Michigan State is welcoming some familiar faces back to East Lansing on Saturday.
Eastern Michigan comes to town with a trio of Spartans on the roster and one of them happens to be the starting quarterback. Noah Kim is back in Spartan Stadium for the first time since he transferred after that forgetful 2023 season. He began that year as the starter before getting replaced by Katin Houser and Sam Leavitt who are both starting elsewhere now, too.
Along with Kim, Cole Dellinger and Caleb Coley are back in East Lansing as members of the Eastern Michigan Eagles, too.
All three will be leading Eastern Michigan onto the field on Saturday afternoon, carrying on a tradition started by Chris Creighton. They’ll be carrying a 50-pound wrench together onto the field which signifies players who put in the work and have fought through adversity.
Excited and honored to have @noah_kim12, @CalebColey8, @cole_dellinger8 and @ReevesTaylor1 lead us out with The Wrench tomorrow afternoon!#TheFactory ⛓️ #ETOUGH pic.twitter.com/U8eKYLXTMB
— Eastern Michigan Football (@EMUFB) September 12, 2026
It’s going to be a little weird seeing three former Spartans leading an opponent onto the field but Kim, Dellinger, and Coley have earned it after putting in the work post-Michigan State careers.
Eastern Michigan is going to be hungry for an upset on Saturday thanks to these three guys.
Recapping the trio’s Michigan State careers
All three former Spartans had different paths to Eastern Michigan.
Kim was the starting quarterback to begin the 2023 season for Mel Tucker. He earned the trust of his head coach before he was fired a couple of games into the season for conduct off the field. He then lost his starting job to a couple of young guys and entered the portal after the season, transferring to Coastal Carolina where he played the role of backup quarterback. Kim then made his way to Eastern Michigan where he’s been the starter for the past two seasons.
Dellinger was a three-year veteran offensive lineman at Michigan State but could never seem to crack the depth chart. He hit the portal after Pat Fitzgerald was hired.
Lastly, Coley played sparingly over three years at Michigan State and he, too, was buried on the depth chart and transferred after Jonathan Smith’s first season. He’s been with the Eagles for the past two years.
All three will return to where their careers started on Saturday, carrying the 50-pound wrench.
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