Michigan State football is just under five months away. That seems like a long time out, but hear me out. The early enrollees are already on campus, the Spartans are already working out in spring ball, and the conclusion of spring is almost here. The season is honestly almost here.
Let’s look ahead to the season. Namely, who are some early breakout candidates?
(Note: True freshmen and incoming transfers were not considered, as they did not have a benchmark season at MSU to inspect)
1. Ben Roberts, Junior (RS), DT
Ben Roberts is a player that me, alongside many others, have at the top of our list as a breakout candidate. The Oregon transfer saw extensive action in 2024 and put up eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack in 10 games.
While not an outstanding stat line at first glance, Roberts was splitting time with fellow transfer D’Quan Douse and longtime run-stopper Maverick Hansen. Both players have graduated and are in training for the NFL draft, and Roberts is the next defensive tackle up to share time on the field with Alex VanSumeren. The Spartans also lost pass rush specialist Khris Bogle, so the interior pressure will have to factor in for Michigan State football in 2025.
The most important factor in Roberts being on this list, though? He quietly put together his best game of 2024 in the season finale against Rutgers, recording his first career sack in an otherwise forgettable night for the Spartan defense.
2. Justin Denson Jr., Sophomore, DB
Justin Denson Jr., or “The Slim Reaper,” was the most utilized freshman not named Nick Marsh last year. Denson played early and often, seeing the field on special teams against Maryland. He worked his way into the starting safety role by the end of the year after attrition hit the team like a truck.
Despite being forced onto the field early as a freshman, the Pennsylvania (via Rhode Island) product was not out of place in the slightest. As mentioned in my article on Denson in December, the freshman was quietly one of the best young defensive backs in the nation in 2024.
The biggest “question mark” for Denson in 2025 will be where the team places him. The staff used him at safety last season, but also worked him out at corner in the spring of 2024. Rumors indicate that the defensive back would not mind the move back to corner.
The Spartans also brought in multiple corners while standing firm on the safety front. Malcolm Bell, Nijhay Burt, and Joshua Eaton all join the corner room with Charles Brantley, Lejond Cavazos, and Ed Woods all departing. Regardless, Denson is much too talented at defensive back to not see the field much more often in 2025. I’m expecting him to record his first (of many) career interception in 2025.
3. Brady Pretzlaff, Freshman (RS), LB
Brady Pretzlaff is another trendy pick as a “making the leap” candidate for 2025, and I am among the believers. The Gaylord, Mich., product saw the field in the redshirt-eligible maximum four games last season, with seven total tackles on the year, via ESPN. In one of his first-ever collegiate snaps, Pretzlaff showcased an excellent seek-and-tackle on a Prairie View run for no gain.
The 6-foot-3 linebacker has ample room to grab playing time in 2025, as well, with star linebacker Jordan Turner and longtime starter Cal Haladay expending their eligibility. Pretzlaff’s competition comes from 2024 rotational linebackers Jordan Hall, Darius Snow, and Wayne Matthews, alongside BYU transfer Aisea Moa. Hall would be a breakout candidate if it were not for his near-breakout 2023, and Moa is a player whom I would consider if it were not for this list not including transfers. Snow and Matthews help complete this room and make it one of the most well-rounded in the Big Ten.
How does this leave Pretzlaff room to break out, you might ask? Simple. Pretzlaff is productive. He is a guy that linebacker coach Joe Rossi and head coach Jonathan Smith wanted desperately, with Smith hiring Rossi from Minnesota, and one of his first tasks was flipping Pretzlaff from Minnesota as well.
Pretzlaff has the talent, the pedigree, and has shown the flash. Against Indiana, the linebacker had four tackles. His production came with very limited time on the field to preserve that redshirt. In the words of basketball coach Tom Izzo, that redshirt did not come because Pretzlaff was not “good enough”. Pretzlaff is so good, this staff wanted him that extra year.
The absolute floor I see for Brady this season is a special teams menace. Put the Big Ten on notice. At the minimum, there will be a warning shot this season from the former four-star.
4. Andrew Dennis, Freshman (RS), OL
Andrew Dennis is another player that Michigan State football desperately sought after upon Jonathan Smith’s arrival in East Lansing. Ultimately, the Spartans fell short, losing Dennis to Illinois. However, he decided that MSU was indeed home after the spring 2024 semester in Champaign-Urbana, and was a late addition to the 2024 MSU class.
Dennis saw his first career snap against Prairie View A&M on the final kneel down, and then saw extended action against Ohio State late in the game. That would be all the Spartan fans saw of Dennis in 2024, with the Mount Pleasant native retaining his redshirt.
The biggest developmental year for an offensive lineman tends to be between his first and second years on campus, with Dennis standing in line to benefit. Another pair of linemen, Rakeem Johnson and Rustin Young, could both slot into this category as well. However, both players have more eyes on them as Johnson played in 4 games with extended action, and Young had the higher star rating as a recruit. Dennis could fly under the radar as a player who will step up.
Dennis will have slightly lower expectations this season, as Michigan State football brings in four transfer offensive linemen as well as returning two more players from long-term injuries. However, in his limited reps, expect a major step up. He now has a full Spartan season and offseason under his belt.
5. Stone Chaney and Mikeshun Beeler, Freshmen (RS), DL
Alright, maybe I am cheating a bit by including two players for my final breakout candidate. That said, I could not choose between the two. Stone Chaney and Mikeshun Beeler both have a lot to offer.
Chaney does his work on the outside EDGE role in Rossi’s scheme, while Beeler gets his hands dirty on the defensive interior.
Beeler was a player who was hyped up last summer, with coaches and players alike complimenting his work, but was not seen much in the fall. Much like Roberts, I expect to see Beeler take the step up with multiple players moving on from Michigan State football. That said, he may be a player bookmarked for next season.
The Spartans lose Ru’Quan Buckley, Jalen Satchell, and incoming transfer Grady Kelly after 2025, and the redshirt junior trio of Roberts, Alex VanSumeren, and Ben Nelson then enter their last year of eligibility. Regardless of the 2025 stats, I have Beeler as a player to watch for the future.
As far as Chaney goes, the preferred walk-on only saw the field for one game in 2024. Why would I include Chaney over the scholarship, former three-star Kekai Burnett, then? Simple. Chaney was a menace on the field against Prairie View A&M last year. He put up 1.5 TFL in less than 15 snaps. That total outdid Jordan Hall. With the Khris Bogle-shaped hole off the EDGE for 2025, Chaney competes with Anthony Jones Jr., James Schott, and incoming transfers Anelu Lafaele and David Santiago.
One more reason: there was another preferred walk-on who saw the field for one game in their first season, and then broke onto the scene at defensive end for Michigan State football in recent memory. That walk-on’s name was Kenny Willekes.
Another point: when players were publicly thanking Sparty NIL at the end of 2024, Chaney was the only PWO to also thank the collective. If the NIL is dealing out money to retain the walk-on in college football in 2024, there is a good reason. He is both worth it and that good.
Watch out for Chaney off the edge.
Maybe I am overly high on some of these players, or am overlooking others. There are still the spring practice sessions upcoming, along with the spring game. Expect a revision of this after I get a closer glance of the team in April. Until then, there are my six players whom I have earmarked as the 2025 breakout candidates.
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