26-06-2025
Breaking down the 10 most intriguing players on Michigan State football's roster
Michigan State football has entered the summer and is gearing up for the second season under Jonathan Smith, one that will set the ground work for the ascending program that he plans to build in East Lansing.
In 2024, the Spartans fell short of the expectation, going 5-7 and not making a postseason appearance. In 2025, the bar has been set higher, and the Spartans will need to make their push towards a postseason appearance.
Earlier, Spartans Wire broke down the top 20 players on the roster, showing that there is talent on the roster that will allow the Spartans to be able to make a strong push at the added expectations the roster has this season.
While, the players were ranked, it is interesting to look at the roster from another aspect, and identify who the most intriguing players on the roster are. Here, we break down the most intriguing players on the MSU roster:
QB Aidan Chiles
This list will start off with the quarterback and the face of the program, Aidan Chiles. So, what makes the Spartans quarterback so intriguing? Chiles has all of the talent in the world, and is recognized as someone that could be a superstar, but he needs to prove it on the field.
The first half of 2024 saw a turnover prone quarterback that made a ton of mistakes, but the back half of the year saw a much improved quarterback, despite the roster depleting around him. Now, it is time for him to come out in 2025 and prove that he is the quarterback that is worthy of all of the hype.
OT Conner Moore
Conner Moore comes to Michigan State via Montana State, where he was an FCS All-American and FCS Freshman All-American. He is slated to be the Spartans starting right tackle in 2025. So, what makes him so intriguing?
A player with so much talent and potential, making the way from the FCS level to the Big Ten level of power conference football is a massive jump. Despite how pursued he was in the portal, with the Spartans having to defeat Ohio State for his services, there is no guarantee that the potential will lead to success.
Moore is going to have a humongous role with the Spartans and his ability to step up to the plate, and excel in 2025.
RB Elijah Tau-Tolliver
There has been a lot of buzz around sophomore running backs Brandon Tullis and Makhi Frazier, and what they are expected to bring to the table in 2025. What people forget, the Spartans added Sacramento State running back transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver.
Similar to Moore, he is making the jump from the FCS to the FBS level. After a few years of struggles, he broke out in 2024, leading to his transfer up. Like Cam Skattebo before him, he is a Sac State running back heading up a level, and it is intriguing what the Spartans can receive with the veteran running back.
DT Grady Kelly
This past season, Kelly made the move from Colorado State to Florida State, where he was one of the most coveted prospects in the transfer portal. Then, at Florida State, he was caught up in the massive disappointment that was the 2024 Seminoles season.
Now, Kelly has made the move back north to MSU, and the most intriguing aspect is whether or not he can live up to the prospect that was so coveted just last offseason.
K Martin Connington/Tarik Ahmetbasic
Michigan State had a gift at kicker the last couple of years, with Jonathan Kim being one of the country's best kickers. Now, with Kim gone, the Spartans will be turning to a new player to assume that role as the team' kicker.
The two options include Martin Connington and Tarik Ahembasic, who will battle it out in training camp, and look to earn the starting job. Can either live up near the level of Kim? It will be intriguing to see.
LB Semaj Bridgeman
The rare Michigan to Michigan State transfer, Bridgeman has been raved about behind close doors, but injuries derailed his chance at playing in 2024. In 2025, though, Bridgeman might get his chance to make the impact that is expected from the staff, but unknown to the fanbase.
Will the practice field translate to the game field, that is the intriguing question that everyone is going to anxiously await.
S Justin Denson Jr.
A highly coveted recruit in the 2024 recruiting class, the former 4-star safety got a good run as a true freshman, grading as a 64.1 overall player on Pro Football Focus, while earning a 64.4 in coverage and 62.8 in run defense. This upcoming year, Denson could be a sleeper to gain a significant role on the defense in 2025.
With there being an open spot in the defensive backfield, and a competition gearing up for it, it would not be surprising if Denson won the spot, and it is intriguing if he is going to step up into the role in a massive way.
C Matt Gulbin
While he is one of the most anticipated players to join the Spartans this offseason, Matt Gulbin was an All-ACC player and one of the highest graded players in the conference per Pro Football Focus. What makes this addition so intriguing?
All of Gulbin's success has come at the guard position, but in East Lansing, he is going to be lining up as a center. That change in position makes it interesting whether or not the center will continue to have the dominating interior offensive line kills that he had at Wake.
OL Rakeem Johnson
A true freshman from Boise, Idaho, Johnson is probably the most underrated target that the Spartans have brought in during the Jonathan Smith era. So much so, after some injury problems, Johnson got the start at left tackle against Ohio State as a true freshman, where he held his own against the National Champion defensive line.
Now, he is not slated to be a starter in 2025, but with how strong of a player Johnson is expected to be, it will be intriguing to see whether or not he is able to force his way into the playing group.
TE Michael Masunas
Michael Masunas burst onto the scene in 2024, being a sleeper at the tight end position and making a massive impact for the Spartans. Unfortunately, a season ending injury ended his year after just four games.
It is intriguing to figure out whether or not Masunus will be able to return to form following the injury, giving MSU a one-two punch at tight end with Jack Velling. MSU OC Brian Lindgren loves two tight end sets, so being able to have Masunas return to form would be massive.
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