Pat Fitzgerald hasn’t had much time to settle in since taking over as Michigan State’s new head coach on Sunday. With the early signing period just days away, he’s been thrown straight into the fire - juggling roster management, recruiting calls, and the all-important task of keeping the 2026 class from unraveling.
But if these first few days are any indication, Fitzgerald’s already making an impact.
Not long after the hire was made official, two key members of the 2026 recruiting class - four-star quarterback Kayd Coffman and three-star linebacker Adam Shaw - publicly reaffirmed their commitments to the Spartans. That’s a major early win for Fitzgerald, especially with Coffman being a potential centerpiece of the class. And now, the momentum is continuing to build.
On Monday, two more recruits joined the group of future Spartans who plan to sign on December 3: three-star tight end Eddie Whiting and three-star defensive lineman Christopher Knauls Jr.
Whiting, a standout from South Dakota, has been committed to Michigan State since February. His recruiting profile is impressive - he holds offers from a host of Power Five programs including Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Michigan, Nebraska, and Washington, just to name a few.
For a three-star prospect out of South Dakota, that’s a serious list of suitors. But Whiting is sticking with the Spartans, crediting former staffers for the opportunity and looking ahead to officially signing his National Letter of Intent.
Knauls, a disruptive defensive lineman with a high motor and a strong offer sheet of his own, echoed that sentiment. The Texas native also had options - Oklahoma State, Houston, Utah, Kansas State, and others were in the mix - but he’s staying the course with Michigan State. Like Whiting, he thanked the previous staff while making it clear he’s ready to lock in with Fitzgerald’s program.
These two additions bring the number of confirmed signees for Wednesday to four - a solid early foundation for Fitzgerald, who’s clearly been working the phones nonstop to stabilize the class. It’s not just about salvaging commitments; it’s about building trust quickly, and that’s exactly what he seems to be doing.
Of course, not everything has gone Michigan State’s way. On Monday, three-star safety Jordan Vann announced that he’s flipping his commitment to Louisville.
That’s a hit, no doubt, and it dropped the Spartans’ 2026 class to 37th nationally. But given the timing of the coaching change, some attrition was almost inevitable.
The key takeaway? Recruits are listening.
They’re responding. And perhaps most importantly, they’re buying into Fitzgerald’s vision.
There’s still plenty of work to be done - more conversations to have, more relationships to build - but in the early going, Fitzgerald is doing exactly what Michigan State needed: steadying the ship, keeping key pieces in place, and setting the tone for what’s next in East Lansing.