Chris Solari

Detroit Free Press

Thiyo Lukusa has quit Michigan State’s football team after his freshman season, a major loss for the Spartans' young, developing offensive line.

The Traverse City native confirmed to the Free Press today that he signed the paperwork to relinquish his scholarship.

“I really haven’t been in love with football since I was in high school,” Lukusa said via phone. “It’s been awhile, probably since I was a sophomore or junior. I went home for Christmas and had a great time with my family Up North -- just being away from football and doing other things and working out and playing basketball and running.

“I had been thinking about not playing for a long time. I finally just decided that I’m gonna go through with it and kind of weather the storm, whatever it brings.”

Michigan State officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Lukusa played eight games in his debut season -- a rarity for a true freshman offensive lineman -- and was projected as the starting right tackle this fall. He arrived at MSU after playing his senior year of high school football at DePaul Catholic in New Jersey after three years at Traverse City West.

Lukusa, one of nine true freshmen to play for the Spartans in 2016, said he is enrolled at Northwestern Michigan College in his hometown and is pursuing an associate degree in criminal justice. His career goals are to go into the CIA or FBI or to become a DNR conservation officer. He’s also working two jobs and volunteering as an assistant coach for Traverse City West’s junior varsity basketball team.

“I’m very grateful for opportunity they gave me at Michigan State and will forever cherish that chance,” Lukusa said. “I’m definitely not passionate enough about football right now to have my life revolve around it. I wasn’t happy. Football was a big portion of my life for a long time. And to give it up was hard to me.

“For me, the hardest part was giving up my friendships and the relationships I built at Michigan State. That was the hardest part for me. Football, at this point in my life, is kind of take-it-or-leave-it.”

It’s a big blow for the Spartans’ young offensive line that showed progress in the second half of last season.

Brian Allen will return as the anchor, with 25 career starts, along with fellow seniors Dennis Finley and Devyn Salmon, who saw limited action last season. Cole Chewins is the projected left tackle after starting three games, and fellow rising sophomore Tyler Higby got six starts at left guard before breaking his ankle.

Junior-to-be David Beedle started four games at left tackle before moving inside, while Chase Gianacakos and Collin Caflisch saw time on special teams. MSU also has five offensive linemen arriving in its signing class: Matt Carrick, Kevin Jarvis, Mustafa Khaleefah, Jordan Reid and preferred walk-on Blake Bueter. Matt Allen, A.J. Arcuri and Luke Campbell are among the redshirt freshmen who impressed coaches on the scout team in the fall.

“I got a group that loves to play this game. I got a group that is excited about playing this game,” offensive line coach Mark Staten said Wednesday. “If you don’t love this game, if you don’t put forth that work ethic, it’s hard to play. … I can’t make you love the game. So if your heart’s not in it, then you’re wasting everybody’s time.”

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Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!