Pat Fitzgerald didn’t need a sales pitch to win over Kenny Soares Jr. He just needed to be himself.
That was enough for Michigan State’s first-year coach to land what looks like his most important transfer addition, the edge rusher from NC State by way of Northwestern. Soares said he chose the Spartans because Fitzgerald is still the same coach he knew during Soares’ first college season with the Wildcats.
That kind of consistency matters. It suggests Fitzgerald isn’t putting on a show for the cameras or trying to sell toughness and culture as a brand. According to Soares, that’s simply who he is, and players are responding to it.
Soares has quickly become one of the biggest newcomers in East Lansing, maybe second only to Cam Edwards, though it’s hard to put a running back at No. 1 no matter how good he is. The NC State transfer has already been voted “The Spartan” by his teammates and earned the first No. 1 jersey of the Fitzgerald era at Michigan State. That doesn’t happen unless the locker room is buying in.
And that buy-in seems to be the difference.
Michigan State has had to rebuild fast for Big Ten play, and Fitzgerald has done it with portal additions that actually fit what he’s trying to build. He’s also been praised by plenty of people he’s crossed paths with since returning to coaching, including some of his own players.
The energy around the program feels different, too. Fitzgerald has taken the time to connect with his players in a way Jonathan Smith never seemed to.
Michigan State fans wanted a coach with fire, emotion, and a real connection to the roster. They didn’t get that with Smith, but they’ve seen it in just eight months with Fitzgerald.
Even the Big Ten Network picked up on the extra energy at practice, which lines up with what people around the program are saying: the vibes are better, the players are happier, and the whole thing feels more alive.
Fitzgerald is also leaning on help from Mark Dantonio, something that appears to be part of the broader reset in East Lansing.
After the Mel Tucker era and then the quieter Smith stretch, Fitzgerald’s authenticity has stood out. It may also be exactly why Michigan State can keep landing strong players every offseason.
In Other News...
Michigan State Has One Defensive Worry Fans Cant Ignore
Big Ten Networks fall camp stop at Michigan State put the defense under the microscope, and the concern that came up was hard to miss. Dave Revsine pointed to the Spartans defensive depth, especially up front on the defensive line, as a real question entering the season, even with a few proven pieces in place.
Jordan Hall and Kenny Soares give Michigan State some needed star power, and the secondary looks steadier than the groups in front of it. The issue is how much the linebacking corps and defensive line can hold up when so much of the front seven is still built around transfers and less experienced players, leaving the Spartans with a thin margin for error if injuries or inconsistency show up. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Finally Looks Like A Pat Fitzgerald Team
Dave Revsines recent stop at Michigan State practice offered a useful snapshot of where the Spartans stand as the 2026 season approaches: not polished, but noticeably more defined. The biggest takeaways centered on two areas that have often determined whether the program can settle in on one identity or chase one all year, with the offensive line looking improved and the quarterback situation showing real signs of progress.
What stood out most was the sense that the Spartans are beginning to take shape around a clear blueprint, one built on defense, the run game and efficient play under center. Pat Fitzgeralds influence, along with the defensive staff around him, has started to show up in the culture and the way the group works, even if this is still very much a team in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State's First Fitzgerald Season Already Feels Like A Credibility Test
Pat Fitzgeralds first season in East Lansing already carries the feel of a program audit, with Michigan State moving through a reset that asks a new coach to steady the roster while also reestablishing what the Spartans want to be. The early signs have been aimed at the trenches, where the staff has brought in multiple offensive line transfers to try to improve a group that needs to look more functional right away, and the broader message has been just as important as the personnel moves.
Fitzgerald has also made a point of connecting with fans and alumni, a detail that matters in a place looking for clear identity as much as short-term wins. On the field, the next layer is finding who actually carries that identity, with running back Cam Edwards, linebacker Jordan Hall and cornerback Charles Brantley positioned to matter most as Michigan State tries to make the first chapter under its new coach look like the start of something real. [Read more 🡒]