A week after learning that Jordan Hall would be returning to East Lansing for his senior season, Michigan State football got even more good news about the defensive side of the ball.
On Sunday afternoon, another key member of the defense announced that he would be returning in 2026.
Freshman linebacker and edge rusher Anelu Lafaele announced that he would be returning in 2026 under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald and both Joe Rossi and Max Bullough due to “unfinished business”.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS 🤬🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/KcngvCOgbX
— Ane1u1afaele (@LafaeleAnelu) December 28, 2025
Lafaele played in just five games as a freshman with the Spartans in 2025 before going down with a season-ending injury. He was one of the most consistent pass-rushers on the defense before he went down with an injury, and he finished the season with seven tackles and two sacks.
Getting him back after he spent the past couple of months rehabbing that injury will be great for the pass rush. He’s going to be a fun weapon for Bullough, Rossi, and rumored new defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere to utilize.
Michigan State’s defense is slowly coming together
Michigan State’s defense got a couple of major shots in the arm so far this offseason with Derrick Harmon and Aydan West both hinting at returns, and Hall, Ben Roberts, and Lafaele all confirming their returns for the 2026 season.
That gives Michigan State a promising young defensive lineman, a future starting cornerback, a veteran defensive lineman, an All-Big Ten-caliber linebacker, and a plus pass rusher back under a defensive-minded coaching staff.
These guys have to love what they’re seeing from the staff so far as Fitzgerald, a former All-American linebacker, who has hired one of the program’s most celebrated linebackers (Bullough), retained their defensive coordinator that they all seemed to love over the past two years (Rossi), and hired really good position coaches.
It’s crazy to think, but defense should be a strength of this team at least in 2026, and I’d assume beyond that considering these guys are going to recruit well.
Michigan State is bringing back the hard-nosed defense, and the return of Lafaele is just the latest tidbit of news for Fitzgerald.