4 left tackle options for Michigan State football after Stanton Ramil injury

Michigan State football needs a new starting left tackle, with Stanton Ramil expected out for a month. Who can step up for MSU?

On Monday, Jonathan Smith spoke to the Michigan State football media. One of the biggest bombshells in the press conference was that starting tackle Stanton Ramil would be out for around “a month”, in Smith’s terms.

With the earliest possible return date likely being a home game against in-state rival Michigan on Oct. 25, who can step up for Michigan State until then?

Smith revealed three options during his press conference, but disclosed he would not be telling the press quite yet, citing that he did not want to give Nebraska coach Matt Rhule extra knowledge ahead of their contest this week.

I’ll also add one more option in the breakdown.

Rustin Young (RS-Fr.)

The first and most obvious answer on roster is the former four-star from Hawaii. Rustin Young followed his head coach after Smith left for East Lansing, and redshirted in 2024. He did get some game action afainst Ohio State last year, but that was his only appearance.

He started the season on special teams, serving on the extra point unit during the first two contests for MSU. Following an injury to Ramil against Youngstown State, Young made his debut on offense for 2025. The freshman swapped series with Ramil for the remainder of the contest.

When Ramil went down again, nine snaps into the USC game, Young played the remainder of the game at left tackle. His PFF grade of 57.0 was higher than that of fellow tackle Conner Moore and guard Caleb Carter during the contest. Overall, Young has 77 snaps of experience at left tackle this season alongside 19 at left tackle last year.

Conner Moore (RS-Jr.)

Conner Moore is a transfer from Montana State. He played left tackle with the Bobcats, but switched to the right side for the Spartans. Moore ultimately beat Ashton Lepo for the role of starting right tackle. During the opening two games of the season, Moore switched over to left tackle depending on the series.

He has remained stout at right tackle for each of the last two contests, but did suffer an injury late against Youngstown State. Against the Trojans, Moore played all 60 snaps at right tackle.

Moore did struggle in pass protection against USC, recording his worst grade of the season in pass pro by far, at 28.7.

He has played 41 snaps at left tackle so far this season, to go alongside his 1,450 snaps of left tackle in three seasons at Montana State.

Ashton Lepo (RS-Jr.)

Ashton Lepo was the starting right tackle for Michigan State football during the 2024 season, and his name was brought up as a potential option as a replacement. Now, this could mean that Lepo regains his role as the starting right tackle to go alongside Moore slotting back to the left side.

It is worth mentioning that Lepo missed the Youngstown State game with an undisclosed injury, but did travel with the team to California to take on USC. Ultimately, he did not play against the Trojans.

Lepo did play 94 snaps at left tackle during the 2023 season, but that was the last time he slotted in at the blindside spot. On the other side, he has combined for over 700 snaps at right tackle, with 69 of them coming this season.

Rakeem Johnson (RS-Fr.)

Among all Spartans on roster, Rakeem Johnson is the only player to start a game at left tackle besides Ramil. Johnson got the start last time Ramil missed a game due to injury, playing 32 snaps at left tackle against the 2024 National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

Johnson has played a little bit of everything for the Spartans this year, playing right tackle in relief of an injured Moore against Youngstown State, alongside the kick return, punt coverage, and extra point units.

Johnson also warms up at center with the Spartan quarterbacks on Saturdays, and it is clear he is the “plug-and-play” substitution on the offensive line. He played in 104 snaps between four games, playing both tackle spots and right guard as a true freshman last year. Currently, his only offensive snaps this season come from four at right tackle against YSU.