Michigan State Football: RB Brandon Tullis announces return to MSU

After the commitment of running backs Cam Edwards, Marvis Parrish, and Jaziun Patterson to the Michigan State football program, the green and white stood at six clear running backs on scholarship, and things looked murky for the future of their returning running back with the most experience.

Brandon Tullis announced that he would return for his junior season. After accumulating 301 rushing yards and four touchdowns on just 69 carries, running backs coach Devon Spalding and the rest of the offensive staff met with the Texan and reached an agreement to bring the back into the fold for his third season.

Tullis stands at 6-foot-1, 227 lbs. as more of the power back. Sitting behind fellow classmate Makhi Frazier and senior Elijah Tau-Tolliver last season, Tullis made the most of his opportunity when he got it. He ran for over 45 yards four times, despite only having eight carries in a game three times.

Tullis will return to a running back room full of competition. Jace Clarizio, Zion Gist, and receiver/running back hybrid Bryson Williams all appear to be returning to East Lansing, while Spalding gained three commitments from the transfer portal to build up the existing room itself.

UConn running back Cam Edwards, Iowa running back Jaziun Patterson, Western Kentucky back Marvis Parrish, and Ferris State athlete Carson Gulker transferred to MSU, and with the level of competition only rising, Tullis will have to earn his carries.

Edwards is seemingly leading the way after rushing for over 1,200 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last season with the Huskies. Patterson could be a depth piece after only notching 296 rushing yards a year ago during his junior season with the Hawkeyes, and Gulker is a hybrid athlete, playing multiple positions including running back for Ferris State last season. Parrish, meanwhile, recorded nearly 800 total yards as a true freshman with the Hilltoppers.

Clarizio, Gist, and Williams were spoken very highly of during the previous staff regime. Even though the trio got their redshirt in 2025, the redshirt freshmen are eager for an opportunity to rise to the occasion and be a part of the Spartan “Rebirth,” as said by head coach Pat Fitzgerald in a video released to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night.