Michigan State’s fall camp has already started to sort out who might matter most when the season gets going, and there’s a fresh look to this roster as Pat Fitzgerald’s first year at the helm takes shape. After four straight losing seasons, the Spartans are trying to turn the page, and a handful of new faces could end up defining that shift.
One of the most intriguing names on offense is Smith, the former Fighting Irish wideout who brings the kind of skill set that can change a passing game fast. He has quickness, explosiveness, clean routes, and strong hands at the catch point.
That last piece matters most: if you catch well, you can play great. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan could have a real vertical threat here, and if Smith finishes camp strongly, he looks like a player who can work his way into a major role in the passing game.
On the other side of the ball, Soares is already making noise as he moves from off-ball linebacker to rush end in Joe Rossi’s defense. The former Northwestern and NC State defender has jumped into the conversation as one of the top transfers on the roster, and that hasn’t happened by accident.
His spring work stood out, and he’s carried that into fall camp. Soares has the burst and closing speed to threaten off the edge, while his linebacker background helps him hold up against the run.
Among the players in camp, he looks like the clearest bet to become a true star.
Bell also arrives with plenty of expectations after following cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat from Iowa State. He’s projected to start at No. 2 cornerback opposite Charles Brantley, who is back in East Lansing after a year with the Hurricanes, where he played only a handful of snaps.
Bell was productive for the Cyclones, and another strong season could put him on the NFL radar. By the time the regular season opens next month, he may be one of Michigan State’s best defenders.
Then there’s Savoury, the redshirt freshman who has had a strong offseason and now sits in line as the Spartans’ projected starter at tight end. At 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, he has the frame to give Sheridan’s offense a real target in the intermediate and seam areas.
He also brings value as a run blocker for star running back Cam Edwards. If Michigan State gets early production from Savoury, it may have found another player ready to break through.
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 🡒]