On March 17, Michigan State football opened spring practice to bring the dawn of the Pat Fitzgerald era. The Spartans started practice at 6:20 a.m. EST, and media was allowed in a few minutes after to capture the moments from the opening practice of the season.
Spartan Shadows had Nolan Gerou on hand to capture the practice, and here are the best pieces from the start of spring football this season.
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A look at Spartan Stadium before the opening morning practice on March 17.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Joe Caudill runs between drills.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Eli Bickel (68) and Jayden Savoury (31) work on an edge-setting drill.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Eli Bickel blocks in an edge-setting drill.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Rakeem Johnson participates in a double-team block.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Kayd Coffman prepares to take a snap in his first official collegiate practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Cam Fancher watches during spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Jayden Savoury observes during opening spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Alessio Milivojevic throws the ball during spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Leo Hannan throws the ball during spring practice for Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Kayd Coffman throws the ball in opening practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Rai’Shawn Elmore carries the football during his first spring practice with Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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KK Smith runs the ball during opening practice for Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Charles Taplin II prepares to run a route for Michigan State football in spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Alessio Milivojevic throws the ball during spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Atticus Carridine catches the ball during spring practice at Michigan State.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Bryson Williams turns the corner with the ball in spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Alessio Milivojevic (11), Kayd Coffman (8), and Leo Hannan (15) all uncork the ball for Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Left to right: Alessio Milivojevic, Kayd Coffman, and Leo Hannan all finish their dropbacks for Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Rod Bullard Jr. hauls in a pass during spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Colin Charles carries the ball during spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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NiJhay Burt observes during spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Tre Bell guides a teammate during practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Tyran Chappell walks off after finishing a drill.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Keshawn Williams observes during practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Tre Bell III prepares to run a drill during practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Keshawn Williams gets into a ready stance to run a drill in practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Chris Piwowarczyk follows directions in a drill.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Kenny Soares Jr. (23) and Luke DeJager (87) listen intently during a drill.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Cal Thrush lifts the blocking sled during his rep.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Ben Roberts pushes the sled in during a drill in spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Deuce Edwards back pedals during a drill in opening spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Devin Vaught runs a drill in his first practice for Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Khalil Majeed runs a drill during Michigan State football’s opening practice of the 2026 season.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Nikai Martinez (21) runs a drill for Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Jordan Hall listens during a drill,
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Max Bullough observes during spring practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Jordan Hall attacks a blocking pad in a drill as Max Bullough drags the pad.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Leo Hannan (in red) hands the ball off to Zion Gist.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Kenneth Williams (in white) runs the ball after Alessio Milivojevic handed it off.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Marvis Parrish cuts with the ball.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Marvis Parrish takes the ball after it is handed off.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Jaziun Patterson prepares to receive the handoff.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Conner Moore blocks during the opening period of Michigan State football’s practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Assistant Offensive Line Coach Matt Allen observes during his first practice as a coach with Michigan State football.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Rakeem Johnson blocks during the first period of practice.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Ben Murawski blocks in the opening session of his first practice with Michigan State.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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qCarson Gulker observes during his first practice in East Lansing.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Chrishon McCray prepares for a ball security drill.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows
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Fredrick Moore (6) and Bryson Williams (14) run together during drills.
Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows