Michigan State Football Names Players of the Week vs. Toledo

On Monday, Michigan State football coach Pat Fitzgerald met with the media to recap the Toledo game and look ahead to Saturday’s contest against Eastern Michigan.

During that session with the media, Fitzgerald also took time to shoutout the outstanding players who stood out against Toledo, alongside who helped prepare the Spartans for their 30-20 win over the Rockets. Fitzgerald also went and announced a Spartan Warrior award being started each week in light of a viral moment during the game.

Players of the Week

Fitzgerald started with the offense, where wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. won the honor. The wide receiver, who recently was granted an extra year of eligibility, made plays to give Michigan State football a victory after Toledo took the lead to start the fourth quarter.

Bullard finished with seven catches for 90 yards and one touchdown, and four of his catches alongside a two-point conversion came on the response to a Toledo win.

The lineman of the week also stayed with the offense, as center Trent Fraley won the award for his efforts. The North Dakota State transfer and captain played every down for the Spartans and paved the way all 40 of the carries between the top three Spartan running backs. PFF agreed with Fitzgerald’s decision, as Fraley was the highest rated lineman on the service.

Defensively, the player of the game went to interior defensive lineman Eli Coenen. He generated pressure up the middle and a pass deflection when he could not get to the quarterback. The Illinois transfer was a star during his first game at Spartan Stadium, adding a sack to his outstanding day.

Special teams, to the surprise of no one, had their outstanding player be kicker Liam Boyd. Boyd drilled five of his six attempts and his only extra point attempt, giving him a 16-point night. That included a career-long 51-yarder, nine more yards than his high with Charlotte last season.

Scout Team Honors

On scout team, three Spartans got honored.

Offensively, the award went to freshman Peyton Babbitt. The true freshman enrolled in the summer and impressed the staff with his ability to run and simulate the Toledo offense.

Defensively, Adam Shaw won the award. He has received tons of praise since enrolling early in January, and proved why he deserved the hype with his efforts on scout team. During the spring game, Shaw recorded multiple tackles for loss and turned some heads. With the logjam of talent and seniors in the linebacker room, Shaw is biding his time. He is doing everything right at practice, and could stand to make his debut if this week’s game against Eastern Michigan is out of hand late.

On special teams, Cory House Jr. won the award of scout team player of the week. The lengthy EDGE has drawn some eyes since enrolling during summer practice, and he is quietly making an impact doing the work on scout team.

Spartan Warrior Award

On Friday, offensive tackle Robert Wright Jr. went viral for vomiting mid play while still maintaining his role and blocking until the whistle during the Spartans’ two point conversion attempt.

Pat Fitzgerald announced that Wright won the award for this week, in part for his, and I quote, “puke and rally”.

The head coach called it disgusting, but awesome in the way that Wright kept his mental focus.

The coach later was asked if he had talked to his lineman for the virality of the moment, where Wright said that it had happened at his previous stop at Georgia Southern. While that moment did not go viral, this one did, and the coach revealed that he had quipped back to his tackle, “welcome to the Big Ten”.