Pat Fitzgerald lands linebacker Kenny Soares Jr., reuniting with a familiar face to bolster the defense and ignite a Spartans' rebirth.
A single snowball can turn into the biggest avalanche—and in East Lansing, Pat Fitzgerald happens to be that snowball.
With the departure of ex-head coach Jonathan Smith and the hiring of Pat Fitzgerald, Spartans fans young and old knew big changes were coming. Many dream it’s a change in the right direction, while others still fear what’s on the horizon.
If there’s one thing all Spartans can agree on, it’s that Fitzgerald has entered this program with a self-made expectation and is doing everything in his power to build a monster. Not only through the dominant coaching staff he’s assembled, but by navigating a roster that’s lost more than 40 players to the transfer portal.
Managing that kind of turnover while still hitting home runs of your own in the portal only emphasizes how much Fitzgerald cares about this job.
“It’s not a rebuild, it’s a rebirth,” Fitzgerald exclaimed in his first team meeting with the Spartans.
That rebirth, however, is still about finding the right players. With just a few open roster spots remaining, Fitzgerald was able to add a massive piece to his defense—and for newly signed Co-DC/LB coach Max Bullough.
Michigan State landed transfer linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. from NC State, a familiar face for Fitzgerald. Soares began his collegiate career under Fitzgerald at Northwestern in 2022.
Soares spent three seasons with the Wildcats (2022–2024), appearing in four games before redshirting as a freshman, then playing in 12 games each in 2023 and 2024. Across 24 games at Northwestern, Soares totaled 57 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.
Last season, Soares entered the transfer portal and joined the NC State Wolfpack with two years of eligibility remaining. His production skyrocketed. In 13 games, Soares finished with 80 tackles, four tackles for loss, half a sack, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery—all while playing 656 snaps.
Now with one year of eligibility left, Soares brings his talents back to the Big Ten and back under Pat Fitzgerald. He’s expected to anchor the linebacking corps and will have a legitimate opportunity to force his way into the NFL Draft next year through strong play and leadership.
Michigan State has been extremely active over the past week and a half, and Soares becomes the 26th transfer addition to the Spartans’ roster. He fits a growing theme among MSU’s portal linebackers—a pass-rushing presence capable of forcing quick throws when blitzing.
The Spartans may be gearing up for a more aggressive defensive approach next season, creating one-on-one opportunities in the secondary. It’s a defensive scheme that will be well worth watching.