Pat Fitzgerald is one spring into the first year of his Michigan State coaching career and he’s already picking up on some things that have made the Spartans successful in the past.
He knows that bringing energy to the program goes a long way. Fans were fed up with the lack of emotion from Jonathan Smith and it eventually led to his downfall. Fitzgerald knows also that energy is half the battle. He can only do so much without proving anything on the field. Winning is going to cure a lot in East Lansing.
Fitzgerald also knows that throwing fans a fun tidbit every now and then can also go a long way, so when he hinted at a potential breakout candidate after Saturday’s Spring Showcase, people were taking notes.
That includes me.
Following the Spring Showcase, Fitzgerald was asked about a redshirt freshman wide receiver who had been turning some heads with his impressive frame, and he hinted that the Spartans may just have themselves a breakout candidate on offense.
Fitzgerald on RS-freshman WR Bryson Williams:
— Kenny Jordan (@Kenny_Jordan5) April 18, 2026
“You know, a big, physical young man that's got a huge future. I mean, there's not a lot of young men, that are 220 pounds that can move, like he can move, and you just saw a lot of growth throughout the spring for him, man, we’re…
Hearing how Fitzgerald speaks about Williams has sparked a little jolt of excitement into the fanbase. Knowing that the receiver room needs all the help it can get this offseason with only one of the top six pass-catchers returning from last season’s team, everyone has to feel a little better now with the rise of Williams.
Williams’ 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame makes me think of just a little bigger version of Aaron Burbridge. An explosive athlete with a stronger build at receiver who was a nightmare to take down.
Just speaking this into existence.
MSU’s WR corps got multiple positive updates over the weekend
Not only was the Williams praise from Fitzgerald a major positive for the receiver room’s depth and potential future WR1, but the Spartans also landed a transfer from Jackson State.
Jameel Gardner committed to Michigan State on Saturday shortly after the spring game and he joins a rather unproven group of wideouts with a ton of uncertainty regarding eligibility. Rod Bullard Jr. has applied for a waiver and has been going through spring ball, but there has been no update to his eligibility case. He’s a projected starter, so being down another guy would be devastating.
Landing Gardner along with developing Williams this spring have both really improved the outlook of Courtney Hawkins’ receiver room for 2026. No Nick Marsh? (Hopefully) no problem.
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