The 2026 season hasn’t gone to plan thus far, but Pat Fitzgerald and Michigan State are working to turn things around quickly. Fortunately, he has help in the form of a really solid transfer portal class.
The newcomers have really shined this season so far, and through a month, a handful of them have stood out above the rest.
Who have been the five best transfers for Michigan State thus far?
Note: This is for first-year transfers only.
1. Trent Fraley
This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s been reading Spartan Ave over the past couple of weeks. Trent Fraley is consistently graded out as one of the top centers in all of football, and Pro Football Network recently rated him the best center in the country through four weeks. He’s been consistent and dominant up front, leading a unit that has struggled a bit. The FCS’ reigning center of the year might just end up winning the same award at the FBS level.
2. Eli Coenen
Never thought Eli Coenen would be on a list like this after a month, but he currently leads the Big Ten with three sacks through four weeks and he has 12 tackles, nine pressures, and a pass breakup, too. Coene is really filling up the stat sheet and he’s been a revelation on that defensive line, even making ESPN’s all-portal team through the month of September. How’s that for a surprise breakout?
3. Kenny Soares Jr.
Everyone kind of expected Kenny Soares Jr. to become the star on defense outside of Jordan Hall, and he’s been really solid through four games. While he’s disappeared on occasion and picked up a really bad personal foul penalty that ended up being a back-breaker against Nebraska, he’s still been one of the best defensive linemen on the team. He has nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, and an interception. MSU could use a little more from him, but can’t complain so far.
4. Tre Bell
Though he’s already missed a game with an injury, Tre Bell has looked like the best cornerback on the team, when healthy. He has 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and two pass breakups. Hopefully Michigan State can find a way to get another year of eligibility for him because he’s been a breath of fresh air in the secondary.
5. Liam Boyd/Rhys Dakin
It was tough to pick just one of these two special teams stars, but both Liam Boyd and Rhys Dakin have looked solid through one month. Boyd is 8-for-10 on field goal attempts this season with a career long of 51 yards and one of his two misses happened to be a block. He’s been as reliable as any kicker in college football and he’s been the offense really over the past two weeks.
Dakin followed LeVar Woods over from Iowa and he’s been really good as well, posting a career-best 47.4 yards per punt and four of his nine have landed inside the 20. He’s helped Michigan State win some field position battles already.
Honorable Mention: Devin Vaught
Devin Vaught hasn’t been getting enough love since coming over from Maine and fans will be pleased to know that he has two years of eligibility remaining. He’s racked up 26 tackles on the season and he’s been one of the hardest hitters on the team. Spartan fans love the way he plays.
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