Michigan State running back La’Darius Jefferson enters the transfer portal

In two weeks Michigan State’s backfield has gone from having too much depth, to perhaps not enough.

Backup running back La’Darius Jefferson has entered the NCAA transfer portal one week after it was announced that his backfield mate Connor Heyward would be transferring from the team.

Michigan State sophomore running back La'Darius Jefferson has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal, according to a source. He becomes the third Spartans player to go into the portal since Sept. 25. He was third on the team in rushing last season.

— Rainer Sabin (@RainerSabin) October 8, 2019

Jefferson becomes the third MSU player to enter the transfer portal this season. Backup linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle was the first.

Jefferson and Heyward saw their snaps and carries fall off this season with the emergence of redshirt freshman Elijah Collins. Jefferson came into the season expected to compete for the starting running back job after he finished second among returning running backs in carries last season.

Instead it has been nearly all Collins since week two. Jefferson totaled 19 carries for 25 yards and two touchdowns this season.

The departures leave true freshmen Anthony Williams Jr. and Brandon Wright as the two primary backups. Junior and former walk-on Alante Thomas saw some late action with the backups against Western Michigan. Weston Bridges also has experience at running back, but switched positions to receiver this summer.