Michigan State’s 30-20 win over Toledo on Friday did more than just open the season with a victory. It also gave the Spartans a fresh batch of players whose stock climbed in a hurry once the tape got a closer look.
The first wave of standouts after the game was quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, running back Cam Edwards and kicker Liam Boyd. But the film brought a few more names into the spotlight, starting with wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr.
Bullard turned in one of the day’s best offensive outings, posting seven catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. That alone was enough to stand out, especially when stacked against what he produced last season: five receptions, 119 yards and one receiving score across 12 games and one start.
His touchdown was the kind of play that sticks. Bullard scored on fourth down in the fourth quarter to help Michigan State grab the lead back from the Rockets.
He also came down with the two-point conversion right after, though that doesn’t go on the stat sheet. Earlier in the game, he came close to another touchdown when Milivojevic delivered what looked like an NFL-level throw to the corner of the end zone.
Bullard didn’t finish the catch, but it was certainly a playable ball.
Another player who made a real case for a bigger role was redshirt freshman tight end Jayden Savoury. He didn’t start - that nod went to redshirt junior Brennan Parachek - but Savoury looked like the Spartans’ most complete tight end. He finished with four receptions for 36 yards.
Tight end usage still feels like something to watch. Carson Gulker, the all-purpose gadget type, logged just one offensive snap, which seems unlikely to hold.
Kai Rios played seven snaps and remains mostly a blocking option. Savoury, though, appeared to be the best all-around option during camp, and Week 1 backed that up.
In the secondary, Iowa State transfer Tre Bell made a strong first impression as Michigan State’s top corner on Friday. He did allow a touchdown in the third quarter, but that play fit the “good defense, better offense” category. PFF gave Bell a 55.8 overall grade, though the underlying numbers tell a different story: he allowed just two catches for 25 yards on five targets, and one of those catches was the score in the end zone.
Bell also played 42 of a possible 45 defensive snaps, the most of any Spartans corner. Houston Christian transfer Tyran Chappell logged the second-most with 30 after coming off the bench. Charles Brantley saw just 19 snaps and finished with a 29.5 PFF grade, the lowest on the team on either side of the ball, which lines up with the long touchdown he surrendered and a third-down defensive holding penalty.
Kenny Soares Jr., the N.C. State transfer, delivered in a big way as well.
He forced the game’s only turnover with an interception early in the second quarter. He nearly had another pick before that after being dropped into coverage, and he was credited with three pressures on 16 pass-rushing opportunities.
That kind of performance hints at how Michigan State may use him all season. Soares’ background as a linebacker gives defensive coordinator Joe Rossi a lot of flexibility, whether that means rushing the passer, helping against the run or dropping into coverage. That versatility opens the door for more creative coverage looks and simulated pressures, which should make the Spartans tougher to prepare for.
Up front, the interior defensive line entered Week 1 as a major question mark. Michigan State has only six scholarship defensive tackles, and only two of them had much college experience before this season.
One of those was Illinois transfer Eli Coenen, and he may have been the biggest defensive standout of the opener. He finished with three total tackles and a sack, and he also broke up a pass on the game’s first third down.
As a group, the defensive tackles came away with encouraging results. Ben Roberts was productive when he was on the field, and Mikeshun Beeler looked like a plus player in his first college game, one in which he earned real playing time. With the room so thin, the big issue now is simple: can those bodies stay healthy?
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 🡒]