Not many Michigan State position groups have been as rapidly addressed as special teams has this offseason. Pat Fitzgerald and LeVar Woods have been constructing their ideal special teams units, and they found another key piece to the puzzle on Sunday evening.
The Spartans have landed a long-snapper from Oregon, an All-American long-snapper at the high school level, a kicker from Charlotte, a punter from Iowa, and an All-Big Ten returner from Nebraska.
On Sunday, Woods and Fitzgerald picked up another major commitment.
This time, it was a five-star kicker at the high school level, joining the Spartans’ 2026 class.
According to Corey Robinson of 247Sports, Kohl’s five-star kicker Stephen Gonzales from North Carolina committed to Michigan State. He’s the No. 4 kicker in the 2026 class, per Kohl’s.
Michigan State adds a big leg to its 2026 class as Monroe, NC five-star kicker Stephen Gonzales (@StephenGon30054) commits to the Spartans. Ranked the No. 4 kicker nationally by Kohl’s, Gonzales may have the strongest leg in the class.https://t.co/jtj5ILRpW6 pic.twitter.com/7kzHgCyy8Q
— Corey Robinson (@C_Robinson247) January 19, 2026
Gonzales is from North Carolina and he’s ranked only behind kickers headed to Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. He’s going to be the Spartans’ kicker of the future when Liam Boyd graduates following the 2026 season. He was a redshirt junior for Charlotte this past season.
As for Gonzales, Robinson reports that he may have the strongest leg in the 2026 class.
What a get for Fitzgerald.
Every day, MSU’s special teams improve
It feels like every day for the past week has yielded good news for Woods and the outlook of his 2026 Spartan special teams units.
The Spartans lost Martin Connington to the transfer portal and All-Big Ten punter Ryan Eckley declared for the NFL draft, and a couple of long-snappers also left along with return man Alante Brown. The entirety of Michigan State’s special teams took a major hit.
Since then, however, it’s been all good news on the special teams front.
The Spartans landed Boyd from Charlotte to take care of kicking duties, Rhys Dakin from Iowa to cover punting, Kenneth Williams from Nebraska to return kicks, and a couple of long-snappers — one from Oregon and the other was a high school All-American. Fitzgerald then capped that hot streak with the addition of the No. 4 kicker in the 2026 class.
What a run by Woods and Fitzgerald.