Michigan State’s next defense is going to lean hard on the secondary, and Michael Richard looks like one of the pieces that can make it work.
The Louisiana Tech transfer is set up to be the Spartans’ fifth defensive back when they go with five on the field, and that role fits what he’s already done. Richard spent spring ball working a lot with the safeties, but nickel was the cleaner match for him. That’s where he thrived at Louisiana Tech, and Michigan State is banking on that translating to Big Ten play.
The veteran brings real mileage with him. Richard has played in 34 games over three college seasons and has 22 starts to his name.
He’s logged 1,523 defensive snaps overall, including 603 last season alone. That kind of experience matters, especially for a defense that’s going to look a lot different.
Richard’s 2025 season was the one that really pushed him toward the Power Four level. He had been solid in 2023 and 2024, but he hadn’t forced a takeaway in his first two years at Louisiana Tech.
Last fall changed that. Richard picked off three passes, tied for second on the Bulldogs, while allowing 377 yards and four touchdowns, per PFF.
He also finished with 39 tackles and five tackles for loss. One of those interceptions came against LSU, with the others against UTEP and Liberty.
He also hasn’t been a penalty magnet, which is always a plus for a defensive back. Richard has been flagged four times in his career, and two of those penalties came last season.
Against the run, he took another step forward in 2025. PFF gave him a 78.0 grade there, a big jump from 44.7 in 2024 and 62.9 in 2023.
His freshman year at Louisiana Tech was strong, too. Richard was Conference USA’s Freshman of the Year in 2023.
That season, he allowed 16 catches on 38 targets, gave up just one touchdown, and broke up seven passes, according to PFF. His overall defensive grade that year was 75.5, still the best mark of his career.
He posted a 53.1 overall grade in 2024 and a 67.4 last season.
Richard also gets a bonus from the NCAA’s recent “5-in-5” rule change. He originally came to Michigan State as a true senior with one season of eligibility left, but now he’ll be eligible again in 2027.
That matters because Michigan State expects him to be a difference-maker in 2026. The Spartans need stability at nickel after a lot of turnover there last season.
Ade Willie started the first four games in 2025 at the spot, then didn’t play in the final eight contests, presumably to stay within the redshirt limit and preserve his last season of eligibility. Willie has since transferred to North Carolina.
When Willie was out, Dontavius Nash filled in. Malcolm Bell also saw some snaps later in the year as a slot corner. Both were one-year transfer additions, with Nash arriving from East Carolina and Bell from UConn.
Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and safeties coach James Adams are probably hoping for less shuffling this time around. Health is part of that, too. The Spartans have dealt with a lot of injuries lately, and with limited depth on the defensive line, the secondary is going to have to carry plenty of weight.
There’s reason to think the back end can be a strength. Richard was ranked 1,149th overall in On3’s transfer portal rankings, but the Spartans are looking for him to help spark a turnaround. Michigan State gave up 231.3 passing yards per game last season, which ranked 92nd in the FBS, and the starting group in the secondary should be almost entirely new.
That overhaul is real. Everybody who was truly handling nickel duties last year is either out of eligibility or gone through the portal. The two starting corners and both safeties are different, too.
At safety, Michigan State has Nikai Martinez and Devin Vaught. Martinez is already familiar to the program, though he only played in four games last season.
Vaught comes in from Maine after earning Second Team All-CAA honors and picking off three passes last year. Aveon Grose could also push for time after starting the season finale against Maryland and intercepting a pass.
At corner, the Spartans are counting on Charles Brantley and Tre Bell. Brantley was a standout for Michigan State in 2024 before transferring to Miami (FL) last offseason. He was expected to be done after last fall, but he only appeared in three games for the Hurricanes, which preserved his final season of eligibility and opened the door for his return to MSU.
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