Michigan State’s tight end room looked like a question mark heading into fall camp. Now, with the season opener against Toledo set for Friday at 8 pm ET on FS1, it looks more like a strength in the making.
The Spartans have built a group that feels unusually flexible, and that’s the big takeaway after watching them work through camp. The position could be headed for a true rotation, with fourth-year Brennan Parachek, second-year Jayden Savoury, fifth-year Kai Rios, and sixth-year Carson Gulker all in line to play on a weekly basis if everyone stays healthy. Freshman Eddie Whiting could also sneak into the mix, though getting five tight ends regular snaps would be a lot.
The skepticism made sense. Michigan State lost Jack Velling and Michael Masunas this offseason, and none of the current options had really proven themselves against Big Ten competition. That made tight ends coach Brian Wozniak’s relative lack of portal activity at the position a little surprising.
Parachek appears to be the starter for now, but the production is still light: 14 career catches for 118 yards, and no receptions at all last season. Savoury is right behind him and could end up as the best tight end on the roster this year, but he’s still early in his career and has just one catch to his name.
Rios brings a different kind of value. He played only 15 offensive snaps in his first year with the program in 2025 after transferring from Indiana State, but he looks like the best blocker in the group and should see more work this season. Gulker is the wild card - a uniquely versatile player, though still a Division II transfer, even if Ferris State would destroy many FCS programs.
What stands out now is how neatly the room seems to fit together. There looks to be a player for every job coordinator Nick Sheridan might need.
Savoury and Parachek both project as every-down types who can help in the passing game and in the run game, with Savoury leaning a little more toward receiving and Parachek toward blocking. Rios should be a useful short-yardage piece.
Gulker’s biggest issue is blocking, but he can do everything else: catch, run, and even throw.
That kind of variety can make life harder for defenses. They’ll have to sort through personnel changes all game long, and Michigan State’s depth at running back and rotation at wide receiver only add to the puzzle.
Sheridan could have a lot of different combinations to work with - probably four playable running backs, four playable tight ends, and maybe as many as eight playable receivers. Last year, the Spartans were mostly playing three running backs, two tight ends, and three receivers.
This year’s mix could create some occasional confusion for the defense.
The encouraging part for Michigan State is that the young talent at tight end is also trending up. Savoury has been one of the biggest risers of camp, and that’s notable after he already looked like one of the more promising players in the room. When I caught the team’s first training camp practice last month, he was already pushing toward a starting job.
Whiting also drew attention this spring and was one of the more intriguing names in MSU’s 2026 recruiting class. He ranked 1,067th overall in the 247Sports Composite, but his offer list was loaded. Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Florida, Auburn, Michigan, UCLA, and Washington were among the programs he passed up to end up at Michigan State.
Joe Caudill is another future piece at the position. He probably won’t factor much this season as he makes the transition from quarterback in high school, but his frame and athleticism make it easy to picture him as a Power Four starter down the road. Rivals listed Caudill as a 4-star recruit and 236th overall.
In Other News...
Former Spartan Jaxon Kohler Still Has One Huge Hurdle At BYU
Former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler is in the middle of an unusual offseason as he prepares to join BYU after committing to the Cougars. He is currently eligible for a fifth college season because of a temporary injunction issued by a California court, which has allowed him to move forward for now while the legal process plays out.
The bigger issue still hangs over BYUs planning for the season, since a court ruling expected on Sept. 29 could change Kohlers eligibility status. For a program trying to map out its frontcourt rotation, that leaves Kohler in a strange spot - available enough to be part of the conversation, but not quite settled enough to remove the uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Cousins Just Gave Michigan State Fans Another Reason To Brag
Kirk Cousins is heading into the 2026 NFL season with a familiar kind of spotlight, this time in Las Vegas. The Raiders have officially named the former Michigan State quarterback their starter, handing the job to the veteran over No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and signaling that experience will drive the teams plans at least at the outset.
Cousins, now entering his 15th NFL season, arrived after two years with the Falcons and brings a long track record with him, including 167 starts and four Pro Bowl selections. He is also expected to help develop Mendoza along the way, which gives Michigan State fans one more reminder that their old quarterback remains very much part of the NFL conversation. [Read more 🡒]
No. 4 Michigan State Faces A Real Test To Protect Its Start
Michigan States womens soccer team heads into its final non-conference match of the season on Thursday with a chance to keep a promising start rolling, and the stage is a good one. The Spartans will face Notre Dame at Alumni Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, after opening the year 4-0-1 and banking some eye-catching results against ranked opponents, a stretch that has helped establish them as one of the nations early surprises.
The matchup brings another layer of intrigue because Notre Dame has been stubborn to put away this season despite a 1-0-4 record, and the Fighting Irish are still drawing attention after slipping out of the Top 25. For Michigan State, the challenge is less about scoreboard chasing than proving the start is built to last, with Kennedy Bell, Kayla Briggs, Emerson Sargeant, Bella Najera and goalkeeper Bella Schopp all playing key roles in getting the Spartans here. [Read more 🡒]