Michigan State Coach Jonathan Smith Plans Freshmen Rotation Western Michigan Opener

Michigan State football, under head coach Jonathan Smith, is preparing for its 2025 season opener against Western Michigan with a roster featuring several impactful freshmen, including tight end Jayden Savoury and defensive lineman Derrick Simmons. Coach Smith plans to utilize these freshmen in the opener while also managing possible redshirting decisions as the season progresses. The Spartans have named five team captains for the season, highlighting leadership on both offense and defense. Injury updates reveal that senior tight end Jack Velling is expected to play, while defensive back Nikai Martinez and kicker Tarik Ahmetbasic remain game-time decisions, with backups ready if needed. The team is excited to showcase their offseason improvements in front of a large home crowd at Spartan Stadium, with expectations of strong student section support to create a home-field advantage. Overall, the Spartans are eager to begin the season and demonstrate the growth from their extensive offseason training and roster rebuilding.