MSU Adds Late 2026 PWO Commitment From Running Back
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Since taking over the program, new Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff have hit the ground running on the high school recruiting trail. While most of the Spartans’ energy went to the 2027 cycle, they also continued to monitor a few prospects in the 2026 class.
Although almost every prospect in the 2026 class signed with a school during the early signing period in December, a few remained uncommitted heading into the February signing period. One of those prospects is an in-state running back who committed to the Spartans as a preferred walk-on (PWO) on Wednesday.
Spartans Secure Commitment From PWO 2026 Running Back
On Feb. 4, Michigan State announced on X that it had secured a commitment from Cedric Williams, a 2026 running back recruit from Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi, Michigan.
Keeping a state champ home 🏆
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) February 4, 2026
Welcome to the Green and White! @CedWilliamsjr_ pic.twitter.com/MiD0ybS7Ss
The previous Michigan State staff had offered Williams in October, and the new staff under Fitzgerald re-offered him as a PWO in late January. Although the young running back had interest from some Division II schools, including Saginaw Valley State, he ultimately decided to join the Spartans’ 2026 class.
Williams isn't the only Detroit Catholic Central star to sign with the Spartans, as his teammate, four-star wide receiver Samson Gash, also officially joined Michigan State's 2026 class on Wednesday.
While Williams isn’t a highly touted recruit and doesn’t hold a star rating from 247Sports or Rivals, he’s still a talented running back who’s coming off an impressive senior season.
According to his X, Williams rushed for 1,261 yards and 13 touchdowns on 190 carries in 2025, helping Detroit Catholic Central win an MHSAA Division I State Championship. He isn’t the biggest running back, standing 5’11” and weighing 185 pounds, but his production speaks for itself, and he could become a contributor for the Spartans at some point in his career.
When Fitzgerald took over the program, Michigan State’s 2026 class was, for the most part, set in stone. However, he and his staff continued targeting some underrated recruits over the past month, and Williams is a solid addition to the class.
With the addition of Williams, Michigan State’s 2026 high school recruiting class now ranks 47th nationally, according to 247Sports, which isn’t bad given the turmoil the program has faced over the past few months.
It’s hard to say exactly what Williams’ role will be over the course of his career with the Spartans, but at the very least, he should bring both talent and depth to Michigan State’s running back room.
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Max Dorsey serves as the Western United States College Recruiting Beat Writer On SI. He graduated from the prestigious Syracuse University – S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Before that, he worked for the Pro Football Network and was part of the recruiting department for Syracuse University's football program.