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Next up on the weekly positional group breakdown for the Michigan State Spartans are the gritty guys in the trenches who battle play in and play out, doing their best to keep ferocious defenders away from the ball carrier.
If you're just jumping into the weekly positional breakdown, every week leading up to Michigan State's first game of the season, we've been taking a look at each positional group.
This group not only features the largest number of players on the roster, but it also marks the end of the offensive side of the ball.
With just four weekends remaining after this one, we'll shift our focus to the defensive line, linebackers, secondary, and finally the special teams/coaching staff.
For now, let's dive into the group that quarterback Alessio Milivojevic said he needs to trust in order to be successful. The group that leads by example, toughness, and sheer willpower. The dirtiest and meanest men on the field who, more often than not, are the softest and nicest off of it.
The highest-rated transfer portal addition for the Spartans is the man tasked with protecting Milivojevic's blind side.
Murawski helped pave the way for Cam Edwards to post a top-10 rushing season last year at UConn and seemed ecstatic to have his teammate follow him through the portal to East Lansing.
It's apparent that new head coach Pat Fitzgerald is going to do his best to run the ball down opposing defenses' throats, and Murawski fits that identity perfectly after finishing last season with the third-highest run-blocking grade among offensive tackles, according to PFF.
The 6-foot-7, 335-pound animal can line up at either tackle spot, but I project him to start at left tackle.
After stepping into a dumpster fire last year in Michigan State's offensive line room, Moore came away bigger, stronger, and mentally more prepared. Now, with a revamped offensive line and improved coaching, the sky could be the limit for the Spartans' tackles.
Last season, Moore started all 12 games in his first year as a Spartan (nine at right tackle and three at left tackle). He played a team-high 765 offensive snaps and finished as the No. 5 run-blocking offensive tackle in the Big Ten, according to PFF, with an 80.4 grade.
That showcases exactly how important run blocking will be to this year's offense.
The 6-foot-2, 351-pound bowling ball of a man looks ready to slide into a starting guard spot after transferring to Michigan State from South Carolina.
After spending four years at Wake Forest before transferring to South Carolina last season, Sharpe appeared in eight games, including five starts at left guard. He logged 392 offensive snaps and another 29 on special teams while finishing as the No. 15 graded guard in the SEC by Pro Football Focus (66.9).
Sharpe reunites with offensive line coach Nick Tabacca, who coached him at Wake Forest from 2021-24, and allowed just two sacks during his entire career there.
Trent Fraley, the son of Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley, joins the Spartans and has already been announced as the starting center by Pat Fitzgerald during Big Ten Media Days. Milivojevic also subtly confirmed that expectation.
The 6-foot-1, 303-pound center has played more than 1,700 career snaps while allowing just one sack over 825 pass-blocking snaps.
Fraley was also named the 2025 Rimington Award winner as the top center in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Simply put, he's a massive addition to Michigan State's offensive line.
The other returning Spartan I have projected as a starter isn't a complete lock, but he's certainly a dependable offensive lineman. Like Moore, Vincic was part of an offensive line group last season that was difficult to watch and often looked lost.
He was limited to just two games because of injury, making his Spartan debut in Week 2 against Boston College before starting at right guard the following week against Youngstown State. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury after just 16 snaps.
Before arriving in East Lansing, Vincic spent three seasons at Oregon State, making two starts at center. However, I believe he has all the tools to become a high-level guard, especially with an experienced group surrounding him.
There's a legitimate chance the Spartans have four offensive linemen selected in next year's NFL Draft, with one or even two hearing their names called during the first two days.
Michigan State is going to lean heavily on its offensive line talent this season. The Spartans want to control the trenches, establish the run, and dominate time of possession.
If they're able to accomplish that, it means the five men up front will be operating like a well-oiled machine, putting together impressive film and preparing themselves for the next chapter of their football careers.
Continue reading...
If you're just jumping into the weekly positional breakdown, every week leading up to Michigan State's first game of the season, we've been taking a look at each positional group.
This group not only features the largest number of players on the roster, but it also marks the end of the offensive side of the ball.
With just four weekends remaining after this one, we'll shift our focus to the defensive line, linebackers, secondary, and finally the special teams/coaching staff.
