One MSU Position Battle Has Taken Some Interesting Turns

The Spartans' offensive line may have a slightly unexpected combo to start the year.

Michigan State mascot Sparty carries a flag during the Spartans' game against UCLA on Oct. 11, 2025. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

Improvement for Michigan State this year starts with the play on the offensive line.

There is a reason that MSU and new head coach Pat Fitzgerald hit the reset button on the unit this past offseason, also saying that "10-11" players were in the running for starting roles there during Big Ten Football Media Days. The Spartans allowed 37 sacks last season, the second-most in the Big Ten. Only one starter from last season is back (Conner Moore), and even he looks like he's taking on a different role.

MSU's New Potential Starting Five

Michigan State's Conner Moore, left, blocks Eli Coenen during the football Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

While observing practice on Monday, one drill seemed to reveal the starting lineup for the Week 1 game vs. Toledo, had it been that day. It featured three newcomers from the portal and two players who returned from last season's team.

There stood left tackle Ben Murawski, left guard Conner Moore, center Trent Fraley, right guard Nick Sharpe, and then right tackle Rakeem Johnson. Murawski's and Fraley's spots were essentially givens -- both were pretty locked into their starting roles at those positions from the moment they committed to Michigan State through the transfer portal.

Interesting Movements

Michigan State's Nick Sharpe, center, runs a drill during the football Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The other three spots didn't feel quite as certain, though. Sharpe's placement at right guard is probably the least surprising of the three. He played left guard last season while at South Carolina and during MSU's spring scrimmage in April, but he played exclusively right guard during his four years at Wake Forest. He was coached there by o-line coach Nick Tabacca, and now that they're together again in East Lansing, it wouldn't be stunning if Tabacca moved him back there.

Moore's move to left guard is probably the most intriguing. He wasn't an exceptional right tackle for Michigan State last year, but I thought he had done well enough that, when he returned in the offseason, I presumed the new staff would keep him where he was. Moore has played 175 snaps at left guard in his career (compared to 2,214 at offensive tackle), all of which happened during the 2024 season at Montana State.

Michigan State offensive lineman Rakeem Johnson goes through drills during the first day of fall camp on Thursday, August 6, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

Johnson being the one to fill in at right tackle is also interesting. He was starting at the spot during the spring game (Moore was at right guard), but he still seems to be ahead of promising incoming transfer Robert Wright Jr.

Wright started an entire season at right tackle last season at Georgia Southern and didn't commit a penalty. Johnson, whose versatility has been a great tool of his to reach the field thus far, has played just 90 snaps at right tackle in his career. Most of his snaps last season were at right guard, where he started the final four games of MSU's season.