Lansing Sun

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith is set to make his Spartan coaching debut on Friday, Aug. 30, as the Spartans host Florida Atlantic in East Lansing. Smith was named Michigan State's 26th head football coach on Nov. 25, 2023.

Smith previously served as Oregon State's head coach from 2018 to 2023, earning the title of Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year in 2022. Under his leadership, Oregon State achieved a record of 25-13 over three seasons and secured three bowl berths, including a win over Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Michigan State will begin preseason camp on Tuesday, July 30, in preparation for their season opener against Florida Atlantic. The team returns with 36 letterwinners from last season, including key players like leading rusher Nathan Carter and top receiver Montorie Foster Jr., along with defensive leader Cal Haladay.

The Spartans' quarterback lineup sees significant changes with four new additions: sophomore Aidan Chiles from Oregon State, sixth-year graduate transfer Tommy Schuster from North Dakota, and freshmen Alessio Milivojevic and Ryland Jessee.

The roster also includes an influx of transfers totaling 28 new players from various conferences such as Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC, Sun Belt, FCS, Big 12, SEC, Independent leagues, Conference USA, MAC Division II and III schools.

Michigan State’s schedule begins with a home game against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 30 at Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. They follow up with conference play at Maryland and nonconference games against Prairie View A&M and Boston College before diving into eight consecutive conference matchups.

Jonathan Smith has brought six assistants from Oregon State to join him at Michigan State: Blue Adams (secondary coach), Keith Bhonapha (assistant head coach/running backs coach/co-special teams coordinator), Brian Lindgren (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach), Jim Michalczik (offensive line coach/run game coordinator), Legi Suiaunoa (defensive line coach), and Brian Wozniak (tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator). Additionally hired were Joe Rossi as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach; Chad Wilt as co-special teams coordinator/rush ends coach; Demetrice Martin as cornerbacks coach; and Courtney Hawkins continues his role as wide receivers coach for his fifth season.

Several Michigan State players have earned preseason honors for the upcoming season:

• OL Brandon Baldwin (Shrine Bowl Watch List)

• RB Nathan Carter (Wuerffel Trophy Watch List; AFCA Good Works Team nominee; Shrine Bowl Watch List)

• P Ryan Eckley (Phil Steele first-team All-Big Ten)

• DB Angelo Grose (Shrine Bowl Watch List)

• LB Cal Haladay (Athlon Sports third-team All-Big Ten)

• K Jonathan Kim (Phil Steele second-team All-Big Ten)

• LB Wayne Matthews III (Phil Steele third-team All-Big Ten)

• OL Luke Newman (Shrine Bowl Watch List)

• TE Jack Velling (Athlon Sports third-team All-Big Ten)