Michigan State Football: Initial Thoughts from First Spring Practice

It’s officially March, which means its once again time for Michigan State football to begin their spring football schedule. Head football coach Pat Fitzgerald made one change early on, with practice starting at 6:30 a.m. EST instead of 9:30 a.m. EST like last season.

With tons of new players from both the transfer portal and early enrollees, MSU was bound to show something new as of Tuesday morning.

Here are some of the first quick thoughts from Tuesday morning’s first spring football practice.

Ben Murawski is an Absolute Mauler

It is no secret that Fitzgerald and his staff won a big commitment from former UConn offensive lineman Ben Murawski when the transfer portal opened this offseason. Murawski was ranked as the second best run-blocker in all of the college football last season, according to PFF. Now, Murawski joins his former UConn teammate Cam Edwards at Michigan State.

On multiple recruiting sites, Murawski is officially listed at 6-foot-7, 335lbs.  But taking a look up close can really change your idea of what a person of that size looks like.

Murawski is, simply put, huge. Make no doubt, Murawski will maul at whatever side the staff decides to put him on.

Both Collin Campbell and Samson Gash were in Attendance

This may not seem like a big deal, but when your four-star offensive lineman from Arizona decides to fly in and attend the first spring practice at 6:30 a.m. EST, it is something to note.

Both Campbell and Gash did not early enroll at Michigan State. This means that both players are still in high school and will join the team over the summer. But seeing both players at the first practice is the definition of bought-in. Gash and Campbell are both expected to make significant contributions to the Spartans football roster this season, and with their dedication of showing up to the first spring practice of the year, it shows how bought in they are with the Spartans and Pat Fitzgerald.

Pat Fitzgerald is Ready for Football Season to Begin

Last season, Jonathan Smith would have walked around, maybe talking to a few members of the media or a couple of recruits. This year however, Fitzgerald personally made it a decision to talk to as many people as he could while working in some of the drills with the players.

Fitzgerald was seen early on working with the quarterbacks and running backs on ball security drills.  Then talking to the recruits that had traveled to East Lansing for the first practice of the year, and even members of the media as well. He was everywhere. Showing emotion and dedication to the basics the entire time.

Its exciting and rewarding for a program to have a lively spirit at the helm like Fitzgerald himself. Especially when MSU needed it as much as they did.