Michigan State’s fall camp is already offering an early look at what Pat Fitzgerald wants this program to become, and the message so far has been loud and clear: details matter.
That started on Day 1, when Fitzgerald pointed to something as basic as water breaks and said players weren’t handling them the right way. He also mentioned finding empty Gatorade bottles and food wrappers on the field.
The point wasn’t really the mess itself. It was the standard behind it.
If the little things get ignored, the bigger stuff usually does too.
From the outside, camp has looked and sounded urgent. The practices have had a tight, no-nonsense feel, with coaches pushing players and entire groups to keep moving when drills lag. The assistants have been heavily involved, too, especially linebackers coach and co-DC Max Bullough, who has reportedly been willing to put on pads and take some hits himself.
That tone has shown up in the players’ answers as well. When asked what stands out most about the Fitz era so far, nearly everyone has said the same thing: energy.
That word has been repeated enough to raise an eyebrow, but the sense around the building does seem different. The start of camp hasn’t been spotless, yet there’s a clearer identity taking shape than there was under Jonathan Smith.
The most interesting part of camp, though, may be what’s happening with the younger players. A few are climbing the depth chart faster than expected, and some could end up shaping the program’s future.
Second-year wide receiver Charles Taplin has been one of the biggest surprises. Michigan State was one of only two Power Four schools to offer him out of high school, along with Arizona, and he entered the 2025 class ranked No. 1,671 overall by the 247Sports Composite.
That made him the second-lowest-ranked scholarship recruit in MSU’s class that year. Even so, Taplin has been working with the starters since around spring ball.
If he keeps that spot through the rest of camp, the Spartans may have found a long-term answer at receiver. He’s eligible through the 2029 season.
Tight end Jayden Savoury has also drawn strong notice. His frame and hands were already easy to see, even in shorts, but offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said Wednesday that Savoury has also made major progress as a blocker. That matters, because it puts MSU in position to have another young starter with four seasons of eligibility left.
Western Kentucky transfer Marvis Parrish has made an impression as well. He ran for more than 700 scrimmage yards as a true freshman for the Hilltoppers last season, and with the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 rule, he still has four years left. He won’t be the Spartans’ top back this season - UConn transfer Cam Edwards is expected to hold that job - but Parrish should still be part of the offense plenty now and in the years ahead.
On defense, Derrick Simmons remains a major piece of the future. He was the top-ranked recruit in Michigan State’s 2025 class, but his true freshman season was limited by the huge leap from Division 5 MHSAA football to the Big Ten. After a year of added bulk and with the depth chart looking more open, Simmons is positioned for a much larger role this year as the No. 3 interior defensive lineman.
True freshman linebacker Adam Shaw has also jumped into the conversation. The linebacker room is deep and experienced, so snaps may be hard to come by, but Shaw saw a lot of action in April’s spring scrimmage and Fitzgerald has pointed to him as someone who has made major gains in his body this offseason. Parrish was another player Fitzgerald highlighted there.
For a coach entering year one, that combination is exactly what you want to see: a defined direction and a group of young players who fit the plan. Whether Fitzgerald can turn that into wins is still the question. But right now, at least, Michigan State looks like a program with a path.
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Michigan State Has A Real Chance To Reset Everything Under Pat Fitzgerald
Michigan State enters 2026 with a different feel around the program, and Pat Fitzgerald brings the kind of reputation that can change the tone quickly. His teams have long been associated with discipline and structure, and the Spartans will lean on a defense that already has some recognizable pieces in Jordan Hall, Kenny Soares Jr. and Charles Brantley while trying to build enough steadiness on the other side of the ball to matter in the Big Ten race.
There is at least a path here to something better than a typical transition year, with Alessio Milivojevic at quarterback and Cam Edwards part of the offensive foundation. The ceiling is not hard to imagine if the pieces settle in, but the real question is whether Fitzgerald can turn that promise into a group capable of hanging around the league's better teams and making Oregon and Washington feel reachable instead of aspirational. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Fitzgerald Era Puts Michigan State's Breakout Candidates In Focus
Michigan States roster enters Pat Fitzgeralds first season with a different kind of spotlight, one that falls as much on the next wave of contributors as it does on the familiar names. The Spartans have pieces in place from both the returning group and the transfer market, with Alessio Milivojevic expected to handle the quarterback job and Cam Edwards in line to be the lead back after arriving from UConn. Around them, the staff is sorting out how the rest of the offense and defense fit together as the new era takes shape.
What makes the upcoming months especially interesting is how many players could be positioned to take a jump if the pieces click early. Receiver Chrishon McCray and linebacker Jordan Hall are among the established contributors who can help steady things, while Anelu Lafaele is one of the names drawing breakout buzz as Michigan State looks for impact beyond the obvious starters. For a program starting fresh under Fitzgerald, the real intrigue may come from which of those candidates turns promise into production once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Dantonios Presence Around Michigan State Says Plenty About This Era
Mark Dantonio has been around Michigan State football enough this offseason to remind people that even in retirement, some voices still carry real weight in East Lansing. The former Spartans coach has been spending time with Pat Fitzgeralds program and recently spoke to the team, a sign that his connection to the school and its football culture remains intact long after his own sideline days ended.
For Fitzgerald, having Dantonio around is more than a ceremonial touchpoint. The relationship between the two is described as respectful and beneficial, with Dantonio offering advice and motivation while backing the current leadership. In a program that has long valued continuity and identity, his presence says plenty about the kind of standards Michigan State still wants around its football operation. [Read more 🡒]