EAST LANSING —  After entering the transfer portal on Dec. 18, former Michigan State linebacker Jeslord Boateng has transferred to Akron

Thank you God for another opportunity! #GoZips pic.twitter.com/xDgSilhIZb

— Jeslord Boateng (@JeslordBoateng6) December 31, 2020

Boateng is the fifth former Spartan that has found a new home after entering the portal. Devontae Dobbs and Julian Barnett both transferred to Memphis on Dec. 21, and Rocky Lombardi and Marcel Lewis have both transferred to schools in the MAC (Northern Illinois and Central Michigan).

Boateng played 59 snaps last season, most of them on special teams. He was in prime position to compete for a starting role with Joe Bachie graduating, but the emergence of Chase Kline and Noah Harvey shuffled Boateng down the depth chart. 

Boateng, who had 10 tackles during his time at MSU, was a three-star recruit from Dublin, Ohio. He was a member of the 2018 recruiting class that featured Kalon Gervin, Xavier Henderson, Elijah Collins and Chase Kline, among others.

Boateng was initially offered by schools such as Indiana, Cincinnati, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse, Minnesota and Pittsburgh before choosing MSU.

With Boateng and Antjuan Simmons both leaving, the linebacker position will be anchored by Harvey and Kline next season. Four-star linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote could also move into the picture going forward. 

The Spartans still have eight players in the transfer portal, including cornerbacks Chris Jackson and Davion Williams, fullback Max Rosenthal, long snapper Jude Pedrozo and running back Anthony Williams Jr.