Michigan State has settled on its six captains for the 2026 season, and the list says plenty about where the program believes its leadership lives. The Spartans split the group between three defensive players, two offensive players and an Australian punter, giving the “C” to a mix of proven returners and key transfer additions.
Kenny Soares Jr. is hardly a shock at the top of the list. The transfer edge rusher from NC State already picked up the No. 1 jersey after being named Mr.
Spartan this year, and he was also recruited by Pat Fitzgerald during his Northwestern days. Soares has been described as the kind of player who leads in the weight room, at practice and everywhere else around the program, and Michigan State is counting on him to back that up on Saturdays as one of its top edge rushers.
Jordan Hall is back for his fourth season in East Lansing and brings the kind of familiarity that makes captaincy feel inevitable. He’s already on the Dick Butkus Award and Bednarik Award watch lists, and now he adds team captain to the list of responsibilities. Hall is set to anchor the defense and serve as one of the main voices in the locker room.
The secondary will have its own leader in Marcellius Pulliam Martinez, who enters the year healthy after an injury-filled season. He was mentioned as a player eager to get back on the field and show what he can do, and his composure has clearly earned the trust of his teammates. Martinez now steps into a bigger role as one of the six captains and a key presence in the back end.
At quarterback, Alessio Milivojevic was an easy choice. The Spartans’ signal-caller led the team to its only conference win last season, and the confidence around “Les” is obvious. After a full offseason of preparation, he’ll have the chance to guide Michigan State through an entire season, with teammates and coaches believing he could emerge as one of the Big Ten’s surprise quarterbacks.
Trent Fraley brings a different kind of edge to the leadership group. The starting center arrived from North Dakota State, where he was recognized as one of the top offensive linemen at his level.
He also has some football pedigree close to home, since his dad coaches the Detroit Lions’ offensive line. Fraley’s reputation is built on physical, relentless play, and that toughness has now translated into captaincy for both the offensive line and the team as a whole.
Then there’s Rhys Dakin, the punter who came over from Iowa with new special teams coach LeVar Woods. Michigan State has turned punter into a real talking point in recent years, with the last two Spartan punters getting drafted and building NFL careers, and Dakin now steps into that lane as the next one up at “Punter University.” His teammates already gave him their backing, and the Spartans will lean on him to help swing field position and time of possession.
The captains are in place, and Michigan State’s season opener against Toledo is set for September 4. The countdown to 2026 is on.
In Other News...
Central Michigan Is Starting To Change The In-State Football Conversation
Central Michigan is starting to look like more than just a neighbor on the schedule. Fox Sports recently labeled the Chippewas a dark horse in the MAC, and there is some real substance behind the buzz. Since Matt Drinkall took over after the 2024 season, the program has put together a 7-6 finish, its best mark since 2021, while also showing it can hang in tight games with a pair of one-possession losses.
The bigger reason the attention is growing is continuity. Central Michigan returns the third-most starters in the MAC, and the roster has already flashed enough on both sides of the ball to suggest another jump is possible. For Michigan State fans keeping an eye on the states football pecking order, it is another reminder that the Chippewas are becoming a more relevant part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Izzo Just Sent Another Clear Message About Michigan State's Future
Tom Izzo keeps making it plain that Michigan States future is not something hes leaving to chance. The Spartans are already putting real attention on the 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes, and an unofficial visit is lined up for a top-35 prospect in the 2028 group. Izzo has also extended an offer to Mateen Cleaves Jr., another sign that the Hall of Fame coach is still working the trail with the same energy that has long defined his program.
For Michigan State fans, the bigger takeaway is what all of this says about Izzo himself. After another stretch that reminded people why he remains one of the sports most competitive voices, he is still recruiting hard and still planning like a coach with years left, not one easing toward the finish line. Every move points the same direction, and the Spartans are acting like their next era is already being mapped out. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Is Pushing For A Top In-State TE Early
Michigan State is heading into its final week of fall camp under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the program is already making an early push in a place it wants to strengthen. One of the names to watch is AJ Henley, a three-star tight end in the 2028 class, who has lined up an unofficial visit to East Lansing on Sept. 12 as part of a fall schedule that includes several stops around the country.
Henley still does not have an offer from Michigan State, but the visit alone says plenty about where the Spartans hope to make their presence felt. Tight end has become a position of emphasis as Fitzgerald and his staff put their stamp on the roster, and getting an in-state prospect on campus this early gives Michigan State a chance to keep building that relationship before the recruitment gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]