5 MSU Players Who Could Benefit from Potential '5-in-5' Rule
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A massive rule change might impact college athletics soon.
The NCAA is currently in the process of changing the maximum number of years somebody can play college sports from four to five. This would basically eliminate redshirts and make eligibility rules more based on age.
Such a rule change would basically give those who have not redshirted in the past an additional year of eligibility.
These are five notable players on the current Michigan State football roster who could potentially be impacted positively by the change:
LB Jordan Hall
The biggest name on the roster who could end up getting an additional season is the linebacker Jordan Hall. He's perhaps the best defender on the team right now, having led MSU with 88 total tackles and three forced fumbles during the 2025 season.
He's a true senior right now, but going to '5-in-5' would extend Hall's eligibility. There is a good chance Hall could be set on going to the NFL after the 2026 season, but the odds of a return for 2027 are not zero, after all. We'll just have to see what transpires on and off the field for Hall before truly thinking about that possibility a ton, though.
LB Dion Crawford
One of the players who will be playing next to Hall on the field could also be a beneficiary. Buffalo transfer Dion Crawford is a true senior during his first official season with the Spartans. He's expected to contribute right away after he made 81 tackles last season with the Bulls.
Crawford was also a third-team all-MAC honoree in 2024 after he finished second in the conference with 8.5 sacks. He also totaled 15.0 tackles for loss that season. Getting more than one season from Crawford out of the portal would definitely be a bit of a welcome surprise for Michigan State.
P Rhys Dakin
MSU's new starting punter would also stand to benefit from the rule change. Rhys Dakin, who transferred into the program from Iowa this offseason, is a true junior this coming year. Going to '5-in-5' would stretch his remaining years of eligibility from two to three.
That's as many years as Ryan Eckley was the starting punter for the Spartans before he wound up getting picked by the Baltimore Ravens in this year's NFL Draft. Dakin is also an above-average Big Ten punter.
He's averaged 43.9 yards per punt thus far, getting second-team all-Big Ten honors from the media in 2024 and becoming an honorable mention all-conference choice last season. Adding that additional year would give Michigan State some additional security at the position for the future.
NB Michael Richard
New nickelback Michael Richard is another true senior who could get another year. He transferred in this past offseason from Louisiana Tech, where he intercepted three passes during the 2025 season, also making five tackles for loss. Richard was also the Conference USA Freshman of the Year back in 2023.
He's bringing more than 1,500 snaps of experience on defense to the Spartans this coming season. Keeping Richard around would undoubtedly be a nice victory for MSU's future at the safety position. Even if '5-in-5' goes into effect, free safety Nikai Martinez will be on his way out because this will be his fifth year playing college football. Aveon Grose will also be out, and Maine transfer Devin Vaught won't gain anything as a redshirt junior.
RB Marvis Parrish
Getting a running back who you know is going to be productive with four years of eligibility remaining is a pretty ideal situation. That's what the Spartans could end up having with Marvis Parrish, who is entering his true sophomore season.
Parrish was Western Kentucky's lead running back last season, totaling 779 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns.
Switching the eligibility model would increase his years of eligibility back up to the original four, as if that productive season at the Group of Five level had never happened. UConn transfer Cam Edwards is expected to be the RB1 this coming season, but he'll be out of eligibility whether the rule changes or not.
That's what really opens up the opportunity for Parrish. He won't be the top back this coming season, but after a year as an RB2 or RB3, he might be in line to take over for a while.
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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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