Michigan State is into its first full week of fall camp, and the early buzz around the Pat Fitzgerald era is already settling into a few real position battles. The most important one, by far, is at wide receiver.
That race looks like it has six names in the mix now after Bryson Williams joined Charles Taplin, Rodney Bullard Jr., Samson Gash, KK Smith, and Fredrick Moore based on what was seen during Thursday’s first practice. Right now, Taplin and Bullard appear to be the front-runners to line up with Chrishon McCray. Bullard, though, is still waiting on NCAA eligibility, and that could change the picture quickly.
If Courtney Hawkins becomes available, the real question is how much separation there will be between the starters and everyone else. Last season, the gap between Nick Marsh, who played the second-most snaps among wideouts, and Bullard, the primary backup, was 540 snaps.
That would have ranked as the seventh-most snaps on offense. This year, the expectation is that the drop-off won’t be nearly as steep, and Michigan State could lean on its second unit at times to keep fresh legs on the field.
One freshman who keeps drawing attention is Adam Shaw. He comes with a familiar last name - he’s the son of former Michigan State All-American offensive lineman Scott Shaw - but he’s making a name for himself on his own early in camp. Fitzgerald pointed to Shaw and linebacker Cam Stodghill as two players who had changed their bodies since arriving, saying both had gained around 15 pounds.
Shaw wasn’t the headliner in MSU’s recruiting class, and his path to this point has been a little different. He missed almost all of his senior year because of an injury and spent most of high school at quarterback instead of linebacker. That usually comes with a steep adjustment once college starts, but Shaw already looks ahead of schedule.
Even so, he’s walking into a linebacker room that already has experience. Jordan Hall, Auburn transfer Caleb Wheatland, and Buffalo transfer Dion Crawford all bring fourth- or fifth-year experience to the group.
If Shaw can work his way into being the fourth linebacker, that would still count as a win for the Spartans. Michigan State used four linebackers on a weekly basis last season, and with no more redshirts to worry about under the 5-in-5 system, there’s no obvious reason to keep him on the sideline.
The other camp battle worth watching is in the backfield behind Cam Edwards, who is locked in as the lead back. That was the expectation as soon as he committed from the transfer portal in the winter. But Edwards won’t have to shoulder the kind of workload he had at UConn last year, because there are three other backs fighting for the next touches.
Western Kentucky transfer Marvis Parrish, Iowa transfer Jaziun Patterson, and Brandon Tullis give Michigan State a deep group at the position. Parrish was a Group of Five RB1 as a true freshman.
Patterson has logged plenty of time as a Big Ten RB2/3. Tullis was MSU’s third-leading rusher last season.
There’s also Kenneth Williams, who transfers in from Nebraska. He likely won’t be a regular part of the carry rotation and is expected to mainly handle kick returns, but he showed what he can do with the ball in his hands when his lone spring game carry went for a 60+-yard touchdown. His kick return background suggests he’s the kind of player who can flip a play in a hurry.
In Other News...
Michigan States New Offense Is Already Raising One Big Camp Question
Michigan States offense is looking a lot different this fall, with only two full-time starters back as the Spartans try to rebuild around a new quarterback, fresh running backs, a reworked offensive line, new wideouts and first-year coordinator Nick Sheridan. That kind of overhaul always creates noise in camp, but it also creates opportunity, especially when the staff is still sorting through how the pieces fit together on the fly.
The offensive line has already been a focal point because the group is being shuffled early in camp, and the quarterback room is drawing just as much attention as the reps stack up. With a new starter in place and the depth chart still taking shape behind him, Michigan State is at the point of camp where every snap seems to say something about who is moving up, who is being protected and who is still trying to carve out a role. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States New Left Tackle Already Looks Like A Difference-Maker
Michigan State opened fall camp with a familiar need front and center: making the offensive line sturdier and more dependable after adding several experienced pieces to the room. Among the newcomers drawing attention is UConn transfer Ben Murawski, the 6-foot-7, 340-pound tackle who is projected to step in at left tackle and bring some immediate stability to a group the Spartans are counting on to improve.
Murawski arrives with real resume points, having started all 12 games for UConn last season and earning second-team Group of Five All-American honors from HERO Sports. For Michigan State, the intrigue is not just that he has been productive, but that he looks like the kind of presence that can change how the line feels from the first snap of camp, even before the pads fully come on and the real testing begins. [Read more 🡒]
Former Spartan Tre Hollomans Next Move Could Haunt Michigan State
A Colorado judges ruling has reopened the door for a handful of recent college seniors, including players from the 2022 recruiting class, and it quickly created movement for Michigan State alumni with eligibility questions hanging over them. Former Spartan Jaxon Kohler and Tre Holloman were among those who entered the transfer portal after the decision, a development that adds another layer to a roster picture the Spartans thought they had a little more settled.
Holloman, who left Michigan State for NC State, has now officially entered the portal and is looking into what a fifth year of college basketball might look like. For Michigan State, the concern is not just the loss of another familiar name from the program tree, but the possibility that this ruling could keep reshaping the market well beyond this offseason and into the 2026-27 season. [Read more 🡒]