Everything just changed. If you fell asleep during the 2025 season and woke up today looking at the Michigan State depth chart, you’d probably think you were looking at a different team.
The Jonathan Smith era is over. It was fast, it was messy, and honestly, it just didn't take. A 4-15 record over two years will do that to a coach. Now, with Pat Fitzgerald taking the reins in a move that shocked the Big Ten, the Spartans are in the middle of a total philosophical overhaul. We aren't just talking about a few new faces; we're talking about a complete identity swap.
The Quarterback Room: The King is Dead, Long Live the King
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Aidan Chiles is gone.
For a year and a half, he was the "savior." He followed Smith from Oregon State, showed flashes of absolute brilliance—like that 2025 stretch where he stopped turning the ball over and started gashing defenses with his legs—but the consistency never arrived. After Smith was fired in late 2025, Chiles did what everyone expected and hit the portal. He's at Northwestern now. It's weird, I know.
So, who is the guy now?
Basically, it's the Alessio Milivojevic show. If you weren't paying attention late last season, Milivojevic stepped in when Chiles was injured and, frankly, played better. He threw 10 touchdowns in nine appearances and looked way more comfortable in the pocket. Fitzgerald has already made it clear that Milivojevic is his guy. He’s got that "run it back" energy on social media, and the staff is surrounding him with a "win-now" framework.
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Behind him, the depth is... thin. We're looking at Leo Hannan and maybe a late portal addition, but make no mistake: this is Alessio's team.
Offensive Line and the Trench Rebuild
You can't talk about the Michigan State depth chart without mentioning the massive influx of transfer talent on the line. Last year, the line was a sieve. Chiles took 21 sacks in eight games. You can’t win like that.
Fitzgerald is an old-school line guy. He brought in Conner Moore, a massive tackle from the portal, to anchor the left side. Then there's Matt Gulbin, the Wake Forest transfer who brings some much-needed veteran stability to the interior.
- Left Tackle: Conner Moore (The big-ticket portal get)
- Left Guard: Luke Vincic / Cole Dellinger (The battle of the young guys)
- Center: Matt Gulbin (The veteran voice)
- Right Guard: Andrew Dennis
- Right Tackle: Stanton Ramil
It’s a group that’s finally starting to look like a Big Ten unit instead of a patchwork quilt. They’re bigger, meaner, and hopefully, they can actually hold a block for more than two seconds.
Weapons on the Outside
Nick Marsh is still that dude. If there is one thing Spartans fans can be happy about, it's that Marsh didn't bail when the coaching staff flipped. He is the alpha in the receiver room.
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Omari Kelly and Alante Brown provide the speed, but keep an eye on Rodney Bullard Jr. He’s a transfer who has been drawing a ton of buzz in early workouts for his ability to create separation in short-order situations. At tight end, Jack Velling remains a reliable safety valve for a young quarterback. He’s essentially a professional at finding the soft spot in a zone.
The Defensive Identity Shift
Under Smith, the defense was... fine. Under Fitzgerald, it's going to be aggressive.
The Michigan State depth chart on defense is headlined by Jordan Hall at linebacker. He’s the heart of this unit. If he stays healthy, he’s an All-Big Ten caliber player who can erase mistakes made by the secondary. Speaking of the secondary, Nikai Martinez and Malik Spencer are the anchors back there. They’ve seen a lot of football and won’t be rattled easily.
On the defensive line, keep your eyes on Jalen Thompson. He’s expected to be the primary pass rusher this year. The coaches have been raving about his twitchiness off the edge. If he can turn those "pressures" into actual sacks, this defense becomes scary very quickly.
What Most People Get Wrong
Most fans think a coaching change means a "Year 0" rebuild where you expect to lose. That’s not how Fitzgerald operates. He’s looking at this roster and seeing a group that was poorly optimized.
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The biggest misconception is that losing Aidan Chiles was a death blow. Sure, you lost a four-star talent with NFL upside. But you gained a quarterback in Milivojevic who actually fits a traditional, pro-style Big Ten system. Sometimes, a lower ceiling with a much higher floor is exactly what a struggling program needs to stop the bleeding.
Actionable Insights for Spartan Fans
If you’re tracking the Michigan State depth chart heading into the spring and summer, here is what you actually need to watch:
- The Backup QB Battle: If Milivojevic goes down, the season is effectively over unless Leo Hannan takes a massive leap. Watch for one more veteran portal addition here.
- Right Guard Stability: The right side of the line is still a bit of a rotation. Whoever wins that job in August will determine how well the run game functions.
- The Nickel Position: Armorion Smith is currently slated there, but the staff is looking for more ball-hawking ability. Watch for Andrew Brinson IV to push for snaps.
The roster is more talented than the 4-15 record suggests. The 2026 season isn't about "rebuilding"—it's about finally seeing what these players can do in a system that doesn't ask them to be something they aren't.
Monitor the post-spring transfer portal window specifically for a veteran defensive tackle. The Spartans have the edge rushers, but they are still one "big body" away from being able to stop the elite rushing attacks of Ohio State and Oregon. If they land a 300-pounder in May, buy your bowl game tickets early.