Everything changed in East Lansing on a Sunday in late 2025. One minute, Jonathan Smith was trying to explain a winless Big Ten season, and the next, he was out. Then came Pat Fitzgerald. Yeah, that Pat Fitzgerald.
If you follow Michigan State football recruiting, you know the vibe shifted instantly. It had to. The program was staring at a total collapse of the 2026 class while simultaneously dealing with a three-year NCAA probation hangover from the Mel Tucker era. Honestly, it’s a miracle the whole thing didn't just implode.
The Fitzgerald Effect on the 2026 Class
Recruiting isn't just about stars. It’s about trust. When Smith was fired, the 2026 commits were understandably spooked. Samson Gash, the four-star wideout from Novi who is basically the crown jewel of the in-state crop, didn't sign his Letter of Intent in December. He’s still "committed" but he’s flirting with Alabama. That’s the kind of drama that keeps fans up at night.
But Fitzgerald did something interesting. He stopped the bleeding.
He locked down guys like Collin Campbell, the 6-foot-7 mountain of an offensive tackle from Arizona. Campbell is a top-200 national recruit and could have gone anywhere. Instead, he posted on social media about feeling the "culture" Fitzgerald was bringing. Then you've got Kayd Coffman, the quarterback from East Kentwood. Keeping a high-end local QB during a coaching change is usually impossible. Somehow, the Spartans did it.
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Current status of the 2026 haul:
- Rankings: Currently sitting around No. 45 nationally (Rivals) and mid-pack in the Big Ten.
- The Core: 18 high school signees officially in the boat as of the early period.
- Key Flips: Jack Ziarko (IOL) from Miami (Ohio) and Jonathan Granby (ATH) from Georgia Southern.
- The Specialist Surge: LeVar Woods, the special teams coordinator, just landed Trey Serauskis, the No. 2 long snapper in the country. If you think long snappers don't matter, you haven't watched enough Spartan football lately.
Navigating the NCAA Probation Minefield
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. In November 2025, the NCAA dropped the hammer. Three years of probation. Vacated wins from 2022 to 2024. A $30,000 fine plus 1.5% of the budget.
The real sting for Michigan State football recruiting? Restrictions on "recruiting-person days" and off-campus contacts.
This means Fitzgerald and his staff have to be surgical. They can’t afford to waste a single visit on a "maybe." They are operating with a smaller margin for error than Michigan or Ohio State. It’s why you’re seeing a heavier focus on the transfer portal to fill immediate gaps while they try to stabilize the high school pipeline.
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The Portal is the Lifeblood Right Now
January 2026 has been all about the portal. The staff is currently favorites to land Kenneth Williams, a return specialist and running back from Nebraska. They also just brought in Nick Duzansky, a transfer long snapper from Oregon, to compete with the freshman Serauskis.
It’s a "win-now" mentality because, frankly, the fans won't wait for a four-year rebuild. Fitzgerald is leaning into his Big Ten roots, targeting "hard-nosed" players who fit the old-school Spartan Dawg identity. You've got guys like tight end Eddie Whiting (6-foot-6) and offensive tackle Tristan Comer who look like they were built in a lab specifically to block in a cold November game at Spartan Stadium.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Class
The biggest misconception is that this class is a "lost cause" because of the coaching change. It’s actually the opposite. This group is the foundation of the Fitzgerald era.
If they can somehow convince Samson Gash to stay home and sign in February, it’s a massive win. If he leaves? It hurts, but the depth on the offensive line with Campbell, Bickel, and Ziarko suggests the staff is prioritizing the trenches. That’s a classic Fitzgerald move.
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The "selective strategy" that Jonathan Smith started—focusing on high commitment rates from campus visits—is being evolved. Fitzgerald is more aggressive. He’s living on the road. He’s hitting the high schools in Detroit and Grand Rapids harder than the previous staff did. He knows that to beat the probation restrictions, he has to win the backyard first.
Actionable Outlook for Spartan Fans
Keep your eyes on the February signing window. That is the final stand for the 2026 cycle.
- Watch the Gash Watch: If Samson Gash signs elsewhere, the Spartans need to pivot to a portal receiver immediately.
- Monitor the 2027 In-State Targets: Names like Myles Smith (the No. 1 recruit in MI for 2027) are already taking unofficial visits. Getting him on campus in January is a huge signal of intent.
- Special Teams Stability: With LeVar Woods staying on, expect the specialists to be the highest-rated part of the class relative to their positions.
Michigan State is currently a program in transition, playing with one hand tied behind its back due to NCAA sanctions. Yet, the 2026 class remains top-50. If Fitzgerald can squeeze a bowl game out of this roster next year, the 2027 class will likely be the one that truly "soars." For now, it's about holding the line.