Jack Velling had eight touchdown catches for the Beavers this season.
Jonathan Smith is bringing another young offensive talent with him from Oregon State to Michigan State.
Jack Velling, a sophomore tight end with the Beavers, announced his transfer commitment to the Spartans via social media on Monday night. That came less than a week after quarterback Aidan Chiles, who played as a true freshman for Smith at Oregon State this year, committed to Michigan State and is positioned to be the starting quarterback next fall.
Velling, 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, had 45 catches for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns in 23 games over two seasons with the Beavers. He entered the portal on Dec. 6 and is following Smith and tight ends coach Brian Wozniak to East Lansing.
A former three-star prospect from Seattle, Velling made an immediate impact and became a starter as a true freshman with 16 catches for 281 yards and three scores in 2022. He posted 29 receptions for 438 yards and set an Oregon State record for touchdown catches by a tight end in one season with eight in 12 games this year.
Velling with be part of a reshaped position group at Michigan State in 2024. Top tight end Maliq Carr and walk-on Evan Morris are both in the portal but there’s young talent poised to return, including Brennan Parachek, a former four-star prospect who played as a true freshman this year. Tyneil Hopper, a transfer from Boise State who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 this fall, had a seventh year of eligibility approved by the NCAA earlier this month.
Since being hired by Michigan State on Nov. 25, Smith has also picked up commitments from six players in the 2024 recruiting class, including four who were previously committed to Oregon State.
