Pat Fitzgerald has been non-stop working since he was hired at Michigan State a week ago. The new head coach has been working the phones, meeting with players, and doing his best to sign a solid recruiting class that was in danger of falling apart when Jonathan Smith was fired.
Now, Michigan State is looking ahead to February’s signing day, and there are some key targets that Fitzgerald would like to end up with in his 2026 class, led by four-star wideout Samson Gash.
The talented receiver from Detroit Catholic Central opted not to sign with Michigan State during the early period, and there were rumors swirling that he would be picking West Virginia. However, he signed with no one, giving Fitzgerald another shot to recruit him back to Michigan State (even though he is still technically committed).
Gash has been flirting with other programs since Michigan State’s season began to go south. He scheduled an official visit to Alabama near the end of the regular season, and he has now added another option to his potential list of finalists.
On Monday, Penn State and new head coach Matt Campbell offered Gash.
Blessed to receive my 19th offer from Penn State!🔵⚪️ @GregSmithRivals @AllenTrieu @adamgorney @SWiltfong_ @jcessante @CoachTerryPSU @CoachMC_PSU pic.twitter.com/yMvxpyurLW
— Samson Gash 4⭐️WR (@GashSamson) December 8, 2025
This is a major development that may be horrible news for Fitzgerald and Michigan State.
Michigan State in serious danger of losing Samson Gash
Gash has been committed to Michigan State since the summer, but it feels like he’s been hoping for more attention from other programs. When Alabama showed interest, he reciprocated. When West Virginia made a push, he nearly signed. Now when Penn State offers, I’d fully expect for him to take a trip to Happy Valley and give the Nittany Lions a serious look.
Samson’s father, Sam Gash, actually played at Penn State from 1987-1991 and he went on to play in the NFL, make a couple of Pro Bowls, and win a Super Bowl. He’s a Penn State legacy recruit.
That makes this offer much more special for Samson and bad news for Fitzgerald.
Gash isn’t going to be easy to retain, but this offer might make his signing with Michigan State unlikely, especially since his dad played for Penn State. Smart offer here by Campbell, and you can expect the Nittany Lions to push hard for this since they only have two 2026 signees.