Michigan State’s fall camp is getting into the part where depth charts stop being theoretical and start becoming real. With the regular season about two weeks away and the home opener exactly two weeks and two days from kickoff, Pat Fitzgerald has some sorting to do.
That matters because the Spartans still don’t have much proven depth, and that uncertainty is a big reason Vegas has the win total sitting in the 3-4 range. If Michigan State is going to push past that and into bowl territory, a few camp battles have to break the right way.
The biggest one sits on the offensive line, especially on the right side. Trent Fraley is set at center, Ben Murawski looks like the likely starter at left tackle, and Conner Moore appears to have the left guard spot in good shape. After that, though, things get crowded fast.
Right guard is where the real traffic jam starts. Nick Sharpe arrived from South Carolina and could land there.
Robert Wright Jr. is in the mix, Rustin Young is another option, and Luka Vincic might be the early favorite if he’s healthy. AJ Dennis, Collin Campbell, and Rakeem Johnson are also trying to force their way into the picture.
Fitzgerald needs to trim that group down quickly, because the right side of the line could end up deciding whether this team is playing in December or staring at another 4-8 or 5-7 finish.
The edge-rusher battle is just as critical, even with Kenny Soares Jr. already holding one starting spot. The issue is simple: if Soares is the only threat off the edge, opposing offenses won’t have much to worry about.
Isaac Smith looks like the early favorite for the other job, but he’s hardly alone. Kekai Burnett, Anelu Lafaele, Keahnist Thompson, and Trey Lisle are all in the mix.
Lafaele is the name plenty of fans will circle first after posting two sacks in five games last season before an injury ended his year. Michigan State also can’t ignore the interior of the defensive line, where Ben Roberts and Eli Coenen are projected to start and Derrick Simmons stands out as a breakout candidate.
Wide receiver rounds out the three most important battles. Tight end could have been the pick here, since that position has been talked up for years without delivering much beyond Jack Velling, but the receiver room is the one giving fans the most pause.
Chrishon McCray is back as the projected WR1, but the depth behind him is thin on experience. Rod Bullard Jr. could still receive a waiver to return for the 2026 season, and he’s practicing as if he’ll be back, though there’s no guarantee it gets approved.
Charles Taplin has become a popular breakout choice, while Fredrick Moore, who came over from Michigan, and KK Smith, who transferred in from Notre Dame, are also in the mix. Braylon Collier and Bryson Williams are potential redshirt freshman breakout candidates, and Samson Gash could work his way into the rotation as well.
If Michigan State doesn’t get enough answers at receiver, Alessio Milivojevic and Cam Edwards are going to have a hard time making this offense hum.
In Other News...
Michigan State Faces An Awkward Late Roster Question Before Camp
A new age-based NCAA eligibility system has created a late-summer wrinkle across college football, but Michigan State is not lining up to use it. The Spartans have no plans to add players under the rule, in part because their former seniors have already moved on to NFL contracts and waived any remaining eligibility, leaving the roster picture largely settled as camp approaches.
Still, the broader uncertainty has put some teams in an unusual spot, and Michigan State is aware of how messy a last-minute addition could be. Pat Fitzgerald acknowledged the situation is unique and pointed out that anyone arriving late would have a difficult time getting up to speed with the rest of the group, which is one more reason the Spartans appear prepared to move forward with what they have. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States 2026 Offense Comes Down To One Lingering Concern
Michigan States offensive outlook for 2026 starts with continuity, even after a roster shuffle that leaves the unit slightly smaller than it was a year ago. The Spartans are bringing back 26 players on offense and adding 24 more through transfers and high school recruits, with Alessio Milivojevic expected to return as the starting quarterback. New arrivals are also projected to help fortify the offensive line and inject fresh options into the backfield, which points to a run game that could take a step forward.
The concern comes a little farther out on the depth chart, where the picture is less settled. Tight end and wide receiver both carry some questions after key departures from the 2025 group, and those spots will matter more if the Spartans want the passing game to match the rest of the offense. There is enough talent coming in to keep the ceiling intact, but those two rooms remain the lingering issue as Michigan State tries to build a cleaner, more balanced attack for 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Has 3 Early Reasons To Ignore That Big Ten Projection
Michigan States mens soccer program got a small but notable preseason boost when Miles Merritt, Brandon Munson and Peter Soudan were all named to the 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch List by the conference office. Its the kind of recognition that gives the Spartans some early validation even as the leagues preseason poll slotted them 10th, far behind Washington at No. 1.
The list also points to why Michigan State might not be eager to buy into that projection. Merritt, Munson and Soudan each bring a different kind of value to a roster trying to push upward, and the Spartans will get their first chance to show where they really stand when they open the season against UAlbany. Preseason labels only go so far, but Michigan State has enough on its side to make the conversation interesting early. [Read more 🡒]