Michigan State football lands two more transfers, including one from a Big Ten rival

Michigan State on Monday landed two more players via the transfer portal, including one from a Big Ten rival.

Former Nebraska defensive tackle Ru'Quan Buckley and former Cincinnati edge rusher Tyler Gillison are planning to transfer to Michigan State for the upcoming season.

Buckely's commitment was reported first by On3, while Gillison personally announced his pledge on social media.

The Spartans first targeted Buckley when he was starring at Wyoming Godwin Heights. The Detroit News ranked Buckley as the No. 16 high school senior in Michigan in 2021. Ultimately, though, Buckley chose Nebraska over Michigan State.

Three years later, though, Buckley appears ready to come home. A 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive lineman, Buckley registered 69 snaps in eight games last season for the Huskers. He also made a switch to the offensive line late in the season as Nebraska was bogged down by injuries.

Buckley has two years of eligibility left.

Meanwhile, Gillison is listed as 6-foot-4 and 242 pounds and has spent the last two years at Cincinnati. He was a backup defensive end and linebacker last season, registering 15 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He played a total of 147 snaps for the Bearcats on defense and special teams. 

After redshirting his true freshman season in 2022, Gillison, a former three-star recruit from Ohio, has three years of eligibility remaining. 

Gillison does have some pre-existing ties to Michigan State. His older brother, Trenton Gillison, committed to the Spartans out of high school and played four seasons in East Lansing at tight end under both Mark Dantonio and Mel Tucker. He appeared in 27 games (six starts) over those four seasons, recording 18 career receptions for 201 yards. 

The older Gillson transferred out after the 2021 season and played his last season of eligibility at Youngstown State University. 

Buckely and the younger Gillison are at least the fifth and sixth players Michigan State has picked up in the transfer portal over the last two weeks. Other additions include linebacker Anthony Jones (Indiana), running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams (UMass), cornerback Ed Woods (Arizona State) and offensive tackle Andrew Dennis (Illinois.)

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney