Glancing at Michigan State's WR Room Early in the Offseason
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The passing game is going to look a lot different for Michigan State football in 2026.
MSU is set to get starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic back, but the Spartans are going to be losing their top two wide receivers from 2025 and their top tight end. The status of wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins is still in flux, but his track record of developing receivers definitely makes him a candidate to be retained by Pat Fitzgerald.
Let's take a look at Michigan State's wide receiver room, as it stands right now, before the transfer portal opens.
Notable Depatures
Nick Marsh
The crusher thus far was the Dec. 1 announcement from Nick Marsh that he would be entering the transfer portal. Marsh was Michigan State's leading receiver as both a true freshman and sophomore, and will likely reach the NFL after one season at another school.
Marsh didn't have the big jump into becoming a dominant WR1 that some hoped for this past season. Calling it disappointing would be quite harsh, but it definitely wasn't overwhelming, either. Still, replacing him as the top X receiver will be a very tall task.
Omari Kelly
The other main contributor MSU must do without is its Z receiver, Omari Kelly. He only spent one season in East Lansing following stops at Auburn and Middle Tennessee State.
Kelly finished with 47 catches, 626 yards, and two touchdowns. His most notable play was likely the game-sealing touchdown on a fourth down during the season finale against Maryland.
Other Departures
Also exiting the program is Alante Brown, though his absence will mostly be felt on special teams. He didn't catch a pass, but returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Maryland and had some big returns against Boston College.
Former Division II Valdosta State transfer Rodney Bullard Jr. is also listed as a redshirt senior, but his eligibility situation is a little more complex. This year was only Bullard's third where he's seen the field, meaning there is a chance he could get another year of eligibility. When he entered the portal last year, he said he had "1-2 years of eligibility" remaining.
Key Potential Returners
Chrishon McCray
Michigan State's top receiver with some eligibility remaining is former Kent State transfer Chrishon McCray. He finished with 24 catches, 330 yards, and three scores.
McCray usually worked out of the slot this past season, but has the chance to move out wide with the departures of Marsh and Kelly. That's where a solid majority of his snaps came from, according to Pro Football Focus, when he was Kent State's leading receiver in both 2023 and 2024.
Evan Boyd
Another potential riser for next season is another one of the Spartans' transfer portal pickups from last season, Evan Boyd. He began his career at Central Michigan, where he was the Chippewas' leading receiver in 2024 through eight games, before suffering a season-ending injury.
Boyd only caught three passes for 54 yards this past season, but he received at least one offensive snap in every game in '25 except for the Boston College game.
Other WRs on Roster
Atticus Carridine (R-So.), Shawn Foster (R-So.), Jack Yanachik (R-So.), Bryson Williams (Fr.), Braylon Collier (Fr.), Charles Taplin (Fr.), Nick Hardy (Fr.)
Incoming Recruits
Signed: Zachary Washington (No. 789 overall), Rai'shawn Elmore (No. 1,498)
MSU also has the verbal commitment from four-star Samson Gash (No. 292 overall), but he is being pursued by other schools and won't sign with a school until February.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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