Why to Be Confident in MSU's Replacements of NFL Draft Picks

The Spartans have done a good job at replacing their top NFL Draft talent this year.

Apr 26, 2025; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa’s Rhys Dakin (9) looks on during a spring NCAA football open practice at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Cress/For the Register | Joseph Cress/For the Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Replacing NFL draft picks, really, should not be this simple.

It goes without saying, but those who make their way to the NFL are usually the best players on the team. Michigan State had two players get picked during this weekend's NFL Draft. Center Matt Gulbin went in the sixth round at No. 209 overall to the Washington Commanders. Just two picks later, punter Ryan Eckley was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens.

Replacing Gulbin

Michigan State center Matt Gulbin gets ready to throw a block during the Spartans' game against the USC Trojans on Sept. 20, 2025. | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

The process for replacing the holes left behind by Gulbin and Eckley has been very straightforward, actually. MSU turned to the transfer portal and found a couple of pretty worthy replacements for both of them.

At center, it's North Dakota State transfer Trent Fraley. He's the son of Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley, and he was also the top center in the FCS last season, winning the subdivision's Rimington Award.

April 18, 2026; East Lansing, Mich.; Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Trent Fraley readies to snap the ball during MSU's "Spring Showcase" at Spartan Stadium. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

Fraley is a bit undersized at 6-foot-1, which might limit his NFL prospects in the future, but he can still be a very productive player at the Big Ten level. Two seasons ago, the Spartans got through just fine with Oregon State transfer Tanner Miller, who was also on the smaller size for a Big Ten offensive lineman at 6-foot-2. He was Michigan State's highest-graded offensive lineman that season.

It's still pretty big shoes to fill for Fraley. Michigan State has had an interior offensive lineman be drafted in each of the last three years. Gulbin is the highest-drafted center from MSU since Brian Allen went 111th overall in 2018 to the Los Angeles Rams.

Replacing Eckley

Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley (96) punts against Michigan during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Spartans stayed within the conference for their next punter. Eckley marked back-to-back starting punters for Michigan State getting drafted, and there is a chance that MSU can make it three in a row with Iowa transfer Rhys Dakin.

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Dakin has already established himself as one of the better punters in the conference. Dakin was an honorable mention for all-Big Ten last season, and he was also a media second-team all-Big Ten honoree during his freshman season. He's averaged 43.9 yards per punt across his college career to this point.

Iowa punter Rhys Dakin speaks to media members June 25, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Special teams coordinator LeVar Woods is a big reason to believe that Dakin can reach the NFL level. He's one of the top special teams coaches in the nation. Woods has also helped develop punter Tory Taylor, who went in the fourth round at 122nd overall of the 2024 draft. That's the second-highest a punter has been picked since 2013.

Michigan State's assistant head coach/special teams coordinator LeVar Woods talks with Tarik Ahmetbasic, left, and other on special teams during spring football practice on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images