Finding Treasure in the Portal: Michigan State’s Roster Reload

The transfer portal is always in fast-forward. It’s a two-week frenzy that can turn rags into riches, riches into rags, or sometimes just make the rich richer and the rags even dirtier.

Pat Fitzgerald and the Michigan State staff have been working around the clock to get a full roster ready for fall — not just any roster, but the right one. The goal is to reach a full 105-man roster despite losing more than 40 players to the portal (and counting — we’ll get to that shortly).

As players look for greener pastures elsewhere, it opens up opportunities here in green and white. Growing up with deal-loving, thrift-store parents taught me one thing well: another man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

The Spartans are hard at work trying to find those treasures in the portal — players who can immediately fit into the program, scheme, locker room, and culture. Turn that opportunity into hard work, and suddenly you’re not just building a future for yourself, but helping create a special season for your team.

Quarterbacks often steal the spotlight, and we’ll get to two of them shortly, but roster turnarounds don’t always come from pageant-winning QBs. Championships are built in the trenches, the secondary, and at the skill positions.

So let’s take a look at the most recent updates regarding the 2026 Michigan State roster.

McCray has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and will return to East Lansing. In his first season as a Spartan after transferring from Kent State, McCray totaled 330 yards on 24 receptions and scored three touchdowns.

McCray briefly entered the portal, but ultimately decided the grass wasn’t greener elsewhere. Alessio Milivojevic’s reposted McCray's tweet with a subtle smirk of approval via an emoji.

With Nick Marsh leaving for Indiana, the top receiving role is wide open. If McCray and Aidan Milivojevic continue to build chemistry, McCray could emerge as the leading receiver on what could be an overachieving Spartan offense. It’s worth noting that McCray finished the season strong, recording 99 yards and two touchdowns in the final two games — both starts by Milivojevic.

The ninth portal commit for Michigan State, Sharpe is a 6’2”, 335-pound offensive guard transferring in from South Carolina. He started five games for the Gamecocks last season and becomes the second offensive lineman commit, joining Ben Murawski.

Rebuilding a struggling offensive line was a top priority for the staff, and Sharpe brings much-needed size and experience to the interior.

Fancher enters his sixth collegiate season after stops at Marshall, Florida Atlantic, and UCF. He projects as the primary backup quarterback behind Milivojevic.

While Fancher isn’t expected to challenge for QB1 snaps, his value lies in experience and leadership. He’ll be a veteran presence not only for Milivojevic, but also for Leo Hannan and incoming freshman Kayd Coffman.

Last season at UCF, Fancher threw for 333 yards on 41 completions across three games. Over his career, he’s amassed 5,627 passing yards with 27 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He also brings a legitimate dual-threat element, totaling 1,292 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

What kicker wouldn’t want to play for LeVar Woods?

Boyd began his career at North Carolina before transferring to Charlotte last season, where he went 9-for-12 on field goal attempts. His breakdown:

The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but with Woods coaching special teams, the hope is Boyd can take a step forward in consistency.

Gulker, who suffered a devastating leg injury in 2024, has worked his way back and recently visited Michigan State, receiving an offer. While listed as a quarterback, Gulker profiles more as an offensive weapon than a traditional signal-caller — think Taysom Hill–type usage.

Last season, he rushed 81 times for 541 yards and five touchdowns, helping Ferris State capture its second straight FCS national title.

Brown is a highly productive Ivy League receiver with a visit scheduled to MSU. He exploded last season with 1,085 yards and 11 touchdowns on 71 receptions across 14 games.

Pairing Brown with McCray would give Milivojevic a much deeper and more versatile receiving corps heading into the fall.

Coenen is a massive defensive tackle, listed at 6’7”, 290 pounds. In his time at Illinois last season, he recorded eight tackles, one quarterback hit, and one tackle for loss.

He’d be a solid depth and development piece for a Spartan defensive line searching for impact bodies up front.

We’ll continue to keep you updated throughout the entire portal frenzy as Michigan State works to finalize its roster for the 2026 season.