senior C.J. Hayes entered the transfer portal.

White's status has been up in the air all season after he did not take part in spring practice then early in preseason camp, coach Mel Tucker revealed White was not participating in team activities. White's status never changed throughout the season and he did not appear in any of Michigan State's 12 games.

White enjoyed a breakout performance last season against Michigan, catching eight passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 10 catches for 223 yards in four games, missing the other three games because of injury.

A wide receiver his first four seasons, Hayes switched to defense in 2021 and played cornerback. He appeared in six games this season, primarily on special teams.

Hayes, from Bowling Green, Kentucky, had 14 receptions for 154 yards, including 13 catches for 141 yards in 2019 when he played in 11 games. Injuries plagued Hayes’ career, however, and he underwent foot surgery twice within eight months, missing the 2020 season. 

A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Hayes said on social media Monday he intends to play in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 when No. 10 Michigan State takes on No. 12 Pittsburgh.

Michigan State has now had nine players enter the transfer portal since the season began. Last week, freshman defensive back Michael Gravely, redshirt junior safety Michael Dowell, fifth-year senior defensive back Emmanuel Flowers and walk-on kicker Evan Johnson all entered the portal.

In September, junior cornerback Kalon Gervin, junior linebacker Chase Kline and freshman defensive lineman Alex Okelo entered the portal. And last week, a ninth player, walk-on long snapper Nick Chudler, who was last on the roster in 2018, also entered the portal.

mcharboneau@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @mattcharboneau