Michigan State is making the transition from the Jonathan Smith era into the Pat Fitzgerald era of Spartan football. Moving on to a new head coach, the Spartans will have to parse through a very busy offseason to get a roster ready for the 2026 season.
While everyone knows that the transfer portal is going to get the most attention, retention from the current roster might be the most important thing Fitzgerald can do when building the best possible team in 2026.
The Spartans already got a massive boost when Alessio Milivojevic announced that he would return to East Lansing, and Brady Pretzlaff also hinting at returning, both of whom would have been on this list. Now, they look to retain even more talent from the current roster.
Here, we are going to look at 10 different players on the current roster that Fitzgerald should make a strong effort in retaining for 2026:
1. Offensive lineman
Truthfully, I am going to lump all of the offensive lineman together. While I would put more of the importance on Stanton Ramil, Conner Moore and Luka Vincic, who I believe can be high quality offensive lineman, keeping as many offensive lineman in this room as possible.
It is very hard to rebuild a full offensive line in the transfer portal, and believe it or not, there is a lot of young offensive line talent in East Lansing. Retaining as many offensive lineman as possible will be the best thing Fitzgerald can do in this rebuild.
2. LB Jordan Hall
The leader of the Spartans defense, Jordan Hall has been a staple of the Michigan State program for three seasons. Obviously, a Fitzgerald defense is going to be linebacker driven, and a linebacker like Hall is the perfect person for Fitzgerald to build his initial defense around.
A Spartan captain and leader, it would only be fitting for him to finish his career in the green and white, while helping lay the foundation to the Fitzgerald era.
2025 stats: 88 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception
3. S Nikai Martinez
One of the most highly anticipated players for the 2025 season, injuries absolutely derailed any momentum Martinez had this past season. If one bright thing came of his injury woes this season, he only played in four games, and will be able to accept a redshirt to play a fifth season.
As of now, the Spartans safety room is very limited in numbers, and in need of a ton of depth. Having a veteran like Martinez come back with Hall would be absolutely massive for a Michigan State defense that is in the rebuilding phase.
2025 stats: 24 tackles
4. TE Michael Masunas
Turning over to the offensive side of the ball, Michael Masunas was an absolute stud for MSU in 2025. Masunas cemented himself as a weapon for the Spartans. With a 76.1 grade on PFF, he ranked second on the Spartans team in 2025, only behind Matt Gulbin.
Losing Jack Velling, and most likely Brennan Parachek, the depleted TE room could use a veteran leader while the room is rebuilt in the transfer portal.
2025 stats: 19 receptions, 232 yards, 3 touchdowns
5. WR Chrishon McCray
Whether fans want to hear it or not, the odds suggest that Nick Marsh is moving on from his time in the green and white, but that does not mean they can’t retain Chrishon McCray. Honestly, Marsh moving on would make the importance of retaining McCray much greater.
A highly coveted Kent State transfer, McCray was underutilized by Michigan State in 2025, but the skill he possesses is not to be ignored. Having a go to target that Milivojevic can work with for a whole offseason would be a massive starting point for the new offense.
2025 stats: 24 receptions, 330 yards, 3 touchdowns
6. DT Alex VanSumeren
A similar trend to the earlier notion in this article, the Spartans really need to prioritize the middle of the defense, and the perfect piece to add to Hall and Martinez returning would be defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren.
A great run game defender, VanSumeren can provide veteran leadership on the defensive line, and can be another leader to another unit as Fitzgerald prepares to rebuild this defense.
2025 stats: 52 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks
7. CB Aydan West
The big recruiting win of the 2024 recruiting class, West showed why he was such a highly coveted recruit. Totaling 380 snaps in his freshman year, he graded as a 63.2 coverage player and a 66.1 tackling player.
Losing Malcolm Bell and Joshua Eaton to graduation, and Chance Rucker coming off another major injury, having a lockdown starting cornerback gives portal flexibility. Only needing to find one starting CB in the portal would be a lot easier than finding two, and West looks like a young stud.
2025 stats: 19 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass defend
8. DE Jalen Thompson
After spending three years in East Lansing, the Detroit native spending his fourth with the Spartans is great for on and off of the field purposes. Receiving off the field awards in back to back years, Thompson is great to have around the Spartan community.
On the field, a run stout defensive end that found his pass rush footing in 2025. Leading the team with 20 pressures and 14 QB hurries, the best oh Thompson’s career is still yet to come, and he could be another senior veteran at Fitzgerald’s disposal in 2026.
2025 stats: 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks
9. RB/WR Bryson Williams
Bryson Williams was a freshman in 2025, and will probably be able to get a redshirt, but in the limited time we saw him on the field, he flashed outstanding skills.
I personally think he could be the running back of the future, but he can also be a wide receiver in East Lansing, and he possesses the skills that a new offensive staff is going to want to have around.
2025 stats: 2 attempts, 20 yards. 1 catch, 8 yards.
10. Edge David Santiago
An Air Force transfer in his first year in East Lansing, Santiago came on well in his redshirt freshman season in East Lansing. 14 pressures, 11 QB hurries and the leading graded pass rushing lineman for MSU, according to PFF, he should continue progressing in the green and white.
Michigan State is void of pass rushers, and need to address it in the portal as is, but why let a developing one leave that you already have? He doesn’t have to be your week one starter, but he should be a part of the rotation.
2025 stats: 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: 10 players Pat Fitzgerald must prioritize retaining at Michigan State
