Mel Kiper believes ‘people are sleeping on’ a Michigan State NFL draft prospect

Michigan State is trying to have more than one NFL draft pick for the first time since 2023 after two players were selected over the past two seasons out of East Lansing.

There’s first was Nick Samac in 2024, and the second was Luke Newman in 2025.

What do both of those guys have in common? They both play along the offensive line. It’s actually kind of ironic that Michigan State’s offensive line has been a weakness for years, but the Spartans have had three offensive linemen chosen over the past four NFL drafts.

That number might become four of the past five after this year’s process is over with. The Spartans have another really good offensive lineman coming through the ranks, and some NFL draft experts are drooling over him.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper is one of the best at what he does and he’s evaluated thousands of players throughout his career. He knows a thing or two about what it takes to make it in the NFL.

He sees a future NFL starter in Michigan State’s Matt Gulbin.

Gulbin is one of the best interior offensive linemen in the country, and Kiper even admitted that he’s been his third or fourth-best prospect at the position all season. He’s been raving about him all year, and now he’s trying to turn everyone on to the rising Michigan State prospect, stating that people have “missed the bus” and have “been sleeping on” Gulbin.

The way Kiper talked about the Spartan center made it sound like he was almost getting paid to do it. Obviously he wasn’t, but that just goes to show just how much he likes Gulbin as a prospect.

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who has watched Michigan State football over the past year. Gulbin was one of the only bright spots on the offensive side of the ball, at least consistently. When he was healthy, Gulbin was one of the best centers in college football.

Now, he’s becoming a legit Day 2 prospect, according to Kiper, and a future NFL starting lineman.