5 Michigan State Football Players That Can Debut Vs Eastern Michigan

Michigan State football hosts the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST. The Spartans are currently 17.5-point favorites, with Vegas predicting a comfortable, three-score win for Pat Fitzgerald.

A three-score game is one that can quickly spiral to blowout territory for the Spartans, riding the momentum to pile on to Eastern Michigan. It is worth noting that the Eagles had north of 22 players on the injury report when they played San Jose State.

With this being the last game before a 10-game gauntlet of Notre Dame and the Big Ten conference slate, it offers the Spartans their last chance to break players in before the meat grinder portion of the schedule.

Who are five Spartans that could make their Michigan State football debut on Saturday?

RB Jace Clarizio

Clarizio enters this season looking for a role in the backfield. Based on comments Jonathan Smith had made before the season opener in 2025, Clarizio was contesting the starting role before an injury.

This year with Pat Fitzgerald, however, the Spartans acquired four running backs in the transfer portal, and Clarizio is competing with 2025 classmates Zion Gist and Darrin Jones Jr. for a spot on the lower half of the depth chart.

With the Spartans planning to play plenty of bodies, as Pat Fitzgerald noted in his press conference, Clarizio stands to record some special teams action or potentially get his first official carry in Spartan Stadium.

QB Kayd Coffman

Coffman is an early fan favorite after enrolling early following a prolific career with East Kentwood High School. Coffman took reps with the three’s during Friday night’s warmups, and is a player the staff would love to record his first career action before having to be thrown to the wolves against the Big Ten or Notre Dame.

With five-in-five taking over from redshirt rules, the Spartans have the chance to dig deeper into the freshman class without risking losing a player’s eligibility.

If Coffman could add a game rep or two, that becomes invaluable towards his development and in case he is needed due to injury down the line.

EDGE Cory House Jr.

House Jr. has stood out for his length since enrolling in the summer, with his size appearing much larger than his 6-foot-3 frame suggests on paper. House is the youngest EDGE rusher in the room, and Saturday presents an opportunity to get his first reps in.

The EDGE has impressed the staff with his early effort, with House winning practice squad player of the week on special teams during week one. With Eastern Michigan allowing 19 pressures in week one against San Jose State, it might be the time for House to make a statement in his first snaps.

LB Adam Shaw

Another freshman that has impressed early, Adam Shaw has received heaps of praise since enrolling in January. The high school quarterback has made plays on the defense, impressing the fans with a two tackle-for-loss spring game, impressing the strength staff by gaining 15 pounds of muscle, and then impressing his coaches as practice squad player of the week on defense last week.

Shaw is poised to be the next Brady Pretzlaff in the linebacker room, and Saturday could be the same chance that Pretzlaff got as a true freshman against Prairie View A&M in 2024.

LB DeJae White

White is another player entering his second season in East Lansing and itching for a chance to get on the field. The four-star from the 2025 class is among a crowded linebacker room.

That said, fellow second-year player DiMari Malone saw his debut come last week, and if the game spirals out of control, White can be called on as the next man up. He has flashes and promise, but is stuck in a talented room. With Jordan Hall’s health status also unknown entering Saturday’s game, there is opportunity there, as well.

Honorable Mentions: WR Samson Gash and LB Dion Crawford

Normally, Gash would be the headline feature of this piece. However, it would be a disservice to the readers to throw the speedy wide receiver on this list after he did not dress on Friday’s season opener against Toledo due to what is likely an injury.

Gash, if active on Saturday, is a name I would call most likely to make his debut among the five listed above him. However, with Michigan State football not releasing an injury report until before the Nebraska game, it is impossible to know his status until he takes the field with or without pads.

Additionally, linebacker Dion Crawford falls on this same exemption as Gash, and he also missed the contest against Toledo with an undisclosed injury.

Crawford has received lots of praise during spring and fall camp, and is a dynamic piece for the linebacker room if he is healthy enough to play on Saturday.