Joiner prior to committing to Auburn in 2018 was a four-star recruit, the fifth highest-rated running back in the class and the No. 152 ranked recruit in the 2018 class according to 247Sports.

Joiner entered the transfer portal on Oct. 6 and made his decision to join the Spartans late Thursday night.

Joiner joins former Temple quarterback Anthony Russo as the only two to join the Spartans via the transfer portal.

“We do have a plan in terms of how we're going to address transfers in the portal as well because the portal is a viable market to better help your team,” Tucker said. “We're also aggressively evaluating the portal and who’s available there on a day to day basis. That’s a big part of what we do in recruiting.”

In his time at Auburn, Joiner ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns. This season, Joiner only participated in two games and received zero touches before making the decision to change schools.

Joiner, based on the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 will have two years of eligibility starting next season.

The 6-foot-4, 215 pound running back will add to an already crowded backfield with Elijah Collins, Jordon Simmons and possibly Connor Heyward if he decided to return for one more season. With his large frame, Joiner could be the power back to the speed backs of Simmons and Collins.

“The portal is here, it’s not going away,” Tucker said. “We're going to embrace it. I've gotten players out of the portal and I've seen guys go on to the portal. That's part of college football now.”

With Maryland’s COVID-19 outbreak, it will likely be next fall until we see the Spartans take the field again unless Michigan State can find a bowl game.

Friday morning, offensive lineman Devontae Dobbs entered the NCAA transfer portal. The 6-foot-5 , 305-pounder was the top rated recruit in Michigan State's 2019 signing class.