The Michigan State Spartans will likely prioritize the positions of wide receiver, defensive back, and the offensive and defensive line units in the 2025 offseason’s transfer portal.

However, they might be in the market for an off-the-ball linebacker. The Spartans will be visited by highly coveted Marshall linebacker Jaden Yates soon, a tell-tale sign. Even then, it is not so surprising when top snap-getters Cal Haladay and Jordan Turner, the latter of which might have been the defense’s best player this season, are done suiting up at the college level.

A name to look out for might be that of Oregon State linebacker Isaiah Chisom, who recently entered the portal. Obviously, there is a connection to head coach Jonathan Smith and the Oregon State transplants on the Spartans’ coaching staff.

Chisom was a highly regarded three-star recruit out of California when Smith landed him in the class of 2023. Therein lies another interesting connection — the Spartans, under Mel Tucker, were his final offer before he signed as an early enrollee.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Chaminade High School product was the No. 52 overall linebacker in the class, per 247Sports. This past season, he played in all 12 games and registered 75 tackles, including five for a loss and a forced fumble. He played in five games as a freshman, including the Beavers’ bow appearance.

Chisom is an athletic linebacker who can play downhill and looks the part of what defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi wants in the position.

“Long, athletic, and smart,” Rossi said. “That’s what we look for and that’s a sliding scale … if a guy’s 6-foot and runs 4.4, that’s cool. But if you’re going to be a low 4.8, you better be 6-foot-3 and a half. So my point is — it slides, but the ideal thing, if I’m just giving you three, it’s length, it’s athleticism, and it’s intelligence. Not necessarily in that order.”

For Mike linebacker, a role Rossi will need to fill in 2025 with Turner and Haladay gone, Chisom could find a home. Rossi wants leadership, ability in pass coverage, and intelligence at the position.

Keep an eye on Chisom as a potential Spartans target.

Michael France is Sports Illustrated’s Michigan State recruiting beat writer, covering all things Big Ten recruiting for Spartan Nation. Be sure to follow him on Twitter/X@michaelfrancesi for exclusive Spartans recruiting coverage.

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This isn’t Ralph Miller’s Orange Express, but the International Orange Express.

Oregon State men’s basketball, after a tumultuous offseason with the transfer portal, has a whole new roster for the Beavers this season, with many newcomers coming from overseas.

Head coach Wayne Tinkle and assistant coach Chris Haslam, former assistant coach at Utah State, have quietly put together a squad that has size, length, plays solid defense, and has multiple guys score in double figures.

Parsa Fallah, Matthew Marsh, Isaiah Sy, and Liutauras Lelevicius have all been solid pieces for the Beavers on both sides of the ball, in addition to the in-house talent that the team retained in the offseason, like Michael Rataj.

“When we’ve got LT at the three, Mike, Parsa, and Matt inside, We’ve got good shot blockers, but also guys, when we’re locked in, that are great hedgers of ball screens,” Tinkle said on the skillsets of Fallah, Marsh, Lelevicius, and Rataj.

“We can be in gaps and close and use our length to contest shots, bringing guys off the bench, but we haven’t gone down our bench real far in the post. Length is a key and fun for us moving forward if we can play different combinations and show more versatility.”

I was impressed with Fallah, the Southern Utah transfer, in the win over the Anteaters, particularly with his presence in the paint, passing, and ability to rebound and score through contact.

Fallah flashed that skillset against UC Irvine, scoring 12 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists, but likely could have had more of an impact in the post-game had it not been for the three fouls he had picked up.

However, he’ll be a guy that Tinkle can rely on in critical situations down the stretch of the season, especially since he’s a great option to complement Rataj and Damarco Minor.

Rataj had 13 points and four rebounds in the victory over the Anteaters and was an essential factor on the defensive side of the ball as he picked up two steals.

Rataj and Fallah have been through nine games this season, leading the team in points scored, and while there’s plenty of time left, I think they’ll only continue to improve and get better along with both Marsh, Sy, Lelevicius, and the rest of the group as the season goes on.

Especially if Fallah and Rataj continue their impressive start against the WCC Competition after closing their non-conference games.

MORE: Melvin Jordan Enters Portal | Isaiah Chisom Enters Portal | Transfer Portal QB Hotboard 2.0 | Beavers To Host Big12 CB Next Week | Portal Notebook | Offseason Movement Tracker | Scholarship Chart