Michigan State prepares for a wide receiver rotation with eight freshmen
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 1:00 PM
Last updated Sep 4, 2026

Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald and wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins are shifting to a wide receiver rotation of seven or eight players this season. The program faces a rebuilding phase following the departure of Nick Marsh to Indiana, leaving Chrishon McCray as the only returning receiver from last year's top five. To compensate for the lack of a primary star, the coaching staff is emphasizing mechanical improvements and route running. The depth chart also includes two Power Four transfers, Frederick Moore and KK Smith, alongside a freshman class of eight players. Coaches have implemented a strict policy where blocking is mandatory for playing time, with effort-based mistakes resulting in immediate benching. The team continues to evaluate players such as Bryson Williams, Rodney Bullard Jr., and Charles Taplin as they finalize the rotation.
- •Michigan State plans to rotate seven or eight receivers throughout the season.
- •Nick Marsh transferred to Indiana, creating a vacancy in the team's receiving corps.
- •The roster currently features eight freshmen and two transfers from Power Four schools.
- •Coaching staff requires players to block effectively to earn playing time on the field.
- •Chrishon McCray is the only returning player from last year's top-five receiver group.
- 1:00 PMYahoo Sports — How MSU’s WR Room Has Changed Without a Star
"No superstar, no problem, says Courtney Hawkins. With Nick Marsh at Indiana and eight freshmen in the room, Michigan State's receivers will go seven or eight deep, and the rule is simple: no block, no rock.
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