Michigan State’s roster has been turned over in a big way, and that makes the holdovers even more valuable. The Spartans lost 45 players to the transfer portal and added 32, leaving nearly half the team new in some form. In a season shaped by another coaching change, the players who stayed put are going to matter a lot if MSU is going to push for a turnaround this fall.
At the top of that group is quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, the player who may wind up defining the offense. He won me over during his four starts last season.
He played behind an offensive line that was rough at times and still found ways to make plays, delivering some impressive throws along the way. He does hold the ball too long at times and isn’t the most gifted quarterback you’ll ever see, but he’s the kind of passer who can create something out of nothing.
With three years of eligibility left, his ceiling at Michigan State is high.
The offensive line, though, has to improve around him. Conner Moore is the lone returning starter up front, and he’s expected to be at right tackle this fall after taking reps at right guard during spring practice.
That’s a spot he hasn’t played in a live college game, which makes his role even more important. He was behind center Matt Gulbin, who was drafted in the sixth round this year by the Washington Commanders, and now Moore is being asked to become one of Milivojevic’s main protectors and a leader for the unit.
One of the most important returnees on the other side of the ball is Ben Roberts, because Michigan State’s depth at defensive tackle is a real concern. Roberts transferred in from Oregon ahead of the 2024 season, and health has been an issue in both of his years with the Spartans.
When he’s on the field, though, he’s been excellent. He started six of his seven games last season and finished as the highest-graded interior defensive lineman on the roster in 2025.
MSU can’t afford to lean too heavily on the bench at that spot, which makes Roberts’ availability a major factor.
Jordan Hall belongs near the top of any list like this, too. Nikai Martinez deserves mention as a missed piece in the secondary last season, but Hall was probably Michigan State’s best player overall in 2025.
He led the team in tackles, held up well in coverage, and emerged as one of the loudest, most important leaders during a difficult year. The list of players more irreplaceable than Hall is tiny, if it exists at all.
Maybe Nick Marsh is in that conversation. Maybe Gulbin was, too.
Either way, Hall should be MSU’s top player again this season, and any added help in the linebacker room would only make his job easier.
The wide receiver room is still a question, but Chrishon McCray is the one proven name back there. He came over from Kent State last season and served as Michigan State’s starting slot receiver, though it often felt like he was underused.
He finished with 24 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns, while much of the passing game leaned on deeper shots to Nick Marsh or Omari Kelly. That limited McCray’s chances in the short and intermediate game, where he could have been a bigger factor.
Even so, McCray might be Milivojevic’s favorite target this season. That seemed to be the case in the spring game in April, and McCray also had his best game of the 2025 season against Iowa with Milivojevic at quarterback.
Michigan State is fortunate to still have him at all. McCray entered the transfer portal during the winter, but Pat Fitzgerald, Courtney Hawkins, and Nick Sheridan did enough to get him to pull out and return to East Lansing.
In Other News...
Indiana Just Raised A Question Michigan State Fans Wont Ignore
Indianas recent football surge under Curt Cignetti got another jolt with a recruiting win that has people around the Big Ten paying attention. Landing a five-star wide receiver who picked the Hoosiers over blue-chip competition is the kind of move that changes how a program is viewed, especially when it comes from a school that has not often lived in that neighborhood.
For Michigan State fans, the more interesting part is the question it raises about what a fast turnaround can look like in this league. If Indiana can sell a new vision, stack results and start winning battles against the sports heavyweights, then the same path suddenly feels more plausible in East Lansing under Pat Fitzgerald, where the next step is proving the momentum can turn into a recruiting identity. [Read more 🡒]
Tre Holloman Just Stirred Up Old Feelings For Michigan State Fans
Tre Hollomans first NBA Summer League run with the Orlando Magic was more cameo than showcase, but it still gave Michigan State fans a familiar flash. In limited minutes, the former Spartan made his debut count with a one-handed dunk that briefly put a little extra shine on his new pro chapter, while Jase Richardson was also in the mix as another ex-MSU name trying to carve out a place on the same roster.
What never materialized, though, was the reunion angle plenty of Spartans had circled. Holloman and Richardson both suited up for Orlando, but they never shared the floor together, leaving Michigan State followers to keep waiting for the kind of crossover that would have made this summer stop feel even more personal. For a fan base that still tracks Holloman closely, even a short Summer League appearance was enough to bring the old emotions back into view. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Izzo May Not Be Done Rebuilding Michigan States Frontcourt
Michigan State has already spent plenty of energy widening its 2027 recruiting board, and the frontcourt remains a clear part of that effort. Tom Izzos staff has extended offers to several guards while also getting involved with top-50 center Jadyn Jenkins, a sign the Spartans are not just chasing perimeter help but keeping an eye on size and long-term balance as the class develops.
The center spot has come a long way for Michigan State, with recent additions helping stabilize a position that needed attention not long ago. Even with that progress, the Spartans appear willing to keep shopping for another big, and that leaves open the possibility that the next wave of frontcourt recruiting could make an already improving group even deeper. [Read more 🡒]