MSU adds former Temple quarterback from the transfer portal

In a continuation of the flurry of activity from the Skandalaris Football Center today, the Spartans added yet another player to the roster today, but not as a traditional high school recruit this time around. Instead, Mel Tucker and the Spartans brought in an addition from the transfer portal as former Temple quarterback Anthony Russo announced via Twitter his commitment to the Green and White.

Russo was originally a three-star member of the 2016 recruiting class for the Owls and has already used four years of eligibility. However, Russo plans to make use of the additional year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic as a graduate transfer.

The 6-foot-4 native of Philadelphia saw significant action over the past three seasons at Temple where he passed for a total of 6,292 yards, 44 touchdown passes and a 59.6 percent completion rate. He also added seven rushing touchdowns. Russo set the single season completion record for Temple in 2019 with a total of 246. He was off to a great start in 2020, posting a 68.1 percent completion rate after three games before an injury and positive COVID-19 test cut his season short.

In the 2021 season, Russo will compete for a starting job with current Spartan players Rocky Lombardi (redshirt senior), Theo Day (redshirt junior), Payton Thorne (redshirt sophomore), Noah Kim (redshirt freshman), and recent signee Hampton Fay (true freshman). While it is quite premature to view Russo as a likely starter in 2021, the arrival of a new quarterback to the position room can only make the group stronger as a whole.

You can keep up with all of the Michigan State news from the early signing period here.