Photo: Lauren Witte ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING ~ Jameel Gardner Jr. is coming home. The Detroit native and former Cass Tech standout committed to Michigan State football after visiting campus during the Spartans’ spring showcase April 18. Gardner joins the program as a graduate transfer wide receiver with one year of eligibility remaining, giving Michigan State an experienced option in a wide receiver room still taking shape under head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Gardner most recently played at Jackson State, where he appeared in 12 games during the 2025 season and recorded 32 receptions for 483 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged nearly 15 yards per catch while serving primarily as an outside receiver. During the 2024 season, Gardner added 12 catches for 145 yards and one touchdown, showing steady production across two years in the Tigers’ offense. He is listed at 6 feet, 186 pounds.
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(CONTINUED) Before transferring to Jackson State, Gardner played at Kent State. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he started eight of 12 games and finished the season with 24 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown. His best performance came against Northern Illinois, when he totaled 111 receiving yards and scored on a 50-yard reception. He also overlapped at Kent State with current Michigan State senior receiver Chrishon McCray.
Gardner’s return to Michigan carries added significance. A Cass Tech alum, he was rated a three-star recruit and ranked among the top 25 players in the state by 247Sports out of high school. He earned second-team all-state honors as a senior and helped lead Cass Tech to a 12-2 season. Across three collegiate seasons, Gardner has totaled 68 receptions for 888 yards and four touchdowns, production that adds veteran depth as Michigan State prepares for the 2026 season.
