Michigan State completely rebuilt its roster through the transfer portal this offseason, and one of those additions is already starting to look like an important piece of the Spartans’ defense.
Tre Bell has been making a strong impression throughout preseason practices.
The Iowa State transfer arrived in East Lansing with experience, size and a connection to new cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat. Now, with Michigan State less than three weeks away from its season opener against Toledo, Bell is putting himself in position to play a major role in the Spartans’ secondary.
Bell Has Quickly Found a Role
There were plenty of questions surrounding Michigan State’s cornerback room entering fall camp.
The Spartans lost several defensive backs from last year’s roster and brought in multiple transfers to rebuild the position. That created an opportunity for someone to quickly separate himself.
Bell appears to be doing exactly that.
He has been working alongside veteran Charles Brantley during preseason practices, with the two looking like the early favorites to handle Michigan State’s starting cornerback spots. The pair was working together during drills as recently as Monday’s practice in East Lansing.
That’s an encouraging development for Michigan State.
Brantley gives the Spartans a veteran who has already played plenty of Big Ten football, while Bell brings another experienced option to the opposite side.
Following Poteat From Iowa State
Bell’s move to Michigan State wasn’t completely random.
He spent the 2025 season at Iowa State, where Poteat coached the Cyclones’ cornerbacks. When Poteat joined Pat Fitzgerald’s staff at Michigan State, Bell eventually followed him to East Lansing.
That familiarity could be a major reason Bell has been able to settle in quickly.
While many of Michigan State’s transfers have spent the offseason learning completely new coaches and systems, Bell already understands what Poteat expects from his cornerbacks.
For a defense undergoing as much change as Michigan State’s, having that familiarity matters.
Bell Brings Proven Production
Michigan State isn’t taking a chance on a player who has never played meaningful college football.
Bell began his career at Lindenwood before transferring to Iowa State, giving him experience at multiple levels of the sport. During the 2025 season with the Cyclones, Bell recorded 28 solo tackles and a forced fumble while continuing to develop against Big 12 competition.
Now he’s moving into the Big Ten.
Bell has the experience to compete immediately, and his strong start to preseason practices is making it increasingly likely that Michigan State will rely heavily on him from Week 1.
Brantley and Bell Could Give MSU a Strong Cornerback Duo
One of the more interesting developments on Michigan State’s defense could be the combination of Bell and Brantley.
Brantley returned to the program after spending last season at Miami and has already proven what he can do when healthy. Bell gives Michigan State another experienced corner on the opposite side who doesn’t need an entire season to develop.
For a secondary that underwent major roster turnover, that’s about as good of a situation as Michigan State could have hoped for entering camp.
There are still questions about depth behind them, and both will need to prove themselves once the games begin. But the early signs are encouraging.
If Brantley can return to his previous Michigan State form and Bell continues what he has shown during camp, cornerback could go from one of the Spartans’ biggest question marks to a potential strength.
A Transfer Who Could Make an Immediate Difference
Michigan State added dozens of new players this offseason, and not every transfer is going to become an immediate difference-maker.
Bell has a chance to be one of the ones who does.
His experience with Poteat has helped him make a quick transition, he’s competing for a starting job and he has already generated positive momentum during preseason practices.
Now comes the important part.
Michigan State opens the season against Toledo on Sept. 4, and Bell should have an opportunity to show whether his strong preseason can carry over when the games actually count.