While most of us were watching the NFL Playoffs, Pat Fitzgerald was working. The first-year Michigan State head coach landed a five-star kicker, and also apparently soft launched the return of one of his key defensive linemen who was applying for an extra year of eligibility.
Fitzgerald has been building his roster through the portal and the 2026 high school recruiting class, but he’s also making moves with the current roster to ensure key players return.
The new head coach has already gotten guys like Alessio Milivojevic, Brandon Tullis, Jayden Savoury, Derrick Simmons, Ben Roberts, Chrishon McCray, Zion Gist, Conner Moore, Rustin Young, Braylon Collier, Brady Pretzlaff, DeJae White, Jordan Hall, and Nikai Martinez to return, among others, and he’s not done yet.
As new assistant coaches are building relationships with their players in position group-based team activities, we’re starting to see pictures of the guys enjoying each other‘s company on social media.
One picture may have teased some good news for the defensive line.
Isaac Smith looks like he’s coming back
On Sunday evening, new defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere III posted a picture with his new position group on X, and one key edge rusher who was applying for an extra year of eligibility appeared in the back. Former Texas Tech transfer Isaac Smith looks like he may have gotten that extra year granted to him.
I spy an Isaac Smith in the back middle of this photo.
— Emmett Matasovsky (@E_Matasovsky57) January 18, 2026
Appears the TTU transfer has been approved for one more season of eligibility. https://t.co/uVXpbzM0Lo
Obviously this could mean he’s spending time with his teammates and potential new position coach while he’s waiting for the NCAA’s determination on his eligibility waiver.
It wouldn’t be all that surprising if the waiver was granted seeing as he’s only been around since 2021, and he missed the entire 2023 season due to an injury. This would be his sixth year, but he used a redshirt in 2021, and should have an easy medical redshirt case for the 2023 season.
This would be an important veteran defender to return seeing as Smith showed some promise off the edge in 2025, finishing with 26 tackles and a sack. In two years with Texas Tech, he had 45 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He has the experience and production that this group needs.
DeLattiboudere has some exciting talent to work with.