Michigan State earns the commitment of Charlotte kicker Liam Boyd out of the transfer portal

Michigan State football has bolstered its special teams unit with the commitment of graduate transfer Liam Boyd, a proven placekicker who was most recently with Charlotte.

He will have two years of eligibility of remaining.

Boyd, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound kicker from Asheville, North Carolina, brings valuable experience from stints with Clemson, North Carolina and UNC Charlotte. Over the 2025 season, he handled kicking duties for the 49ers, converting 9-of-12 field-goal attempts (75%) and all 15 extra point attempts, finishing with 42 points on the year. 

In 2024 with the Tar Heels, Boyd made all seven of his extra points attempts, and made his lone field goal attempt on the season — a 36-yard try against North Carolina Central. He worked largely as a kickoff specialist for the Tar Heels, kicking 66 times with 49 touchbacks, while recording total tackles, as a redshirt sophomore.

A soccer-to-football athlete in high school, Boyd emerged as a first-team all-state selection, showing strong range and accuracy — traits that have followed him into the college game. 

His decision to transfer to Michigan State adds a position of need for Michigan State and competition to the Spartans’. New assistant head coach and special teams coordinator LeVar Woods has now help land the Spartans both a kicker and punter, as Iowa punter Rhys Dakin is following Woods to East Lansing.

Woods, who joined the Spartan coaching staff after a successful tenure directing Iowa’s special teams, is expected to bring fresh energy and technical expertise to Michigan State’s kicking and coverage units.

Boyd's pledge makes eight public transfer portal commitments for the Spartans so far.