With Michigan State’s coaching staff nearly locked in under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, the attention now shifts to the roster - specifically, who’s staying, who’s leaving, and who’s ready to buy into the next chapter of Spartan football.
The transfer portal is about to swing open, and that means decisions are coming fast for players across the country. For Michigan State, it’s already been a busy stretch.
The Spartans have secured the return of several key names - Jordan Hall, Brady Pretzlaff, Alessio Milivojevic, Derrick Simmons, Evan Boyd, Ben Roberts, Braylon Collier, and Aydan West - all opting to run it back in East Lansing. But there are still a few more dominoes fans are waiting to see fall.
One of those dominoes just tipped.
On Tuesday afternoon, offensive lineman Andrew Dennis made it official: he’s back for Year 3.
“Ready for year 3! Go Green,” Dennis posted on social media.
For Michigan State, that’s a meaningful piece to the puzzle. Dennis, a former four-star recruit out of Mount Pleasant, returns as a redshirt sophomore with a chance to compete for a starting role in 2026. Given the uncertainty along the offensive line - a unit that’s struggled to find consistency for years - Dennis could be in the thick of that competition from day one.
He’s only appeared in three games so far in his college career, but two of those came against Big Ten heavyweights: Ohio State in 2024 and Michigan in 2025. That’s not a ton of live reps, but it’s enough to get a taste of what the top tier looks like. Now, it’s about proving he can handle the grind of a full season in the trenches.
That challenge will be overseen by new offensive line coach Nick Tabacca, who steps into one of the toughest assignments on Fitzgerald’s staff. Let’s be honest - the offensive line has been Michigan State’s Achilles' heel for the better part of five years. Whether it’s been injuries, depth issues, or just plain execution, the unit hasn’t consistently held up against Big Ten competition.
Tabacca’s job? Change that narrative.
Dennis returning gives him a foundation to work with, but the real test will be how many other linemen he can convince to stay. Conner Moore, Kristian Phillips, Luka Vincic, Stanton Ramil, and Rustin Young are all names to watch as the portal window opens. Retaining that group - or at least most of it - would go a long way in stabilizing things up front.
There’s also some new blood entering the mix. Four-star offensive tackle Collin Campbell is already signed and ready to roll, giving Tabacca a promising young piece to develop.
On paper, the offensive line room is starting to take shape. But as Spartan fans know all too well, looking good on paper and performing on Saturdays are two very different things.
The next few weeks will be crucial. Between returning veterans, incoming freshmen, and potential portal additions, Michigan State’s offensive line is in flux - but there’s opportunity in that chaos. If Tabacca can mold this group into a cohesive unit, and if players like Dennis take the next step, the Spartans might finally start winning the battle in the trenches again.
And if that happens, everything else - from quarterback play to the run game - gets a whole lot easier.