Michigan State Football Third Quarter Report Card

We are nine games into the Pat Fitzgerald era and Michigan State football sits at 3-6 on the year. The Spartans have close losses to both Northwestern and Illinois, and very easily could sit in bowl contention without some self-inflicted problems derailing their games.

That said, it is time to dive into how the position groups have been playing. Let’s put those pencils down and dive into the third quarter grades for Michigan State football.

Offense

Quarterback

This is a tough quarter to judge for the Spartans, with Alessio Milivojevic getting injured and missing the UCLA game for a throwing hand injury. The signal caller returned and ultimately had a strong game against the Wolverines, throwing for 186 yards.

Kayd Coffman and Leo Hannan performed admirably considering the strength of UCLA’s defense and their positions as third- and fourth-string quarterbacks. Milivojevic had solid outings in each of his games against Michigan and Northwestern.

Grade: C-

Running Backs

Oh, look, another room ransacked by injuries! Jaziun Patterson has missed each of the last two games with an undisclosed injury, while Marvis Parrish got injured on one of his first touches against UCLA and has been out since.

Kenneth Williams has shown a spark in catching the ball out of the backfield and the spot carry. When he had the majority of the carries against UCLA, it was not the greatest. Brandon Tullis had a strong showing against Michigan, with 25 carries for 86 yards.

Overall, the room has been solid with their laundry list of injuries. That said, a lower yards per carry hurts the team.

Grade: C

Tight Ends

After a hot start to the season, Jayden Savoury was leading the Big Ten for catches by a tight end. However, with the Canton, Mich. product sidelined for the Michigan game, the Spartans saw their two tight end catches on the game.

Brennan Parachek had arguably his best game as a blocker. Kai Rios and Carson Gulker each have set packages to provide an impact, but overall, the lack of Savoury looms large heading into the final month.

Grade: C

Wide Receivers

The receivers are a tough room to judge when dealing with a beat up quarterback. However, the Spartans have not seen much to separate their receiver room from their grade at the midpoint of the season. Chrishon McCray had one of his best games in the green and white against Michigan, with multiple highlight reel jukes and being reliable.

Bryson Williams has started to put together a solid season after being held without a reception in the first four games. He had his first career touchdown against Northwestern, a pass called back against the Bruins, and then a solid fourth quarter reception against Michigan. However, his hands and the illegal touching penalty against UCLA are both some of the lows for the young receiver.

Fredrick Moore and Rod Bullard Jr. have not made the impact desired for the duo, with Bullard slated to be out against Washington. Charles Taplin has missed time with a foot injury. Braylon Collier did not make the bus ride to Michigan. Samson Gash has seen some momentum lately, with catches in each of the last two contests.

However, at the end of the day, there is too much left on the table for a passing grade for this unit.

Grade: D-

Offensive Line

The Michigan game was a thorough domination, but that has not been the case all season. The Spartans are tied as the most often sacked team in the Big Ten, and the running backs were not getting many holes to run through prior to getting injured.

Connor Moore’s move to guard remains rocky. John Henry Daley worked over both starting tackles to sack Alessio Milivojevic last game. Trent Fraley was whistled for an illegal snap against Northwestern that cost five yards right before the missed field goal. Nick Sharpe has been solid but out of position at points.

There is a compelling case to cite recency bias from the last game and but the unit up a letter grade. However, I will say it is a much more palatable offensive line than what was witnessed in 2025.

Grade: C-

Defense

Defensive Line

Another situation where recency bias has to be accounted for. Including Kenny Soares Jr.’s sack on the two point conversion, Michigan State football sacked Tommy Carr six times last Saturday. Carlos Hazelwood and Derrick Simmons each got their first sack in the green and white.

Eli Coenen has slowed down after his hot start. Ben Roberts had his spectacular senior season put on pause with an injury against UCLA, although he is questionable against Washington. Mikeshun Beeler has been the main man filling the gap alongside Simmons, with Beeler having a strong tackle for loss against Michigan.

Soares Jr. has been recording pressure after pressure, but his two point conversion sack against the Wolverines was his first time sealing the deal since the Eastern Michigan game. Isaac Smith has been a player eating snaps while not seeing much production still. Trey Lisle got a surprise start against Michigan, but still has yet to jump off film. Keanhist Thompson has fallen out of the rotation entirely.

The star of the show on the defensive line is Anelu Lafaele. The third-year EDGE faced many questions during the offseason after a leg injury, and then faced more at midseason with less in the production category. He has lit on fire this last quarter, forcing a fumble in each of the last three games while recording three sacks and five run stuffs. Lafaele had a career-high seven pressure game against the Wolverines, too.

Overall, it is much better than initially presumed entering the season, but there is room for improvement.

Grade: B

Linebackers

Jordan Hall remains out, and his absence looms large. Dion Crawford, Cam Stodghill, and Caleb Wheatland have all stepped up. Brady Pretzlaff has been in and out of the lineup, which accounts for his play being up and down. There is optimism for the Gaylord, Mich. native that being in the lineup consistently will see the bump in play.

Overall, this unit has seen some pains, but the run defense has been stout. In the pass, however, the Northwestern game is truly the best game to base on in this quarter of action. The Wolverines offense is historically bad, and the Bruins are stuck with their backup quarterback in.

Against the Wildcats, the defense held strong until it did not. Aidan Chiles had a legacy drive down the field to beat the Spartans, and that saw the linebackers picked apart in coverage.

Grade: C

Cornerbacks

This is the hardest unit to judge. The Spartans have been stuck playing their backups all quarter, with Tyran Chappell being the first corner to return to the unit among the top three with limited snaps against Michigan, including a near-interception.

Keshawn Williams also returned to the lineup against the Wolverines, and both had solid play. NiJhay Burt had a legacy game against the Wolverines, being Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week with an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Jeremiah Favorite has been solid but has dealt with some teaching tape moments during his first season. Favorite in particular gets a pass, as he was dragged into action after the rash of injuries and starting as corner six on the depth chart.

Overall, it has not been a bad stretch for the corners, although this weekend’s test is the biggest test the Spartans have seen since the Illinois game at least. Tre Bell and Chuck Brantley each are questionable.

Grade: C

Safeties and Nickel

Devin Vaught has been all over the field in the last two contests, with an interception and forced fumbles. Nikai Martinez contributed a fumble recovery and has started to make an impact in his last collegiate season in the last few weeks. Aveon Grose has rotated in with Vaught’s injury, and had an underrated stop against Michigan that set up the missed Wolverine field goal.

The nickel spot still has struggles, but Michael Richard is settling in to Big Ten play, albeit a bit alter than what would be desired.

Overall, this group has provided sparks in the last quarter to raise their grade.

Grade: B-

Special Teams

The Spartans have had a strong season on special teams, and that continued in the third quarter of the season. Liam Boyd drilled all non-blocked field goals in this quarter, including a perfect five-of-five against the Wolverines.

Rhys Dakin continues to send punts flying. Nick Duzansky has been admirable at long snapper. The return game has not provided much of a spark in the last six games, which is the only drawback thus far on special teams.

Coverage on kickoffs and punts continues to be strong after a shaky games four through six.

Grade: A-

Coaching

Overall, there is a lot to be said for the belief in the Spartan team after a six-game losing streak. The Spartans had all the reason to give up and call it a season, instead they worked hard and bullied their in-state rivals for a 15-6 final score.

Offense and defense each have units ransacked by injuries which does make grades tough. That said, there is still some late-game questions from the Northwestern game that hurt the final score.

The belief is there, but the results still need improvement before we approach ‘A’ and ‘B’ territory.

Grade: C+