Davenport CB Kaleb Elam transfers to MSU as PWO

MSU head coach Mel Tucker offers instructions to a group of players during 2021 fall camp/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Manit Patel, General Assignment Reporter
January 26, 2022

EAST LANSING, Mich – Michigan State picked another commitment through the transfer portal Wednesday after former Davenport University defensive back Kaleb Elam announced via Twitter his intention to transfer to MSU as a preferred walk-on. 

Elam, a 6-foot-1 defensive back from East Lansing, returns home after playing for Davenport, a small Michigan-based Division II school in Grand Rapids for the past three seasons. He will have three years of eligibility remaining. 

Elam played for East Lansing High School, recording an impressive senior year campaign with 30 tackles, four interceptions, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a sack. Elam was also named as a captain his senior year and garnered an all-conference nomination.

During his time at Davenport, Elam appeared in 16 games over a three-year span, recording 45 tackles. He also recorded an intersection, recorded three passes defended, and recovered two fumbles during his time for the Panthers. He established himself as one of the Panthers’ starting defensive backs during the 2021-2022 season as well. 

In 2021, he notched a career-high 35 tackles in 10 games played.

Elam is the sixth pickup for the Spartans through the transfer portal and becomes a part of a transfer class that’s looking to revamp a secondary that was the worst pass defense in the NCAA this past season in yards allowed per game. Additional Spartan transfers that MSU has landed include running back Jalen Berger (Wisconsin), linebacker Jacoby Windmon (UNLV), linebacker Aaron Brule (Mississippi State), defensive end Khris Bogle (Florida) and cornerback Ameer Speed (Georgia).