When EA Sports College Football 27 early-released player ratings for this year’s video game, there was one Michigan State player who caught my eye as being severely underrated.
Brady Pretzlaff was one of the lowest-rated players on Michigan State’s entire roster, and that was ridiculous for a former four-star linebacker who showed a ton of promise when healthy. Injuries have apparently made people forget just how good he can be.
Joe Rossi is not letting anyone forget, though.
The returning defensive coordinator spoke to the media after camp on Monday and he had nothing but good things to say about his sophomore linebacker. He even hinted at an incoming breakout season for the Gaylord, Mich., native.
Joe Rossi: "Pretzlaff has not missed a beat. He's super far ahead of where he was when he was injured. He will play a lot of ball for us. What position on the depth chart? That will be sorted out for us during summer ball."
— Emmett Matasovsky (@E_Matasovsky57) August 10, 2026
Obviously Pat Fitzgerald and Rossi have added several defensive pieces via the transfer portal so there may not be a traditional every-down role for Pretzlaff, at least not right away, but the defensive coordinator confidently said that he’s “super far ahead” of where he was when he got hurt and that he’s going to “play a lot of ball” this season.
It sounds like Pretzlaff is performing well enough during fall camp so far that he’s earned himself either a starting role or he’s going to be constantly rotating in with the starters.
Pretzlaff was always a top breakout candidate, but this solidifies it. He was already really good before his injury so if he’s “super far ahead” of where he was, Michigan State has a budding star on its hands.
Michigan State’s LB room will be a strength again
With Jordan Hall and Pretzlaff anchoring the linebacker room, it’s going to be a clear strength for the Spartans yet again. For years, linebacker has been one of the strongest positions on the team and that likely continues once again in 2026.
Pretzlaff is the definition of efficiency, totaling 11 tackles and two pass breakups in limited action over seven games and he’s only getting better, per Rossi.
Outside of those two, Michigan State has DiMari Malone entering his redshirt freshman season ready to compete, Cam Stodghill, Dion Crawford, and Caleb Wheatland from the transfer portal, and young guys like Adam Shaw and DeJae White also ready to compete.
The linebacker room got cleaned up a bit this offseason and, in my opinion, there’s more talent and experience than people realize. There’s a perfect mix of youth and veteran experience.
Defensively, the linebacker room is the strength and it has one of the team’s top breakout candidates ready to show everyone why he was so highly-touted out of high school.
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