MSU transfer Jaden Mangham describes difference in Wolverines, Spartans

Not long ago, interrival transfers between Michigan and the Michigan State football program would have been considered blasphemous. But with the introduction of the transfer portal and NIL for college sports, they have become somewhat more common.

That was the case this offseason, with Michigan State starting safety Jaden Mangham transferring to Michigan after spring training, while Wolverine linebacker Semaj Bridgeman made the opposite move to the Spartans. After completing summer conditioning and in preparation for the start of fall camp on Wednesday, Mangham interviewed with Sam Webb of Michigan Insider in a recent podcast episode. In the interview, the former Spartan talked about his experiences in Ann Arbor thus far.

“My experience was great,” Mangham said. “You know, when I walked in, I could just tell it was different. Like doing things — the lifts, the workouts, just running, seeing how people act, seeing how people prepare, you know? Seeing that, it was different. There were a couple guys that did that a little bit, but you know, it’s just so much more here.”

Mangham played his first two seasons of college football for Mel Tucker at Michigan State, and his insight offers a hint as to why the two programs have gone in different directions in recent years. The Spartans are looking to turn things around under new head coach Jonathan Smitbut it seems like Mangham is happy being a Wolverine and is fitting in well with his new teammates.

“I talk to a lot of guys — Alex (Orji), Will (Johnson), all of them, Makari (Paige), Colston (Loveland). I talk to a lot of them just to see how things are going, to make sure I’m doing okay, which I appreciate,” Mangham said. “But you know, when I came in here, it was different and they’ve helped me a lot. The resources that are here are great. So I’m taking advantage of everything that I have here, using it to my success, to be an even better player and a better person.”

During last week’s Big Ten Media Days, Paige discussed the addition of Mangham to the roster.

“I actually knew Jaden in high school because I played against him a couple times,” Paige said. “I knew his brother, too. But having him join our team was a great addition. . . Yeah, it brings some help that we probably need for sure. Yeah, I feel like nobody gets complacent about it because, you know, we have a lot of guys in the secondary, so it definitely brings competition, but that brings out the best in all of us.”

Still, the veteran Michigan safety said he’s received some criticism here and there from Mangham because of his former affiliation with Michigan State.

“Yeah, we’ve embraced him with love, that’s for sure,” Paige said. “Conversations are like, just joking about Michigan State, really. Like, yeah, beat your ass 49-0 — something like that.”

Also speaking at media days, Michigan State defensive back and West Bloomfield resident Dillon Tatumwho played with Mangham the last two seasons at MSU and is a former high school teammate of Paige Donovan Edwardsgave his opinion on Bridgeman’s arrival in East Lansing and Mangham’s departure to Ann Arbor.

“The change is crazy, but ultimately he felt like it was the best decision for him,” Tatum said. “But we brought in one of their guys, so it’s just teaching that new guy what the rivalry is like from our side, how we feel about it and that it’s just not a game. It’s just not, and it never will be.

“We’re focused on the future, focused on learning and getting better with the guys that are in the locker room right now to win some games… It’s okay. I don’t really have much to say about it. It’s not my area of ​​expertise to talk about, but people are going to do what they’re going to do at the end of the day.”

Michigan and Michigan State resume their annual rivalry on Oct. 26 when the Wolverines host the Spartans in Ann Arbor.

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