Michigan State's portal frenzy continues! Seven new Spartans arrive, including a defensive star returning home and key offensive line reinforcements. Get the full breakdown.
We’re back after a day off.
Yesterday belonged to MSU basketball as the Spartans picked up their 14th win of the season, but today it’s back to portal chaos in East Lansing.
A lot happened while we were away, so let’s get a full recap. The Spartan bell has been ringing nonstop, and Pat Fitzgerald’s Twitter continues to inject excitement into my veins with every swinging Spartan head.
Since we last caught up, seven players have committed to Michigan State, including a returning starter.
Charles Brantley – DB – Miami (FL)
The former Spartan is coming home.
Brantley returns to East Lansing for his second stint with the program and will enter his sixth season of college football right where it all began.
Miami just defeated Ole Miss in the semifinals last night to advance to the national championship after entering the playoff as the No. 10 seed — proof that sometimes the “best” teams don’t reveal themselves until the games are actually played. Despite the Hurricanes’ success, Brantley never found his footing this season, appearing in just three games and recording one tackle before injury struck.
During his original four-year run at MSU, Brantley totaled five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 18 pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 103 combined tackles.
Fitzgerald has wasted no time attacking the defensive backfield through the portal, and this addition makes sense. Brantley brings size, experience, and leadership — someone who understands what Michigan State football is supposed to look like and can help re-establish that identity.
Carlos Hazelwood – DT – Toledo
After two seasons in the MAC with Toledo, Hazelwood earned his shot at the Big Ten.
He appeared in two games as a freshman before redshirting and played eight games last season, finishing with seven tackles, 0.5 TFL, two QB hits, and a fumble recovery.
Listed at 6’4”, 270 pounds, Hazelwood may not produce eye-popping numbers immediately, but with several defensive linemen leaving via the portal, he’ll have an opportunity to earn reps. The upside is there, and 2026 could be where his impact really shows.
Robert Wright Jr. – OT – Georgia Southern
Michigan State understood the assignment this offseason: fix the offensive line at all costs.
Wright becomes the Spartans’ fourth portal offensive lineman, joining an OT, OG, and OC already added — a clear commitment to rebuilding the unit that struggled most last season.
The 6’4”, 295-pound tackle arrives with three years of eligibility remaining. In his first full season of action at Georgia Southern, Wright posted a 75.6 pass-blocking grade per PFF, one of the top marks in the nation.
With interest from Arkansas and Louisville, the Spartans won a key battle here.
Jaziun Patterson – RB – Iowa
Michigan State wasn’t done upgrading the backfield.
Earlier in the week, the Spartans landed UConn running back Cam Edwards. Then they doubled down by adding Patterson from Iowa, where he totaled 858 rushing yards on 195 carries (4.4 YPC) over four seasons.
Patterson brings big-play ability and home-run speed. Entering his fifth season, he’ll get one last ride behind a significantly improved offensive line — and there aren’t many groups you’d rather run behind than what MSU is building up front.
Marvin Parrish – RB – Western Kentucky
The Spartans weren’t done adding bodies to the running back room. After adding Edwards and Patterson, the Pat Signal struck again and the Spartans added yet another running back, this one coming from Western Kentucky.
Parrish finished with 576 rushing yards on 106 attempts (5.4 YPC) and added 36 receptions for 203 yards and a receiving touchdown, showcasing his versatility.
Parrish may be the closest to Edwards in regard to starting for the team. It will be a great spring to watch how the running back room shakes out, but one thing is for sure — the Spartans have a plethora of running backs who can take the top off a defense on any given run.
Keanhist Thompson – DL – Weber State
The 6’3”, 225-pound defensive lineman leaves Weber State to come to East Lansing after posting 27 tackles, seven TFLs, four sacks, and five QB hits in 2025.
Thompson is a great impact player who should be able to fit right in with the Spartans’ defensive line — a unit that didn’t muster much of anything last season but has been aggressively revamped since the start of the portal.
Trey Lisle – EDGE – Southeast Missouri State
Lastly, the Spartans added more depth to the defensive line by bringing in 6’7”, 246-pound EDGE Trey Lisle from Southeast Missouri State.
With three years of eligibility remaining and a frame like none other, there’s a chance Lisle plays on the edge or slides to linebacker. He’ll be a major project for DL coach Brandon DeLattiboudere or LB coach Max Bullough, but regardless of where he lines up, Lisle has the build and upside to become a catastrophic game-changer if everything clicks.
The Spartans are on the prowl all portal season long — and we’re keeping up with them.
Stay tuned for more updates.