MSU Football Fall Camp Hub: Notes, Observations, Updates
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State football is back.
The Spartans are officially starting fall camp on Thursday morning at the Skandalaris Football Center. MSU has 29 days to prepare from Thursday until its Week 1 game against Toledo on Friday, Sept. 4 (8 p.m. ET kickoff, FS1). Continue to check back here for little notes, tidbits, and links to Spartan Nation's free-to-read coverage from inside the building:
Mon., August 17 Coverage/Content
Practice Observations
- Kenny Soares Jr. and Anelu Lafaele were pretty consistently winning reps against MSU's tight ends.
- Kai Rios looked like the best blocking tight end, Carson Gulker struggled a bit with blocking
- Charles Brantley and Luka Vincic don't have any obvious restrictions, looked full-go today with pads
Pre-Practice Content
Article: 5 Potential Hidden Gems for Michigan State Football This Season
POD: 5 Potential Hidden Gems for Michigan State Football This Season
Positional Preview: Running Backs
Sun., August 16 Content
Article: Predicting MSU's Major Statistical Leaders for 2026 Season
Positional Prewiew: Quarterbacks
Article: 3 Key Duos Michigan State Football Will Rely on in 2026
Sat. August 15 Content
Article: Complete Updated MSU Depth Chart 3 Weeks From Season Opener
Article: How MSU's Camp Could Impact Program's Long-Term Future
Article: MSU Position Battles That Have Changed Most During Fall Camp
Fri., August 14 Content
Article: 5 MSU Players Gaining Ground for Starting Roles This Fall
POD: 5 MSU Players Gaining Ground for Starting Roles This Fall
Article: 3 Reasons MSU Can Make Progress in Year 1 Under Fitzgerald
Article: How Guard Shift for Conner Moore Will Impact MSU's Offense
Thu., August 13 Content
Article: Why To Buy Hype on MSU's Emerging Tight End Group
POD: Why To Buy Hype on MSU's Emerging Tight End Group
Article: Updating Projected Week 1 Starters for Michigan State's Defense
Article: One Overreaction MSU Football Fans Must Avoid Right Now
Wed., August 12 Coverage/Content
Press Conference Videos
OC Nick Sheridan
RB Cam Edwards
OL Conner Moore
Article: Risers, Fallers From Michigan State Football Fall Camp So Far
POD: Risers, Fallers From Michigan State Football Fall Camp So Far
Article: One MSU Position Battle Has Taken Some Interesting Turns
Article: Underclassmen Most Ready To Play for MSU Football This Fall
Mon., August 10 Coverage/Content
Press Conference Videos
DC Joe Rossi
STC LeVar Woods
CB Tre Bell
EDGE Kenny Soares Jr.
Key Practice Observations
Recommand in-depth article: 3 Key Observations from Latest MSU Football Practice
- Heard Hawkins order "starters" to line up for a drill, and that was followed by Chrishon McCray, Rodney Bullard Jr., and Charles Taplin.
- Eli Coenen looked like the quickest and most violent defensive tackle during one drill
- NiJhay Burt getting praise from coaches during media observation period of practice
- Offensive line combo (left to right) of Murawski, Moore, Fraley, Sharpe, and Rakeem Johnson used.
Pre-Practice Content
Article: Updated MSU Projected Week 1 Offensive Starting Lineup
Article: 3 Things We've Learned About MSU's Defense in Fall Camp
Article: Biggest Questions Headed Into First Full Week of MSU Camp
Podcast: Biggest Questions Headed Into First Full Week of MSU's Fall Camp
Sun., August 9 Content
Article: 3 Things We've Learned About MSU's New Offense So Far
Article: Why MSU's Soares Earning No. 1 Jersey Number Is Intriguing
Article: 5 Michigan State Transfers Who May Fall Short of Expectations
Sat., August 8 Content
Article: One Assistant Coach Who Will Quietly Shape MSU Under Fitzgerald
Article: Every Starting Spot Up for Grabs During MSU's Fall Camp
Article: The Biggest Surprise From MSU Football's First Practice
Friday, August 7 Content
Article: MSU's Pat Fitzgerald Uses First Practice To Set 'Championship Standard'
Article: 5 MSU Players Whose Hype Rose After First Fall Practice
Podcast: Key Takeaways from MSU Football's First Practice
Thursday, August 6 Coverage
- Tight end Jayden Savoury looked pretty good and fluid. He and Brennan Parachek seem to be the top two tight ends in the room. I also like the way true freshman Eddie Whiting moves.
