From reliable anchor to NFL prospect, Matt Gulbin's journey from East Lansing's O-line leader to Washington Commanders' sixth-round pick is a testament to his grit.
The Spartans family got to hear four players’ names called that had, at one point, made a special impact in East Lansing. Two of them had left Michigan State to go be great somewhere else (Zion Young and Germie Crowell), while two made their impact this past season at Michigan State (Ryan Eckley) and Washington Commanders sixth-round pick Matt Gulbin.
The Commanders drafted the center 209th overall, the 28th pick in the sixth round.
Gulbin was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in Connecticut, originally committing to Wake Forest. During his time with the Demon Deacons, Gulbin started 23 games while making 41 appearances. He finished the 2024 season as an All-ACC honorable mention before putting his name in the transfer portal and ultimately deciding to take his talents to the Big Ten in East Lansing.
Once he arrived, Gulbin immediately set up shop for Michigan State as a team captain and the Spartans’ starting center. He started all eleven games to begin the season, proving to be as reliable as an old GMC truck—taking all the beatings and lashings while still putting out strong film week after week. Unfortunately, he missed the final game of the season due to injury—the game that ended up being MSU’s only conference victory—but his impact throughout the year was undeniable.
As an All-Big Ten honorable mention, Gulbin helped stabilize what was, at times, a struggling Spartans offense more than most people will ever realize. In an offensive line that often looked as bad as an offensive line can look, Gulbin was consistently a bright spot. He was the perfect anchor for runners like Tau-Tolliver to follow, opening lanes and helping create breakout runs.
It’s nerve-wracking heading to a team that has been synonymous with inconsistent offensive line play over the past couple of years. However, it says a lot about Gulbin that he went to a program facing heavy criticism, battled through the noise, and—despite the odds—became one of the one percent of players in the world to be drafted into the NFL.
Michigan State has now had three centers drafted in the past eight years. Brian Allen was selected by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Nick Samac followed in 2024, when the Ravens—who also drafted punter Ryan Eckley this year—took him in the seventh round. Now, Gulbin joins that group as he heads to the nation’s capital.
The Spartans had two players drafted this year, just two picks apart, as Gulbin went 209th overall and Eckley followed at 211. Now, the two will play just 43 miles away from each other at the next level.
Entering Washington, it appears—per Ourlads.com—that Gulbin will be slotted into the No. 2 role behind veteran Nick Allegretti. Allegretti, an undrafted 30-year-old, began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played from 2019 to 2024 before signing with the Commanders. In 2024, Allegretti started all 17 games for Washington in his first season with the team. The year prior, he also appeared in all 17 games, making four starts.
Commanders fans know the importance of having a reliable, lockdown center—especially when facing division rivals like the Eagles and Giants twice each year.
Matt Gulbin will now look to prove that he can be exactly that. And if his time in East Lansing showed anything, it’s that Spartans fans already know he’s capable.