If you’ve been scrolling through Spartan message boards lately, it’s basically a fever dream of roster turnover and coaching transitions. Honestly, keeping up with the msu football transfer portal right now feels like trying to read a map while driving 80 mph in a blizzard. One day you’re high on a four-star commit, and the next, that same player is wearing a different colored jersey on your Twitter feed. It’s chaotic.
But here is the thing: the 2026 offseason isn't just "business as usual" for Michigan State. It’s a total identity reset.
With the departure of Jonathan Smith after a rocky two-year stint and the arrival of Pat Fitzgerald, the roster is in a state of absolute flux. We aren't just talking about a few depth pieces leaving; we are looking at a fundamental overhaul of the starting lineup. If you try to draw a depth chart today, it's going to be full of holes and question marks.
The Massive Exodus: Why Everyone Is Leaving
Let’s be real—the numbers are staggering. As of mid-January 2026, over 40 players have entered the portal.
It started with a gut punch. Nick Marsh, the standout wide receiver who was essentially the heartbeat of the offense, headed to Indiana. Then you have Aidan Chiles, the quarterback who followed Smith from Oregon State. His tenure was a rollercoaster—3,807 passing yards and 32 total touchdowns, but also 14 interceptions. Now, he’s at Northwestern.
It’s weird, right? Next year, MSU has to play against three of its former quarterbacks: Noah Kim (Eastern Michigan), Katin Houser (Illinois), and Chiles. Talk about an awkward family reunion.
The losses didn't stop at the flashy positions. The trenches took a massive hit. Stanton Ramil, the starting left tackle, bolted for Auburn. Ashton Lepo is off to Oklahoma State. Even the special teams weren't safe—both long snappers, Jack Wills and Kaden Schickel, found new homes at Nebraska and Vanderbilt, respectively.
📖 Related: Formula One Points Table Explained: Why the Math Matters More Than the Racing
When a coaching change happens, you expect some "attrition," but this feels like a demolition.
Pat Fitzgerald’s Portal Strategy: Finding the "Fitz"
So, what is the new guy doing? Pat Fitzgerald didn’t just walk into a clean house; he walked into a renovation project where the previous owners took the copper piping.
His strategy so far has been remarkably specific. Instead of just chasing every four-star name, he’s targeting veteran production, especially on defense. He’s basically rebuilding the linebacker room from scratch.
Look at who he’s brought in since the window opened on January 2:
- Caleb Wheatland (Auburn/Maryland): A veteran who led Maryland in sacks before a brief stint at Auburn. He’s the kind of high-motor guy Fitzgerald loves.
- Dion Crawford (Buffalo): This guy is a pass-rushing specialist. 12 sacks over the last two seasons.
- Cam Stodghill (Albany): An interesting hybrid player. He can play safety or linebacker and recorded 65 tackles in just seven games last year.
- Kenny Soares Jr. (NC State): More veteran depth for a room that was looking dangerously thin.
It’s clear Fitzgerald is prioritizing the "toughness" metric. He wants guys who have played significant snaps at the Power 4 or high-level G5 level. He also managed a massive "win" by keeping Alessio Milivojevic on campus. Milivojevic showed flashes toward the end of the 2025 season after Chiles was benched, and he’s currently the projected QB1 for 2026.
The "Boomerang" Effect: Players Coming Back
One of the strangest trends in the msu football transfer portal this year is the "withdraw and return."
👉 See also: El Paso Locomotive FC Standings: Why the 2025 Surge Changes Everything for 2026
Chrishon McCray is the prime example. He entered the portal on New Year's Eve, causing a minor panic among fans who saw him as one of the few reliable weapons left. Then, on January 6, he announced he was staying. Rustin Young, a promising offensive lineman, did the same thing.
This suggests that Fitzgerald and his staff are actually doing some heavy lifting behind the scenes. They aren't just looking for new players; they are re-recruiting their own locker room.
And then you have Charles Brantley. After a year at Miami, the cornerback decided to come back to East Lansing. It’s a rare move, but it provides a veteran presence in a secondary that desperately needs it.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Portal
There’s this narrative that the portal is "killing" the program. Kinda. But it’s also the only way to survive.
People look at the 40+ departures and think Michigan State is heading for a winless season. They forget that the portal works both ways. Yes, you lose a Nick Marsh, which hurts. But you also get the chance to replace underperforming starters with "hungry" veterans from the FCS or Group of Five who have already proven they can play.
For example, the addition of Trent Fraley, an offensive lineman from North Dakota State, might not move the needle for casual fans. But if you know ball, you know NDSU linemen are technically sound and physically mean. That’s a "glue" signing.
✨ Don't miss: Duke Football Recruiting 2025: Manny Diaz Just Flipped the Script in Durham
The biggest misconception is that stars win games in the portal era. They don't. Roster balance does. Smith’s downfall was arguably his inability to use the portal to fix the offensive line and secondary. Fitzgerald seems to be attacking those specific weaknesses with surgical precision.
The 2026 Roster Reality Check
Where does this leave the Spartans?
Honestly, the defense should be okay. Between the returning Jordan Hall and Brady Pretzlaff, plus the influx of transfer linebackers, that unit has a high floor.
The offense is the real wild card. Milivojevic has the arm, but who is he throwing to? Beyond McCray and maybe Jaron Glover, the receiver room is basically a blank slate. The running back situation is equally murky after Makhi Frazier left (he’s currently being courted by Indiana and Oregon). Getting Cam Edwards from UConn was a start, but they need more.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
If you're trying to track the msu football transfer portal and actually understand where this team is going, stop looking at the "star ratings" of the transfers and start looking at these three things:
- Snap Counts: Did the transfer start at their previous school? Fitzgerald is prioritizing "played-in" experience over "potential."
- The February Signing Period: Keep an eye on four-star wide receiver Samson Gash. He didn't sign in December and is flirting with Alabama. If Fitz can land him, it changes the entire outlook of the offense.
- The Punter/Kicker Situation: It sounds boring, but losing an All-Big Ten punter like Rhys Dakin (who transferred in from Iowa) and kicker Martin Connington (to Kansas) is a huge deal. Watch for late portal additions in the specialist room.
The dust hasn't settled yet. The portal window officially closed its main January run, but the fallout—and the late-night commitment graphics—will continue through the spring.
Pay close attention to the offensive line development. If the Spartans can't protect Milivojevic, it won't matter how many "tough" linebackers Fitzgerald brings in. The success of the 2026 season isn't going to be decided on the field in September; it’s being decided right now in the recruitment offices of the Skandalaris Center.
Monitor the status of the remaining 2026 high school commits. Retaining 16 of the 20 recruits from the previous staff was a massive win for Fitzgerald, but keeping them through the summer is the real challenge. Watch the "visits" list closely. If those freshmen stick, the bridge to 2027 becomes a lot shorter.