Entering the NCAA transfer portal on December 21, former Michigan State Spartans fullback/tight end Max Rosenthal will be staying in the Big Ten Conference to finish his collegiate career, pledging to Illinois on Tuesday, per Illini Inquirer’s Jeremy Werner.

This is a homecoming for Rosenthal, as he is a 2017 graduate of New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

After redshirting for then-head coach Mark Dantonio in his first year on-campus, Rosenthal has seen game action for the Spartans in each of the last three seasons, registering two receptions for four yards and a score, and recovering a fumble for a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins in 2018.

Illinois, who posted a 2-6 record in 2020, parted ways with Lovie Smith on December 13 after five seasons, announcing the hiring of Bret Bielema as his successor six days later.

The Fighting Illini are scheduled to begin their 2021 slate against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on August 28 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.