Edmondson's transfer in works before Green incident
East Lansing – Michigan State football player Jermaine Edmondson was not granted a release from his scholarship as a result of an altercation over the weekend with former basketball player Draymond Green.
Michigan State spokesman Ben Phlegar confirmed on Thursday that Edmondson’s intention to transfer from the program was set in motion before the incident on July 11 when Green, a current member of the Golden State Warriors and United States Olympic team, was arrested for striking Edmondson with what police described as a slap.
A statement released by coach Mark Dantonio on Wednesday laid out the time frame of when discussions began with Edmondson about the plans to leave Michigan State.
“In discussions with Jermaine Edmondson following spring practice and in the weeks thereafter, it became clear that Jermaine wanted to play a larger role on the team,” Dantonio said in the statement. “After consulting with him in the summer, he felt it was in his best interest to finish his playing career elsewhere. We have granted his immediate release to transfer to another institution to have that opportunity.”
The timing of the release created some confusion that it came as a result of the incident, but Phlegar made clear that was not the case.
Police: Green struck MSU football player Edmondson
Edmondson, who would have been a fifth-year senior defensive back, appeared in 38 games at Michigan State. Last year he had 24 tackles (2.5 for loss) and three passes defensed while providing the key block to spring Jalen Watts-Jackson for the winning touchdown on the final play against Michigan.
Edmondson took part in spring practice but did not play in the spring game.
As for Green, his pretrial hearing was moved from Aug. 4 to July 21 after a request was made on Wednesday from his attorney, James Heos.
Green will be with the U.S. national team for the Summer Games, which begin in Rio on Aug. 5.
While it’s unclear where Edmondson might play again, safety Mark Meyers will head to Miami (Ohio) for his final season.
Dantonio announced on Wednesday that Meyers, who graduated in 2016 with a degree in advertising, will indeed transfer to the Mid-American Conference school.
“Mark Meyers has done everything we asked of him during this process,” Dantonio said in a statement. “He graduated this year and has done a good job in the classroom during his time here in East Lansing, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors (in 2014). He was looking for a new opportunity on the football field in his final season, and by earning his degree, he’ll have that opportunity this year as a graduate transfer.”
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