We are entering the final stretch of the offseason and there are limited practice windows remaining for Michigan State football fans to hear about their team before they take the field.
After practice on Thursday, edge rushers coach Chad Wilt got his opportunity to speak to the media about the upcoming season and the room of guys he has compared to last year.
Every year, it feels like you hear the same coachspeak about how certain position groups look vastly improved and I really don't put a ton of stock into anything other than standout performers mentioned by coaches. If a coach mentions a player by name, that usually means they're about to have a big season.
So when Wilt spoke to the media on Thursday and mentioned a newcomer's name, I immediately took notice. He spoke highly of Wisconsin defensive end transfer Anelu Lafaele.
Michigan State rush ends coach Chad Wilt on redshirt-freshman EDGE Anelu Lafaele:
— Kenny Jordan (@Kenny_Jordan5) August 14, 2025
“He has juice. He has some serious juice.”
Lafaele transferred from Wisconsin after one season there last year.
Coaches don't often single guys out, but Jonathan Smith and his staff have been doing that all preseason and they've hinted at some newcomers who are standing out and now Lafaele is the latest to receive praise. This has to mean that he's standing out in the defensive line room, and if that's the case, that's huge because the Spartans need someone other than Jalen Thompson and Derrick Simmons to stand out.
From the sounds of it, the defensive line might have some serious guys this season as opposed to last year when the unit broke out against FAU but fizzled out with a sack drought.
It's time for these guys to live up to the hype now.