The depth on the offensive side of the ball took a hit on Saturday afternoon as junior tight end Michael Masunas announced that he would be entering the transfer portal, leaving Michigan State football a year early.
The news caught a lot of people by surprise, especially since he wasn’t rumored to be a transfer portal entrant, and Brian Wozniak was just re-hired by Pat Fitzgerald.
Connor Earegood of The Detroit News confirmed the news.
I can confirm that MSU TE Michael Masunas is entering the transfer portal. The rising redshirt senior caught 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns this past season.
— Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) December 27, 2025
The 6-5 Arizonan has another year of eligibility, plus a likely medical redshirt for 2024 (shoulder).
This news is especially painful because Michigan State was expecting to start him next season, but now Wozniak, Fitzgerald, and Nick Sheridan will have to find a new TE1. There will be plenty of options, but it’s going to be tough to replace a tight end like Masunas who could catch passes and block at an elite level.
Masunas finished the 2025 season with 19 catches for 232 yards and three scores.
Wozniak is one of the best tight end coaches in the Big Ten, so he’ll be able to identify his guy this offseason before the 2026 campaign. Unfortunately, the projected leader of the tight end room is going to be headed elsewhere for his senior season.
MSU will still have options after Michael Masunas leaves
Masunas’ departure will hurt the depth at tight end, but there are still options behind him that will be able to get the job done. Brennan Parachek is still around, and this could be the opportunity he’s been waiting for to finally claim the starting job, but Jayden Savoury has already hinted at a return.
In his time with Michigan State, Masunas was a plus blocker, and that will be missed, but the pass-catching could be replaced by Savoury or Parachek or even a lesser-talked-about guy like Wyatt Hook or Kai Rios.
Losing Jack Velling already hurt but adding Masunas to the list of departures this offseason means the offense is going to take a major hit.
Eddie Whiting and Joey Caudill are also coming in with the 2026 class to help out and both have been receiving praise from recruiting experts.
Wozniak will have plenty of options, but losing an all-around tight end like Masunas is tough.