Pat Fitzgerald isn’t wasting any time in his new role at Michigan State. Just weeks into the job, the former Northwestern head coach is hitting the recruiting trail with purpose-and ambition.
He’s not easing into the rebuild. He’s going after elite talent early and often, and if his recent activity is any indication, he’s not looking for a slow climb.
He’s aiming for a fast-track return to relevance in East Lansing.
Fitzgerald has been visiting high school prospects across the country and handing out scholarship offers at a rapid pace. And while the transfer portal will certainly play a role in reshaping the Spartans' roster in the short term, Fitzgerald is clearly laying the foundation through high school recruiting-the kind of long-term investment that sustains a program beyond a single season or cycle.
And he’s not starting small. Fitzgerald has his eyes on some of the biggest names in the 2027 and 2028 classes, including a fresh offer to one of the nation’s top young defensive prospects: Kameron McGee.
McGee, a five-star edge rusher out of Chicago, was re-offered by Michigan State on Tuesday night. The talented pass rusher had already held an offer from the previous coaching staff, but when a new staff steps in, those offers often need to be reaffirmed. Fitzgerald wasted no time making it clear-McGee is still a priority.
The numbers speak for themselves. McGee is ranked as the No. 6 overall player in the 2028 class, the No. 2 edge rusher nationally, and the top prospect in Illinois.
And his offer sheet reads like a who’s who of college football powerhouses: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, Texas, Oregon, USC, Notre Dame-the list goes on. Winning this recruitment won’t be easy, but Michigan State is officially in the mix.
And McGee is far from the only elite name on the Spartans’ radar. Fitzgerald and his staff are casting a wide net, but they’re doing it strategically.
The 2028 class already includes offers to a top-50 quarterback, three top-25 wide receivers, two top-20 edge rushers, three more defensive linemen ranked inside the top 100, two top-100 linebackers, a top-25 cornerback, and two top-60 athletes. That’s not even counting the dozens of other top-300 and top-400 prospects who’ve been contacted.
This is a bold strategy-and it has the potential to pay off in a big way.
Of course, the 2027 class is the more immediate focus, and Fitzgerald knows that. But he’s not letting the future slip through the cracks. By getting in early with high-level 2028 talent, he’s putting Michigan State in position to build momentum over multiple cycles.
The formula is clear: land enough impact players in 2027 to get the program back to bowl eligibility in 2026, then use that success as a springboard to push for a playoff run in 2027. If that happens, the 2028 class could be one of the most transformative in recent Spartan history.
It’s early, but the message from Fitzgerald is loud and clear-Michigan State isn’t backing down from the big names. They’re coming for them. And if the Spartans can start stacking wins on the field, the talent on the recruiting board might just follow.