Three true freshmen who could find playing time for Michigan State

Michigan State football is gearing up for their first season under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, where the Spartans are aiming to make their first bowl game since 2021. Coming into the season, Spartan fans will see a plethora with new faces, with 29 incoming transfers and 21 incoming freshmen.

While the incoming transfers are expected to play a major role in the upcoming season, it is almost certain that some of the freshmen will make their mark on the field in year one. With 21 freshmen making their way onto campus in 2026, Spartan fans will be eager to see which take the leap into immediate playing time.

Check out the three Spartans that could potentially be prime candidates for early playing time:

The most obvious choice, Gash was the highest rated commit in the Spartans 2026 recruiting class. A top 300 player in the class, Gash was highly sought after for the skills he possesses.

With the skills of a high level prospect and playing a position like wide receiver, that is easiest to get on the field as a young player, it is easy to see why Gash could find his way onto the field at a young age. Pair those factors with an unstable, rebuilt wide receiver room, it is a full blown open competition for spots in 2026.

It might not be flashy, but the kicker is a massively important position on the field. Spartans saw a true freshman assume the kicking role last year when Martin Connington took over the kicker position.

This year, the kicker position is wide open. Michigan State brought in Charlotte transfer Liam Boyd, who has only attempted 13 field goals in his collegiate career, to go along with Gonzales, who was a highly ranked freshman.

All in all, it is a wide open competition at the kicker spot, and the true freshman could be in line to be the starter.

A training camp darling, Shaw has been the talk of the town for his standout play this camp season. The Spartan legacy did not come into program as a highly regarded recruit, but he is showing his value as a player since coming into the program.

The linebacker room is crowded, with a ton of veteran presence, but if the rumors are true, and the true freshman is shining as much as being reported, it may be hard for Joe Rossi to keep Shaw off of the field in 2026.

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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Three true freshmen who could find playing time for Michigan State