Michigan State’s defense enters the season with a starting group that’s easy to picture, even if the depth chart behind it still has some loose ends.
There’s real optimism around this unit in Year 1 under Pat Fitzgerald and Year 3 with Joe Rossi running the defense. The Spartans still have questions to answer in spots, especially along the defensive line and in the secondary, but the projected starters give the group a defined shape.
Up front, Weber State transfer Keahnist Thompson looks like the likely starter at defensive end. He put up 4.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss in nine games and starts last season, including a 1.5-sack performance against Arizona. Michigan State has been searching for more life in its pass rush, and Thompson is expected to be part of that answer.
On the other side, NC State transfer Kenny Soares Jr. has been one of the biggest movers this camp. He was already projected as the starting rush end, but the way his teammates embraced him - naming him "The Spartan" and handing him the No. 1 jersey - stood out. Soares has not spent much time in a true pass-rushing role before, though NC State had initially planned to use him on the EDGE before injuries pushed him back to linebacker.
At defensive tackle, Ben Roberts appears to be the top option. He started six of the seven games he played last season, but injuries cut his year short.
At 6'3" and 325 pounds, "Big Worm" gives MSU a real presence against the run when he’s healthy. The only issue is keeping him available.
Illinois transfer Eli Coenen should bring more quickness inside. At 6'6" and 287 pounds, he looked like the fastest and most aggressive player at the position during Monday morning drills. Coenen started at Division II Bemidji State, spent two years there, then moved to Illinois, where his snap count grew as 2025 went on.
At linebacker, senior Jordan Hall is again positioned as the centerpiece. He finished last year with 88 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception, enough to earn Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition. If he takes another step, the next stop could be something bigger than that - and likely an NFL Draft decision, even though he can return in 2027.
There’s also been a shift in the linebacker projection. Buffalo transfer Dion Crawford had seemed like a fit outside because of his pass-rushing production, but Auburn transfer Caleb Wheatland now looks to be trending in that direction. Wheatland brings experience from Maryland, where he bounced between middle and weak-side linebacker.
In the secondary, Charles Brantley is expected to resume his role as Michigan State’s top cornerback if he’s fully healthy. He was one of the team’s best defenders in 2024 before transferring to Miami (FL) last offseason.
Brantley only played in three games for "The U," which preserved his final year and brought him back to East Lansing. He’s been limited some in spring and early fall, though Rossi said "he'll be taking the restrictors off here in a little bit."
Tre Bell is another portal addition who should play a major role. He came from Iowa State and followed cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat. Bell started eight games for the Cyclones last season, appeared in all 12, and came away with two interceptions.
Louisiana Tech transfer Michael Richard looks like the regular fifth defensive back. He picked off three passes last year, including one against an SEC opponent, and he also gained another year of eligibility under the new 5-in-5 landscape.
Michigan State also did important work by keeping Nikai Martinez in the program. He was one of the Spartans’ most dependable defenders in 202, but injuries limited him to four games last season, which hurt MSU’s production. Those injuries also allowed him to redshirt in what had been expected to be his final college year.
At strong safety, Maine transfer Devin Vaught should be the starter. Over the last two seasons at the FCS level, he has intercepted six passes, with three coming during his redshirt freshman season and three more as a sophomore.
In Other News...
Michigan States Youngest Standouts Are Already Pressuring The Depth Chart
Michigan State is leaning into a youth movement this season, and the new NCAA 5-for-5 rule gives the Spartans more room than usual to let promising freshmen and other young pieces get real work without burning a year of eligibility. That matters because several names have already forced their way into the conversation in practice, from defensive lineman Derrick Simmons to wide receiver Eddie Whiting, cornerback Marvis Parrish, offensive tackle Charles Taplin and tight end Adam Shaw, all of whom are in the mix for meaningful snaps if they keep building on what the staff has seen so far.
The most interesting part is how quickly this group is crowding an already competitive depth chart. Jayden Savoury has been pushing to become part of the tight end picture, while Samson Gash remains one of the more intriguing skill players in camp, especially as Michigan State sorts out where everyone fits once the pads stay on and the workload gets heavier. For a program looking to get older and better at the same time, these younger standouts are making it harder to keep them on the sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Edwards Is Giving Michigan State Fans Real Reason To Dream
Cam Edwards arrives at Michigan State with the kind of confidence that tends to travel well in July and linger into camp if the production matches it. The transfer running back from UConn has already given Spartans fans something to chew on, not just because the staff brought him in to upgrade the backfield, but because his ceiling feels high enough to invite bigger-picture talk around what this offense might become.
Edwards is coming off a season that put him on the map as one of the more productive backs in the portal, and that alone makes him worth watching in East Lansing. The comparison that keeps coming up is to Javon Ringer, which tells you the type of impact people are hoping for, but the tougher question is whether Michigan State can turn one promising addition into the kind of team success that matches the hype around him. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Still Has One Crucial O-Line Battle To Settle
Michigan States offensive line has been one of the busiest areas of change since Pat Fitzgerald and his staff took over, with the group looking very different from the one that finished last season. Only one starter is back, and recent practice work has started to sketch out a new five-man combination built around left tackle Ben Murawski and center Trent Fraley, plus a mix of transfer additions trying to settle in quickly.
One of the more interesting wrinkles is where the staff has decided to test some of the personnel, because not every spot is straightforward yet. The competition on the right side is still very much alive, and the battle there has the feel of a final piece the Spartans need to sort out before the unit can feel truly set. [Read more 🡒]