The Jonathan Smith era didn’t go as planned for Michigan State fans and the excitement of the hire back after that 2023 season quickly wore off in 2024 and then disappeared in 2025.
Michigan State is now under new management as Pat Fitzgerald has taken the reigns as head coach and he’s hired a staff that he believes will be great at evaluating and eventually landing elite talent. That’s something that Smith was never truly able to do. He was decent at identifying talent, but landing it and developing it was an issue.
Still, Smith sent two players to the 2026 NFL Draft as a parting gift to the program.
Matt Gulbin extended the draft streak to five years in the sixth round thanks to the Washington Commanders. Punter Ryan Eckley went just a couple of picks later to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Spartans officially had two draftees and a couple of former Michigan State players were selected in the first two rounds (Germie Bernard and Zion Young). There have since been several others who have signed undrafted free agent deals as well as have been invited to rookie minicamps.
Tracking Michigan State’s undrafted free agents
While only two players were drafted, there were several others who I believed were worthy who didn’t hear their names called but still signed with NFL teams over the weekend.
Here’s where every Spartan who went undrafted has signed so far:
- Quindarius Dunnigan, DL — signed by Jaguars
- Omari Kelly, WR — signed by Bears
- Jack Velling, TE — signed by Falcons
- Malik Spencer — signed by Commanders
- Elijah Tau-Tolliver — signed by Ravens
Not every Spartan who is getting an NFL opportunity this offseason has signed an undrafted free agent contract, however. There have been several Spartans who’ve received minicamp invites from organizations across the league.
Here are the Spartans who have received minicamp invites:
- Wayne Matthews III, LB — Bears
- Joshua Eaton, CB — Seahawks
- Malcolm Bell, CB — Browns
Combining all the draft picks, undrafted free agent contracts, and minicamp invites, Michigan State has sent 10 new players to the NFL as of April 27.
Not too bad for a team coming off its fourth straight bowl-less season and a year in which the head coach was fired. Michigan State had some talent but could just never figure out how to put it all together, and that’s why there’s a new coaching staff in East Lansing.
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