Michigan State’s receiver room took a bit of a hit this offseason with Nick Marsh transferring out and Omari Kelly running out of eligibility. The Spartans bring back just one of their top six targets from last season and it could be one of seven if a certain key wideout doesn’t get his waiver approved.
After submitting a waiver following his 2025 season, the former Valdosta State transfer has been waiting patiently for any kind of ruling from the NCAA. There was always a chance he could have submitted the waiver with the intent to transfer elsewhere like Alante Brown did, but he has no plans to play anywhere else but Michigan State in 2026.
According to Emmett Matasovsky of Spartan Shadows, Bullard is going to remain with Michigan State if he is given another year of eligibility. He’s still waiting on the NCAA to make a ruling on his case so he can at least know if he’s playing football in East Lansing in 4.5 months.
Bullard also said that some players are lobbying for sixth and seventh years of eligibility and he’s only played three. Honestly, that’s about as good of a case as you can make.
If he does get that waiver, I expect him to be a key piece in the receiver room. I thought he was used way too lightly in 2025 under Jonathan Smith but he showed a ton of promise in that November loss to Minnesota where he caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. That was proof enough for everyone that he had been misused all season.
With a new staff in town, Bullard has to feel pretty good about a fresh start, as long as the NCAA grants him an extra year. We see guys playing seventh years, so I think this should be a no-brainer.
Rod Bullard Jr. wants his redemption tour
When you go for over 1,000 yards at Valdosta State and decide to transfer up a level to Michigan State, expectations are that you’re going to have an impact.
Unfortunately, Bullard caught just five passes for 119 yards on the season and most of that production came in one game. But that one game proved that he has what it takes to go off for 100 yards in any given game. He just needs the opportunity.
Pat Fitzgerald is willing to allow him one.
If the NCAA grants him another year, I’m just going to go out on a limb and say that Bullard will be one of the Spartans’ top breakout candidates for year one of the Fitzgerald era.
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