- Cornerback Charles Brantley is switching to uniform No. 4.
- Conner Moore was working on the left side of the offensive line. The drill only featured three linemen, but he was working to the left of a center snapping the ball.
- The first group of receivers repping one drill was Chrishon McCray, Rodney Bullard Jr., and Bryson Williams.
Press Conference Videos From August 6
HC Pat Fitzgerald
QB Alessio Milivojevic
LT Ben Murawski
S Nikai Martinez
Biggest Storylines Ahead of Camp
Who Can Emerge in WR Corps?
The biggest question facing Michigan State ahead of fall camp will be which pass-catchers can break out and grab starting spots. MSU is replacing both Nick Marsh and Omari Kelly, the team's top two wideouts last season. The Spartans are bringing back starting slot receiver Chrishon McCray, but it feels like anybody's game for the spots being left behind by Marsh and Kelly.
Part of this battle has to be settled off the field, too. Wideout Rodney Bullard Jr. is still awaiting a decision from the NCAA on a waiver he applied for during the winter. Bullard has played only three college seasons, but there was a year at Valdosta State where he was just a regular student. He'll be one of the contenders for a starting role if he is given the additional year of eligibility that he seeks.
Returning second-year player Charles Taplin, true freshman Samson Gash, Notre Dame transfer KK Smith, and Michigan transfer Fredrick Moore make a group of four other contenders whose eligibility is not in question. Taplin and Bullard were the two starters during April's spring game, but those statuses are hardly secure.
Second-years Braylon Collier and Bryson Williams, as well as Jackson State transfer Jameel Gardner Jr., are some wild cards to be aware of. Gardner was the third-leading receiver at Jackson State last year, Williams got into four games and got three touches (two rushes, one reception), and Collier only made one appearance.
Pass-Rushing Questions
Michigan State is also looking for another jump from its room of pass-rushers. The Spartans were towards the bottom of the Big Ten in sacks last year, and they didn't add a ton of proven sack production from the transfer portal. Buffalo transfer Dion Crawford has the most with 12.0 career sacks, but he's going to play linebacker for MSU and probably won't get quite as many opportunities to get after the quarterback as he did at his previous stop.
The two rush ends to know for Michigan State are Kenny Soares Jr. and Anelu Lafaele. Soares is a transfer from NC State who is switching from linebacker; he has 3.0 career sacks, with only half a sack last year. Lafaele is entering his second year with the program after transferring from Wisconsin; he got off to a quick start last year before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
Weber State transfer Keahnist Thompson and SEMO transfer Trey Lisle are two other notable additions. Thompson had 4.0 sacks in nine games last year, including a 1.5-sack day against Arizona. Lisle has some very intriguing potential with his 6'6", 254-pound frame, but he may end up being a longer-term prospect out of the portal for MSU's staff.
Isaac Smith is also back for another year with the Spartans. He transferred to Michigan State from Texas Tech in the spring portal last offseason and started all 12 of MSU's games last year. Smith made 26 tackles and had one sack a year after having 2.5 for the Red Raiders.
TE Competition
The tight ends are another point of intrigue for Michigan State this fall. MSU has four or five unproven tight ends in the running for some playing time. The top two from last year, Jack Velling and Michael Masunas, both left the team this offseason. Activity in the transfer portal was light at the position, too, with the Spartans only adding Ferris State transfer (and all-around athlete) Carson Gulker.
Gulker won't be a traditional tight end for Michigan State. He's played quarterback and running back in the past, and there are endless ways offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan can utilize his skill set. Back with the team are Brennan Parachek, Kai Rios, and Jayden Savoury. Those three players caught just two passes combined last year, so there isn't much in-game production to go off of entering camp.
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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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