Michigan State’s offensive line has been a sore spot for years, and that hasn’t changed much in 2026. Even with plenty of depth and a handful of new faces, the group has still fallen short of expectations through four weeks.
But one transfer has cut through the noise.
Trent Fraley, one of four offseason additions on the line alongside Ben Murawski, Nick Sharpe and Robert Wright Jr., has been the standout of the bunch for Pat Fitzgerald and Nick Tabacca’s first Michigan State offensive line. He’s logged plenty of snaps, but Fraley has separated himself from the pack early.
What makes his start so striking is where he came from. Fraley was the best center in the FCS a year ago, and now he’s doing it again at the FBS level. Through four weeks, he looks like the biggest transfer steal in college football.
That’s not just a feel-good label, either. Cam Mellor of Pro Football Network released his position grades through four weeks, and Fraley sits atop the center rankings by a hair.
Our @PFN365 highest-graded centers through 4 weeks:
Trent Fraley, Michigan State: 95.1
Coleton Price, Kentucky: 95.0
Ryan Rodriguez, Miami (FL): 94.8
Justin Evans, Nebraska: 94.4
Tobias Raymond, USC: 92.2
Iapani Laloulu, Oregon: 91.8
Mark Nabou Jr., Texas A&M: 91.5
Sheridan… pic.twitter.com/wjLZV0Je9V
- Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 28, 2026
Fraley has been a rare bright spot on an offensive line that has come in well below the bar through four weeks, and he’s basically carrying the unit right now. He has graded as PFN’s top center every week so far, and that 95.1 mark underscores just how far he’s outperformed his transfer billing. He entered the 2026 class as the No. 724 transfer, a number that looks almost absurd in hindsight.
Only people inside the program know what his NIL arrangement was, but Fitzgerald appears to have landed him at a bargain.
There hasn’t been much good news on offense lately, especially with Cam Edwards now out for the year, but Fraley has been one of the few consistent positives. He settled in quickly with his teammates, and the chemistry he’s built is showing up on Saturdays.
If the rest of the line can start feeding off what he’s doing, Michigan State could still make the final eight games of the regular season a lot more interesting.
Fraley, listed as the 724th-best transfer and the 45th-best interior offensive lineman, has also emerged as an early Rimington Trophy front-runner. Without checking, the case is there for him to become the first player to win the award at both the FCS and FBS levels in back-to-back years. He’ll get there if he keeps playing at this level.
In Other News...
Michigan State Now Faces A Bigger Problem Than The Nebraska Loss
The Nebraska loss itself was ugly enough for Michigan State, but the bigger concern coming out of Lincoln was the damage done to the roster. The Spartans were already thin in key spots, and the injury situation started before kickoff when starting cornerback Tre Bell was hurt in warmups and never made it into the game.
It only got worse from there. Running back Cam Edwards and offensive lineman Connor Moore went down on the same play, and defensive leader Jordan Hall also left with a leg injury after being taken off the field on a cart, leaving Michigan State with plenty to sort through beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces A Bigger Offensive Problem Than Fans Feared
Michigan States offense has looked increasingly out of sync over the last few games, and the numbers underline just how much work remains. Through four games, the Spartans have managed only 88 points and nine touchdowns, both among the lowest marks in the Big Ten, while quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has been dealing with plenty of pressure, sacks and interceptions as the unit struggles to find any sort of rhythm.
The bigger concern is that the problems have not been limited to execution. Injuries have already thinned out the group and left the staff trying to patch together answers on the fly, with the offensive line and backfield both taking hits that make every snap feel a little more fragile. Michigan State is still searching for stability, but the margin for error keeps shrinking as the offense tries to get healthy enough to even resemble what it was supposed to be. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Depth Chart Test Against Wisconsin
Michigan State left its trip to Nebraska with more than one injury concern, and the timing could not be worse with Wisconsin next on the schedule. Running back Cam Edwards and linebacker Jordan Hall were among the players hurt in the game, leaving the Spartans to sort through a depth chart that may look different by the time they line up again.
The backfield is especially worth watching because backup Jaziun Patterson handled relief work well after Edwards exited, and the staff is already leaning on him as it prepares for the next matchup. The bigger question now is how Michigan State will piece together its roster across the board if the injury list forces more changes, with the full extent of those setbacks still unclear. [Read more 🡒]