Former Iowa Hawkeyes running back Jaziun Patterson has officially transferred to Michigan State Spartans using the NCAA transfer portal. This transfer was announced only yesterday, and it is the latest chapter in Patterson’s college career as he tries to impress in his final year of eligibility. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound monster from Pompano Beach, Florida, has experience and a record of making tough yards in one of the most physical conferences in the country.

As the Spartans seek to reestablish their running game under new management, the addition of Patterson would be the difference maker in the program at East Lansing.

This comes after a lot of activity in the transfer portal, as players are seeking new avenues to make the most of their talent. Patterson is a redshirted freshman who has played well in Iowa in recent seasons. The choice to transfer is the result of a period of reflection following the 2025 campaign of the Hawkeyes, during which he demonstrated his endurance and insight on the field. Fans and analysts alike are talking excitedly about how this development will realign the balance in the Big Ten, especially with Michigan State trying to regain its footing in the game.

Jaziun Patterson spent his year with the Iowa Hawkeyes, and it was characterised by gradual improvement and significant contributions to a team that had solid defence and a systematic offence. Having left a name as a dynamic athlete at Deerfield Beach High School, where he had initially cut his teeth, Patterson came into Iowa City with a lot of expectations. He made impressive statistics in the course of the four seasons, which reflects his dependability in a backfield full of personnel.

In 2023, Patterson gained 206 yards on 58 attempts at 3.6 yards per attempt, which is reasonably good, but offered depth to the main ball carriers of the Iowa team. The following year, he did better, earning 309 yards on 63 carries, proving more efficient and gaining more snaps in important games.

He was arguably at his best in 2025, when he had 296 yards on 60 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, which showed he could operate under the physical demands of playing in the Big Ten. In sum, Patterson departs Iowa with 858 rushing yards on 195 attempts, which is a feat of his hard work and capability to deliver in a system that focuses on ground control.

In addition to his pass protection and physique, Patterson was also appreciated for his willingness to volunteer in blocking so he could defend the quarterback. His versatility enabled the coaching team at Iowa to utilise him in different formations, including short-yardage and third-down.

But with the new potential in the Hawkeyes’ running back room and the program’s shift in direction, Patterson chose to venture into new areas. His departure is part of a broader trend of leaving at Iowa, with a few players and personnel seeking a new start elsewhere.

Patterson did not get to Michigan State by chance; it is part of a strategic restructuring under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who took over the Spartans’ reins following a turbulent time in the school’s history. Fitzgerald, a defensive expert due to his years at Northwestern, is focusing on developing a balanced offence that can compete in the expanded Big Ten. The running back has been one of the top priorities, and Patterson is the third addition to the room in recent days.

In addition to Patterson, who returns in green and white, are transfers Cam Edwards of UConn and Marvis Parrish of Western Kentucky, forming a diverse and talented backfield. Edwards is explosively fast after an eye-opening breakout year, and Parrish can play the bruiser that complements Patterson in all aspects of the game. These three would give Fitzgerald the depth he requires for a multidimensional rushing attack, meaning not relying on one player and leaving the opposing defence wondering.

Of interest in this transfer is the Hawkeye pipeline to Michigan State. Patterson will not be the only one switching, as ex-Iowa punter Rhys Dakin and special teams coordinator LeVar Woods also joined the Spartans.

This familiarity may also facilitate Patterson’s acculturation, such that he would soon fit into the team’s culture and schemes. Woods, specifically, would provide the special-teams experience that would open up more opportunities for Patterson, maybe as a receiving threat out of the backfield or as a receiving threat in the case of a receiving threat.

To the state of Iowa, the loss of Patterson comes as a blow to their running back depth, considering they are in the post-Kirk Ferentz era or whatever transition they are going through. The Hawkeyes are known to produce strong and durable runners, and Patterson was just that.

His departure opens the door for younger players, such as Kamari Moulton, to replace him, but it also highlights how difficult it is to retain talent in the age of the transfer portal and NIL deals. Its offence, which has been criticised as conservative, may need to become more adaptive to capture and retain top talent.

On the other hand, Michigan State will enjoy a wide range of benefits from Patterson’s experience. The Spartans ended the 2025 season with a mediocre record, struggling to be consistent in the run game. Patterson brings some old wisdom to a young bunch and could become a mentor to freshmen and transfers. His expertise on the Big Ten defences may come in handy during game planning, and Michigan State would have the advantage over other conference rivals.

Analysts believe Patterson might compete to be a starting back, or at least a high-rotation one, with the backfield playing out during spring work. His physical running style fits well with Fitzgerald’s vision of a hard-nosed, disciplined team dominating the line of scrimmage. Patterson has the potential to surpass his old output in a system that may place him in the limelight more often as long as he remains fit and adjusts easily to the new environment.

With Patterson ready to play his swan song in college football, the expectations are high for the kind of performance he can attain in East Lansing. He has one year to go, and he is encouraged to leave a lasting legacy, possibly a bowl game or even an All-Big Ten push. Off the field, his relocation underscores the changing nature of college athletics, in which players’ mobility gives them the strength to pursue the best career matches.

The 2026 Michigan State calendar includes challenging matches against rivals such as Michigan and Ohio State, where Patterson’s toughness will be put to the test. To the Spartan Stadium fans, the view of Patterson running over tackles in green might be an indicator that the yearning for wins by a struggling program is coming to an end.

From a broader perspective, this transfer shows the power of the transfer portal to rework rosters overnight. What used to be a rarity is now the norm, and coaches are having to recruit year-round and establish relationships that go beyond what was originally committed to. The tale of Patterson is an adaptation-and-ambition story, an indicator that, in modern college football, the road to glory may have many twists and turns.

With the dust having settled on this announcement, Patterson’s performance in his new environment will be examined. Will he be the fire that Michigan State can use, or will the problem of integration be too much to climb? It still remains to be seen, but it is definite that the Big Ten has become a little more interesting.