Quarterback Payton Thorne: Time at Michigan State has 'come to a close'

Any hope of Payton Thorne returning to Michigan State were dashed on Thursday.

That’s because, in a post on social media, the veteran quarterback stated, “My days at Michigan State have come to a close.”

It was the first comment from Thorne since he entered the transfer portal on Sunday, the final day to do so, and it was the most definitive statement regarding his future. There was some who thought Thorne, who stared 26 games for the Spartans, would withdraw his name from the portal and return to Michigan State. The statement he released Thursday puts an end to that belief.

It comes less than a day after wide receiver Keon Coleman, who also entered the portal on Sunday, thanked Michigan State fans for their “everlasting support” in his own social media post. While it confirmed his entrance in the portal, there was no definitive statement about his future with the Spartans, as there was in Thorne’s statement.

Both statements are the latest bits of news in a busy time for the Spartans as junior cornerback Charles Brantley withdrew his name from the portal on Tuesday, just two days after he submitted it.

The news that Thorne will not be back at Michigan State — there are some reports that say he will be committing to Auburn, though nothing official has been released — means the Spartans and coach Mel Tucker will head into the 2023 season with a significant lack of experience at the quarterback position.

Thorne appeared in 29 games and started 26, taking the majority of the snaps the last two seasons. He’ll likely be replaced by redshirt junior Noah Kim, who had pushed Thorne during the spring in a quarterback competition that also included redshirt freshman Katin Houser.

Kim was 14-of-19 passing for 174 yards and three touchdowns in four games last season and drew nearly equal the snaps Thorne did during Michigan State’s final spring workout that included live scrimmaging. During those scrimmages, Houser had the fewest snaps and took none during the two-minute sessions that closed the practice.

It’s far from a lock, however, as Houser will have the summer and preseason camp to push Kim, while four-star freshman Sam Leavitt will also be on campus soon.

Coleman entered the portal Sunday following a season in which he led the Spartans in receptions (58), receiving yards (798) and touchdown catches (seven). His post on Twitter on Wednesday night was a nod to the Michigan State fans, thanking "Spartan Nation" for "helping me become the player I am and the man I am off the field."

mcharboneau@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @mattcharboneau