Michigan State hired another important executive Monday, filling a key role in the football program’s front office.
Antwon Murray, a nine-year NFL scout with the Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is joining the Spartans as the executive director of player personnel. Michigan State announced the hire Monday, the same day it announced the hire of new athletic director J Batt at the top of the department.Murray replaces Mark Diethorn, who left his position with Michigan State in April for a role with Pat Narduzzi at Pitt, this time as assistant athletic director of football recruiting strategy.
Murray comes to Michigan State with a strong reputation dating to his days as a defensive back with Boise State from 2007 to 2011. There, he and his senior class went 50-3, what was then the winningest class in college football history
Murray spent two years teaching high school history before coming back to college football in 2013. He worked under head coach Bryan Harsin for one season at Arkansas State and two seasons at his alma mater Boise State, departing for the NFL after the 2015 season. Primarily, Murray worked in recruiting, rising to director of recruiting in 2014 and 2015
Over the past few seasons, Michigan State’s recruiting classes have dwindled in both freshman and transfer additions. The Spartans’ 2025 class ranked 41st nationally according to 247Sports, but 14th in the 18-team Big Ten that added heavy hitters in Oregon and Southern Cal. In 2024, Michigan State ranked 31st nationally and 10th among current Big Ten members.
With the transfer portal utilized as much as, if not more than, high school recruiting, Murray’s knowledge of college football’s talent pools is important. He was both a Midwest-area scout and a national scout with the Buccaneers
