Michigan State football lands first commitment of 2026 class

Some good news came out for head coach Jonathan Smith and Co. over the weekend. The Spartans officially picked up their first commitment of the 2026 as three-star tight end Joey Caudill officially committed to Michigan State football.

100% committed! #GOGREEN @MSU_Football @Coach_Smith @CoachWozniakTE @CoachCGrundy pic.twitter.com/DWSDRuDzZZ

— Joeycaudill10 (@Joey_caudill10) January 24, 2025

The do-everything player from Mansfield, Ohio, stands 6-foot-5 and weighs about 215 pounds. He is rated an 86 overall according to 247Sports. Caudill had offers from only MAC schools so far but is identified as someone with major upside.

Caudill is a multi-sport athlete who played both sides of the ball in high school so far. He also plays basketball and runs track for Lexington High as well. He is athletic for his size and he’s shown good ball-carrying skills and football IQ. In high school this year, he played quarterback, tight end, and linebacker. He is also strong and able to catch and play through contact well. Caudill has the potential to become an impactful player for the Spartans soon.

The three-star athlete was recently offered by the Spartans back on Jan. 8. Michigan State football was his first Power Four offer and he and the staff have quickly developed a good relationship. The staff sees a lot of potential in him and is excited to see him develop.

Caudill is the first domino to fall for the 2026 class but that does not mean Smith isn’t making some moves. The staff has been on the road a lot the past few weeks and it seems like they could very well be closing in on a few more cycle commits in the future. Keep it here with Spartan Shadows for any more future recruiting updates.

Congrats to Joey. Welcome to East Lansing and we are pumped to have you here. Go Green.