NIL has become one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle for every major college football program, and Michigan State has a few players who look set to cash in this season.
One of the clearest candidates is redshirt freshman Charles Taplin. A former lower-tier three-star recruit, Taplin played in only four games as a true freshman and finished with one catch for an eight-yard gain.
That could change quickly. He was taking first-team reps in the spring and spent plenty of time on the field during the open spring scrimmage in April.
If Taplin turns that opportunity into a starting job, his earning power should jump with it. He has eligibility through the 2029 season, which gives him added value compared with a transfer receiver who might have similar talent but far less time left in college. A starter is going to be worth far more than a freshman depth option, too.
UConn transfer Ben Murawski is another player positioned for a bigger paycheck. The move from UConn to Michigan State alone points to a step up, with the Huskies’ football dollars likely spread thin in a program where basketball gets most of the attention. Michigan State still values hoops, but not to the extent that football gets pushed aside, and the Big Ten sits in a different financial neighborhood than UConn’s independent setup.
Murawski’s role only adds to that. He’s expected to start at left tackle, where he’ll be the blindside protector for quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. MSU also appeared to target more premium offensive line options throughout the offseason.
Milivojevic himself is in line for a much bigger season financially as well. He’s probably on the cheaper end for a Big Ten starting quarterback, but if he delivers as the full-time QB1, his value will climb fast. He’s already almost certainly making more this year than he did last season, when he stepped in for Aidan Chiles late in the year and Chiles was in that $1-2 million range.
Like Taplin, Milivojevic has the kind of eligibility that makes him more valuable to Michigan State. He is eligible through the 2028 season, and if he plays well this year, the Spartans have every reason to try to keep him locked in. Quality quarterbacks are hard to replace, and that alone gives him extra leverage.
In Other News...
Michigan State Freshmen Are Suddenly In A Real Fight For Fall Roles
Michigan States new-look roster is getting one of the biggest benefits of the NCAAs 5-in-5 eligibility rules, with the full roster available this season and a deeper competition for fall roles than the Spartans have had in recent years. That has created a real opening for members of the 2026 recruiting class, a group that includes wide receiver Samson Gash, linebacker Adam Shaw, tight end Eddie Whiting, offensive lineman Eli Bickel and kicker Stephen Gonzales, all of whom are being watched closely as camp approaches.
Gash stands out as the freshman with the clearest chance to matter right away, with special teams work and a path into the receiver mix giving him a legitimate way into the conversation. The rest of the class is also worth tracking because each player brings a different kind of fit, whether it is at linebacker, tight end, along the offensive line or on kicks, and Michigan States fall decisions could start sorting out which of those young players are ready to help sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Kaleb Glenn Just Changed Michigan States Season Outlook
Kaleb Glenn is back in the mix for Michigan State, and his arrival as a transfer from Florida Atlantic gives Tom Izzo another interesting piece to work with as the Spartans look ahead to the upcoming season. Glenn brings the kind of versatility coaches covet, with enough scoring and shooting to open up lineup combinations and add some needed offense to the rotation.
For a program trying to sort out its best pieces before the season gets rolling, Glenns presence matters because he was expected to be part of the conversation even before he stepped on campus. His ability to fit in a variety of roles could give Michigan State more flexibility, especially if he settles in quickly and gives the Spartans another reliable option on the perimeter. [Read more 🡒]