As of Thursday, April 10, the 2025 NFL Draft is officially two weeks away. Michigan State football is looking to continue its NFL draft legacy, with the Spartans having a player selected in 83 of the last 84 years.
The 2024 Spartans saw the first year of a rebuild with Jonathan Smith. This was reflected in the coach’s portal strategy, with MSU landing multiple impact players with one final season of eligibility as Smith and offensive line coach Jim Michalczik developed a underclassmen-heavy room.
One of such impact transfers was former Holy Cross two-time FCS All-American Luke Newman. Newman was arguably the best lineman for the Spartans in 2024, with the 6-foot-4 prospect not allowing a sack in his first year in Big Ten competition. He was awarded with an honorable mention selection to the All-Big Ten teams at the end of the season.
In addition to his productivity on the field, Newman has an athleticism score that ranks among the top interior offensive linemen in the draft. While Newman was not invited to the NFL Combine, his Pro Day put scouts on notice, and he recently worked out for the Detroit Lions on their local Pro Day on April 8, as I broke for Lions on SI. He also has met with the Houston Texans, per Click2Houston. Currently, the ratings vary for Newman, with some projections putting him as high as Day 2 of the draft (Rounds 2 and 3) or a Day 3 selection.
Assuming Newman gets drafted, he joins a rich Michigan State football tradition of NFL draftees. If he or Tanner Miller are drafted, either will become the second Spartan interior offensive lineman drafted in as many years, joining center Nick Samac (2024 Round 7, Baltimore Ravens). As it stands, Newman is being viewed primarily at center, per most NFL news outlets.
I was fortunate enough to talk to the NFL draft hopeful about his time at MSU, and what he is taking with him to the next level.
Q: During your last year at MSU, what is a memory that sticks out?
Newman: “A core memory for me coming to Michigan State would just be some of my first days in the building. The staff and players were extremely welcoming to me and taught me so much; not just about the playbook, but just adapting to Big Ten competition.”
Q: What have Michigan State football and Jim Michalczik done to prepare you for the NFL?
Newman: “Coach M was fantastic. He taught me how to be a cerebral player and the importance of having a mental edge to the game of football. That slows everything down for you and makes your physical play much easier. His coaching on the field was just as instrumental to my progression as a player.”
Q: In a similar vein, how has your own personal route and adjustment from High School to Holy Cross to the FBS at Michigan State football prepared you for that “next level”?
Newman: “Everything from high school to Holy Cross especially while I learned a great deal of football and improved upon my fundamentals I most importantly grew as a man.
At Holy Cross as a student-athlete, you’re in charge of your academic schedule, nutrition, everything off the field. That means carving time to go to office hours, keeping track of what you’re eating, etc.
I think a large part of my success at MSU and future success at the next level will come in due part to how I’ve been handling myself as a professional for quite some time now.”
Q: When a team calls you, what are they getting? What do you bring to the table for a team that drafts you?
Newman: “What teams would be getting in me is someone who’s adaptable. I’ve played under four different offensive coordinators and three o-line coaches, all who have taught me several techniques to tackle certain blocks. That gives me a lot of versatility on the field and a distinct advantage over several offensive lineman who have routinely done the same thing for 4-5 years.
A team will also be getting a great locker room piece, as someone who strongly believes that team camaraderie strongly correlates to on-field success. I strive to be a great teammate at all times who is willing to help a younger guy anytime that I can.”
