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Michigan State football had one player selected in the NFL draft, offensive lineman Luke Newman going in the sixth round to the Chicago Bears.
He was the only Spartan taken in the three-day, seven-round, 257-pick draft that wrapped up Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. However, two former MSU players who left the program also got drafted: defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (Oregon) was taken by Pittsburgh in the first round with the No. 21 pick, and wide receiver Ricky White (UNLV), who was the star of MSU’s win over Michigan in 2020 before transferring to UNLV, went to Seattle in the seventh round.
But the draft isn't the only path to a pro football future. Here is a look at another MSU player who is attempting to make the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
IN THE DRAFT: Michigan State OL Luke Newman goes to Chicago Bears in Round 6 of 2025 NFL Draft
This story will be updated.
Nate Carter’s pro day workouts made enough of an impression on scouts to get him an NFL job, at least for the summer. The former MSU running back signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons on April 26. Carter, who began his career at Connecticut, finished his second and final season with the Spartans by rushing for 499 yards on 116 carries in 12 games, leading MSU with five rushing touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 173 yards and two more scores.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound native of Rochester, New York, joined the Spartans before the 2023 season after spending his first three years with UConn. Carter could have returned for one more season with his COVID extra eligibility year in 2020 after also taking a medical redshirt in 2022.
The 22-year-old ran for 1,297 yards on 301 attempts with nine rushing TDs in his two seasons as a Spartan. He also ran for 405 yards on 65 carries with a touchdown in four games with the Huskies in an injury-shortened 2023.
The North Carolina transfer, who handled place-kicking and kickoff duty at MSU for the past two seasons, signed with the Bears and will join Newman in the Windy City.
Kim earned second-team All-Big Ten last season after making 19 of his 21 field-goal attempts (90.5%), with a career-high six in the Spartans' win over Iowa on Oct. 19, the most in a single game in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2024 and also a modern-day Big Ten and MSU single-game record.
In 2023, the native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was an All-Big Ten honorable mention after making 13-of-18 field goal attempts (72.2%), which included a 58-yarder at Iowa that is a Kinnick Stadium record and the fourth-longest field goal in MSU history.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State undrafted free agents: Tracking signings for Spartans
Continue reading...
He was the only Spartan taken in the three-day, seven-round, 257-pick draft that wrapped up Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. However, two former MSU players who left the program also got drafted: defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (Oregon) was taken by Pittsburgh in the first round with the No. 21 pick, and wide receiver Ricky White (UNLV), who was the star of MSU’s win over Michigan in 2020 before transferring to UNLV, went to Seattle in the seventh round.
But the draft isn't the only path to a pro football future. Here is a look at another MSU player who is attempting to make the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
IN THE DRAFT: Michigan State OL Luke Newman goes to Chicago Bears in Round 6 of 2025 NFL Draft
This story will be updated.
Nate Carter, RB: Atlanta Falcons
Nate Carter’s pro day workouts made enough of an impression on scouts to get him an NFL job, at least for the summer. The former MSU running back signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons on April 26. Carter, who began his career at Connecticut, finished his second and final season with the Spartans by rushing for 499 yards on 116 carries in 12 games, leading MSU with five rushing touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 173 yards and two more scores.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound native of Rochester, New York, joined the Spartans before the 2023 season after spending his first three years with UConn. Carter could have returned for one more season with his COVID extra eligibility year in 2020 after also taking a medical redshirt in 2022.
The 22-year-old ran for 1,297 yards on 301 attempts with nine rushing TDs in his two seasons as a Spartan. He also ran for 405 yards on 65 carries with a touchdown in four games with the Huskies in an injury-shortened 2023.
Jonathan Kim, K: Chicago Bears
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The North Carolina transfer, who handled place-kicking and kickoff duty at MSU for the past two seasons, signed with the Bears and will join Newman in the Windy City.
Kim earned second-team All-Big Ten last season after making 19 of his 21 field-goal attempts (90.5%), with a career-high six in the Spartans' win over Iowa on Oct. 19, the most in a single game in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2024 and also a modern-day Big Ten and MSU single-game record.
In 2023, the native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was an All-Big Ten honorable mention after making 13-of-18 field goal attempts (72.2%), which included a 58-yarder at Iowa that is a Kinnick Stadium record and the fourth-longest field goal in MSU history.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State undrafted free agents: Tracking signings for Spartans
Continue reading...
