Michigan State Spartans: 5 Players to Watch in 2026
By Owain Jones
Michigan State has spent the last few seasons searching for consistency and an identity.
In comes Pat Fitzgerald, who inherits a program that won only one Big Ten game in 2025 and too often looked unsure of what it wanted to be. His best teams at the Northwestern Wildcats were never built around star power. They were physical, disciplined, and fundamentally sound.
That is the standard he has been hired to restore in East Lansing.
The wins may not come immediately, but what matters first is whether Michigan State begins to resemble a Fitzgerald football team. One that controls the line of scrimmage, protects the football, and competes for four quarters every Saturday.
These five players will tell us how quickly that transformation is taking shape.
The quickest way to change the personality of an offense is to run the football better.
That is exactly why Cam Edwards could become one of Michigan State’s most important additions.
The former UConn Huskies running back arrives after three consecutive seasons as the Huskies’ leading rusher, culminating in a career-best 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025. More importantly, he proved he could shoulder the workload of a feature back, handling 210 carries without his production tailing off.
Michigan State averaged only 3.8 yards per carry last season, leaving the offense behind the chains far too often. Fitzgerald has always wanted to build from the ground game, and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan will be hoping Edwards gives the Spartans exactly that foundation it needs.
Jordan Hall has the potential to be the personality of the Michigan State defense.
The middle linebacker captained the Spartans in 2025, led the team with 88 tackles, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition despite playing behind a defense that spent far too much time on the field.
With Joe Rossi remaining as defensive coordinator, expect Hall to give the leadership and structure to a Fitzgerald team whose roots are based in linebacker toughness.
If Michigan State becomes more difficult to play against this season, expect Hall to be at the centre of it.
Experience became one of Michigan State’s biggest priorities this offseason, particularly in the secondary.
Tre Bell answers that need immediately.
After stops at Lindenwood Lions and Iowa State Cyclones, Bell arrives with 32 collegiate games under his belt. He tied for the team lead with two interceptions at Iowa State while adding four tackles for loss, evidence of a corner who enjoys getting involved rather than sitting back in coverage.
That physical style should fit naturally into Rossi’s defense.
Michigan State gave opposing quarterbacks too many comfortable throws in 2025. The 6’2”, 200-pound redshirt senior has the experience, tackling ability, and competitive edge to help change that.
Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. And that is especially true in the Big Ten.
And that is why the transfer of Eli Coenen becomes so important.
The former Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman brings size at 6’6” and 287 pounds, experience, and valuable conference snaps to a front that badly needed greater depth.
Fitzgerald’s team needed greater physicality and discipline, and that is what Coenen will bring. He doesn’t need to be a star. He needs to be consistent.
Instead, watch whether Michigan State holds the point of attack more consistently, forces longer second downs, and allows its linebackers to play cleaner football.
Michigan State struggled to create explosive plays last season.
KK Smith transfers from Notre Dame Fighting Irish with only 11 career receptions, but there were enough flashes to convince the Spartans that there is considerably more to unlock. Two touchdown catches from only eight receptions in 2025 hint at the vertical threat Michigan State lacked too often last season, and that needs to be replaced with Nick Marsh leaving the program.
Sheridan’s arrival also gives Smith a clean opportunity to carve out a meaningful role from the start.
OWAIN JONES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL & NFL DRAFT ANALYST
OWAIN jones COVERS EVERYTHING college football & NFL DRAFT. COMING WITH PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE, OWAIN was PREVIOUSLY a writer for pfsn and WAS THE NFL DRAFT EDITOR AT NINETY-NINE YARDS WHERE HE CREATED DRAFT TALK. YOU CAN FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @OwainJonesCFB