Injuries are already shaping the conversation around Michigan State heading into Week 2, and the early-season uncertainty only gets messier because the Big Ten no longer requires availability reports for non-conference games. Once conference play starts, teams will begin posting them a day at a time, three days before each game - so Wednesday for a Saturday matchup.
That leaves Michigan State leaning heavily on what can be gathered from the field and from brief coach comments, and there are several names worth watching before the Spartans face Eastern Michigan.
The most notable absence Friday was linebacker Dion Crawford. The Buffalo transfer was expected to be a major piece of the defensive rotation, but he was in street clothes during MSU’s opener against Toledo.
Crawford’s résumé explains why that matters: last season he posted 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The year before, he was even more disruptive, piling up 8.5 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss on his way to Third Team All-MAC honors.
Michigan State may have found some short-term help in Brady Pretzlaff. He was a surprise starter in the opener, missed just one defensive snap in his first game of redshirt sophomore season, and finished with five tackles, which tied for the team lead.
Another linebacker to monitor is Jordan Hall. He was shaken up in the season opener, once coming off the field while holding his right arm before returning with a bulky cast around his elbow.
He appeared to get hurt again later in the game, and his final workload was limited to 25 of 45 possible defensive snaps. Hall has a track record of playing through pain - last year he dealt with turf toe and a torn oblique and still never missed a game - but Saturday will offer a better read on how close he is to full strength.
Wide receiver Samson Gash also sat out Friday. He wasn’t a lock to play against Toledo, but his speed and 4-star status would have made him a candidate if available.
His absence may trace back to a hamstring issue from the summer, when he finished the track and field season with Detroit Catholic Central. He did practice during fall camp without a non-contact jersey, but that doesn’t guarantee he was ready for game action.
There was also some wear and tear on running back Cam Edwards, who handled a massive workload in his Michigan State debut. He logged 29 touches - 27 carries and two receptions - and turned them into 105 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.
Edwards, the UConn transfer, took plenty of contact and needed attention on the field at one point before returning. Pat Fitzgerald still views him as a star, workhorse back, but Michigan State would be smart to trim that workload a bit in Week 2.
Edwards’ 27 carries against Toledo were a career high, and getting Marvis Parrish, Jaziun Patterson and Brandon Tullis more involved against Eastern Michigan would make sense.
Up front, the situation at left tackle is another major storyline. Ben Murawski missed most of the second half against Toledo, though he did later show back up with the field goal team. The UConn transfer is known as a mauler in the run game and could end up being Michigan State’s best offensive lineman this season.
If Murawski can’t go, the Spartans already showed their contingency plan against Toledo. Rakeem Johnson moved from right tackle to left tackle, Robert Wright Jr. then slid in at right tackle, and Rustin Young and Collin Campbell are also options at left tackle.
In Other News...
Michigan State Found A New Edge Fans Noticed Against Toledo
Michigan State did not need a perfect offensive afternoon to handle Toledo, and that was a big part of the appeal in the 30-20 win. The Spartans leaned on special teams in a way fans could feel, with transfer kicker Liam Boyd stepping into his debut and immediately becoming a difference-maker. His five field goals gave the game a steadier rhythm and added points whenever drives stalled, while the rest of the kicking operation helped turn a close opener into a more controlled result.
Boyds impact stood out even more because it came with a personal best and a program mark in his first game, capped by a 51-yard kick that showed plenty of range. Michigan State also got useful work from other special teams pieces, and coach Pat Fitzgerald pointed to the groups aggressive mindset afterward. For a team still sorting out its identity, the Spartans found an edge in a phase of the game that does not always decide headlines, but can shape them just the same. [Read more 🡒]
Young Spartans Already Put Michigan State's Depth Chart On Notice
Michigan State used a lot of bodies in its Week 1 win over Toledo, and the group that stood out most may have been the younger one. The Spartans played 54 players in all, giving first- and second-year contributors a real chance to show where they fit as the season takes shape. That included Marvis Parrish at running back, Jayden Savoury at tight end, Bryson Williams at receiver, and a handful of young defenders such as Derrick Simmons, Cal Thrush, DiMari Malone and Jonathan Granby.
For a program still sorting out its rotation, that kind of early usage matters because it offers an immediate glimpse at who can handle more than just developmental reps. The snaps were spread around, but the depth chart never really feels settled in September, and Michigan State now has more film on several young Spartans who made themselves part of the conversation right away. What happens next with those roles will be worth watching as the competition inside the roster begins to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Women Have A Real Chance To Climb This Week
Michigan States womens golf team gave itself a workable starting point at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, opening at American Dunes Golf Club with a round that left the Spartans in the middle of the pack and within striking distance. Kansas set the early pace at 4-under par, but the first round did not produce separation across much of the leaderboard, which keeps plenty of teams in play as the event moves on.
The Spartans were steadied by sophomore Sarisa Pojanalai and senior Keeley Marx, who matched rounds of 1-over par 73 to give Michigan State a pair of reliable scores. In a tournament where one clean round can change the picture quickly, that kind of balanced start gives the Spartans a chance to keep climbing if the rest of the lineup can follow suit. [Read more 🡒]