17+ min ago (276+ words) Just hours after coach Jonathan Smith was fired, Michigan State has its first planned roster departure. Sophomore running back Makhi Frazier, who led the Spartans in rushing this season, announced via social media he intends to enter the transfer portal. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. The NCAA altered the portal timeline this year by eliminating a spring window and condensing it to a two-week span from Jan. 2-16. There's also a 15-day window open to players on teams with a head coaching change and that begins five days after a new coach is announced or hired. Multiple reports on Sunday indicate Michigan State is planning on hiring former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to replace Smith. Frazier, a former three-star recruit from Texas, was committed to play for Smith at Oregon State before following him to East Lansing as part…...

38+ min ago (227+ words) GRAND RAPIDS, MI " Gilda's Club Grand Rapids, which provides free emotional health care to people experiencing cancer or grieving the death of a loved one, has received a $12,500 grant from New York Life to bolster its grief support programs. Wendy Wigger, president and CEO of Gilda's Club Grand Rapids, said the donation will strengthen her organization's outreach and enable it to continue to offer free emotional support to help adults and children navigate grief. "At Gilda's Club Grand Rapids, we believe no one should have to grieve alone," she said. Gilda's Club Grand Rapids offers grief support groups for children, men, teens, young adults, parents, spouses and more. "Our program opportunities offer a safe place to connect with others on a grieving journey and find healing and connection," Wigger said. New York Life, a mutual life insurance company, offers grants…...

1+ hour, 50+ min ago (370+ words) ALLEN PARK -- Josh Paschal had been back at practice for three weeks inside his 21-day acclimation window. But the Detroit Lions did not activate the pass rusher from the non-football injury list at the end of his return window. Paschal will not be eligible to return this season, reverting to the injury list. MLive asked Dan Campbell about the situation as the team gets back to work on Sunday. Paschal was a full participant to open last week, then was downgraded to missing the next walkthrough without an update. "It just wasn't enough time really to really be able to say that we knew he would be able to get through the year or that he was ready," Campbell said. "That's what it came down to, you know, hate it for him, but it's where it was at." The former…...

1+ hour, 56+ min ago (182+ words) One of the top high school football prospects in Michigan is staying in state. Muskegon's Recarder Kitchen, a four-star edge in the 2027 class, committed to the Wolverines on Sunday. According to the 247Sports Composite, the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder is ranked as the No. 110 prospect nationally and No. 2 in Michigan. He chose the Wolverines over 24 other reported offers " a list that includes Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas A&M, Indiana and Michigan State. He is the second recruit to commit to Michigan on Sunday, and both visited the Big House for Saturday's game against Ohio State. Waco (Texas) Connally 2026 four-star cornerback Jamarion Vincent flipped his verbal pledge from Baylor to Michigan earlier on Sunday. Unlike Vincent, Kitchen is only a junior, becoming the Wolverines' fourth commitment in the 2027 class and second from the state, joining Saline three-star offensive lineman Louis Esposito. For the…...

2+ hour, 8+ min ago (348+ words) ALLEN PARK -- Brock Wright was already filling in as TE1 with Sam LaPorta on injured reserve after back surgery. Now, the Detroit Lions might be without Wright for an extended period of time, too. Wright suffered a neck injury during the team's win over the New York Giants and then missed the Thanksgiving game. Dan Campbell said there was nothing new regarding Wright's status, other than revealing his neck injury is related to his trachea. "We're still sending out scans for this trachea and just seeing if there's, you know, any other second opinions that would change, I guess, is the outlook for him playing," the Lions coach said. "Right now, there's really nothing right now that would change that. "I know that frustrates him. He wants to play, but we're just kind of in a holding pattern right now." Campbell…...

2+ hour, 19+ min ago (261+ words) ALLEN PARK " Right in the middle of Dan Campbell speaking to reporters on Sunday, the Detroit Lions announced a series of roster moves as they turn their attention to the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions announced they have signed tight end Giovanni Riccci and running back Jabari Small to the practice squad. Making room for the pair of players, the Lions have released veteran cornerback Tre Flowers from the practice squad. Ricci, a former Western Michigan standout, is now on his fifth NFL stop. He signed with the Carolina Panthers after going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft. After his first four seasons in Carolina, he had practice-squad stops with the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings. The addition of Ricci provides Lions depth at tight end, who are currently thin at the position due to injuries to starter Sam…...

2+ hour, 24+ min ago (423+ words) ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph has missed six straight games due to a knee injury. There haven't been too many updates regarding his status, other than Dan Campbell previously saying he was healing slower than they hoped. Joseph sat out the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the bye week, with the Lions hoping the rest would get him right. But he's missed the five games after the bye on the quest to calm his knee injury down. Campbell said Joseph has started doing more regarding individual drills, and that the issue is improving. But there is some wear and tear in there, with the Lions coach saying there is more going on than just a bone bruise keeping him out. "A lot of it is just trying to get some stability, you know, in the leg…...

3+ hour, 2+ min ago (304+ words) The Michigan State Spartans will go on their third coaching search in the past six years after firing coach Jonathan Smith on Sunday after a 4-8 season in just his second year with the program Calls for a change in leadership grew loud as the Spartans went on an eight-game losing streak and the team required a win in their season-finale to avoid going winless in Big Ten play. As the clock ticks on MSU finding his replacement, current players have taken to social media to express gratitude for Smith in his short tenure with the program. MSU defensive lineman Ben Roberts took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, posting a picture with the caption "Forever steppin behind you coach. (expletive) THE REST." Ivan Milivojevic, the father of MSU quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, also shared his thoughts saying…...

3+ hour, 33+ min ago (276+ words) Two years and five days after formally agreeing to be Michigan State's next football coach, Jonathan Smith is out. Smith was fired on Sunday after posting a 9-15 record in two seasons leading the Spartans. While new athletic director J Batt works on finding a replacement, the university is responsible for the financial cost of moving on from Smith so quicky. The seven-year, $52.85 million contract Smith signed in November 2023 calls for an 85 percent buyout if he's fired without cause. That number works out to approximately $33 million in monthly payments over the remainder of the term but doesn't include paying what's left on deals with other assistants and staff members. If fired without cause, Smith is required to use his "best efforts to actively seek and obtain comparable employment as an NFL or Division I coach" in a reasonable amount of time…...

3+ hour, 55+ min ago (538+ words) On Sunday at 3:10 p.m. EST the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch valid from Monday noon EST until Tuesday 7 a.m. EST for Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. Winter storm watch in place for West Michigan for Monday and Tuesday On Sunday at 3:10 p.m. EST the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch valid from Monday noon EST until Tuesday 7 a.m. EST for Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. "Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6+ inches are possible, with very localized heavy amounts possible," says the weather service. "Snow showers will diminish in coverage and intensity this evening and overnight. Snow showers are expected to intensify late Monday. afternoon and evening." "Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are possible and may make travel…...