Connor Heyward isn’t transferring after all.
The Michigan State junior running back who entered the transfer portal in September announced via Twitter on Thursday night he’s staying with the program.
Heyward’s decision came after Mark Dantonio announced his retirement on Feb. 4 and Mel Tucker was named the Spartans’ new head coach on Feb. 12. During his introductory press conference, Tucker said all everyone had a “clean slate” moving forward.
“After talking with (athletic director Bill) Beekman and Coach Tucker, I have decided to take my name out of the transfer portal and return to Michigan State University,” Heyward wrote on Twitter. “It has been a long process, but I know this is home in my heart. I’m looking forward to whatever the future holds, and I can’t to get back to work with my brothers. Go green!”
A former three-star recruit from Peachtree Ridge High School in Georgia, Heyward is the son of the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, a former legendary NFL fullback, and the younger brother of Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. He played a variety of positions in high school and was recruited by Michigan State as an athlete.
Heyward played in 12 games as a true freshman and finished with three carries for 10 yards and four catches for 13 yards and a touchdown while also handling kickoff returns. With LJ Scott sidelined by injury most of his senior season in 2018, Heyward led the Spartans in rushing with 118 carries for 529 yards and five touchdowns.
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Heading into the 2019 season, Heyward was the starter and sophomore La’Darius Jefferson was the top backup. However, redshirt freshman Elijah Collins emerged as the starter the second game of the season and carries for Heyward and Jefferson both decreased. That led to Heyward entering the transfer portal on Sept. 30 after posting 24 carries for 79 yards and seven catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in four games. Jefferson entered the portal in October.
Heyward announced in January he was planning on remaining at Michigan State to complete his degree and leave as a graduate transfer. Because Heyward appeared in only four games last season, he can take a redshirt for the year and still has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
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It’s unclear if Heyward will return to running back or his versatility will be utilized at a different position. Collins returns after falling just 12 yards shy of becoming Michigan State’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2014 while the Spartans burned the redshirts for a pair of true freshmen running backs this season in Anthony Williams Jr. and Brandon Wright. Michigan State also signed a pair of three-star running backs to its 2020 recruiting class in Jordon Simmons and Donovan Eaglin.
Heyward was one of eight Michigan State players who entered the portal between September and shortly after the season ended. He is the first from that group to remove his name and remain with the program while most of the others picked new schools in linebackers Brandon Bouyer-Randle (Texas Tech) and Edward Warinner (Michigan), Jefferson (Western Michigan), receiver/running back Weston Bridges (Ashland), tight end Noah Davis (Cincinnati), offensive lineman Dimitri Douglas (Eastern Michigan). Receiver Cam Chambers hasn’t yet announced where he plans to transfer.
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