For now, let's dive into the group that quarterback Alessio Milivojevic said he needs to trust in order to be successful. The group that leads by example, toughness, and sheer willpower. The dirtiest and meanest men on the field who, more often than not, are the softest and nicest off of it.
Projected Starter at LT - Ben Murawski - Senior Transfer (2026) from Connecticut
The highest-rated transfer portal addition for the Spartans is the man tasked with protecting Milivojevic's blind side.
Murawski helped pave the way for Cam Edwards to post a top-10 rushing season last year at UConn and seemed ecstatic to have his teammate follow him through the portal to East Lansing.
It's apparent that new head coach Pat Fitzgerald is going to do his best to run the ball down opposing defenses' throats, and Murawski fits that identity perfectly after finishing last season with the third-highest run-blocking grade among offensive tackles, according to PFF.
The 6-foot-7, 335-pound animal can line up at either tackle spot, but I project him to start at left tackle.
Projected Starter at RT - Connor Moore - Senior Transfer (2025) from Montana State
After stepping into a dumpster fire last year in Michigan State's offensive line room, Moore came away bigger, stronger, and mentally more prepared. Now, with a revamped offensive line and improved coaching, the sky could be the limit for the Spartans' tackles.
Last season, Moore started all 12 games in his first year as a Spartan (nine at right tackle and three at left tackle). He played a team-high 765 offensive snaps and finished as the No. 5 run-blocking offensive tackle in the Big Ten, according to PFF, with an 80.4 grade.
That showcases exactly how important run blocking will be to this year's offense.
Projected Starter at LG - Nick Sharpe - Graduate Transfer (2026) from South Carolina
The 6-foot-2, 351-pound bowling ball of a man looks ready to slide into a starting guard spot after transferring to Michigan State from South Carolina.
After spending four years at Wake Forest before transferring to South Carolina last season, Sharpe appeared in eight games, including five starts at left guard. He logged 392 offensive snaps and another 29 on special teams while finishing as the No. 15 graded guard in the SEC by Pro Football Focus (66.9).
Sharpe reunites with offensive line coach Nick Tabacca, who coached him at Wake Forest from 2021-24, and allowed just two sacks during his entire career there.
Projected Starter at C - Trent Fraley - Senior Transfer (2026) from North Dakota State
Trent Fraley, the son of Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley, joins the Spartans and has already been announced as the starting center by Pat Fitzgerald during Big Ten Media Days. Milivojevic also subtly confirmed that expectation.
The 6-foot-1, 303-pound center has played more than 1,700 career snaps while allowing just one sack over 825 pass-blocking snaps.
Fraley was also named the 2025 Rimington Award winner as the top center in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Simply put, he's a massive addition to Michigan State's offensive line.
Projected Starter at RG - Luka Vincic - Senior Transfer (2025) from Oregon State
The other returning Spartan I have projected as a starter isn't a complete lock, but he's certainly a dependable offensive lineman. Like Moore, Vincic was part of an offensive line group last season that was difficult to watch and often looked lost.
He was limited to just two games because of injury, making his Spartan debut in Week 2 against Boston College before starting at right guard the following week against Youngstown State. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury after just 16 snaps.
Before arriving in East Lansing, Vincic spent three seasons at Oregon State, making two starts at center. However, I believe he has all the tools to become a high-level guard, especially with an experienced group surrounding him.
The Rest of the Group
- Rustin Young - Sophomore
- Rakeem Johnson - Sophomore
- Robert Wright Jr. - Junior (2026 transfer from Georgia Southern)
- Andrew Dennis - Sophomore
- Collin Campbell - Freshman
- Eli Bickell - Freshman
- Jack Ziarko - Freshman
- Tristan Comer - Freshman
- Drew Nichols - Freshman
- Antonio Johnson - Freshman
- (LS) Trey Serauskis - Freshman
- (LS) Nick Duzansky - Junior
There's a legitimate chance the Spartans have four offensive linemen selected in next year's NFL Draft, with one or even two hearing their names called during the first two days.
Michigan State is going to lean heavily on its offensive line talent this season. The Spartans want to control the trenches, establish the run, and dominate time of possession.
If they're able to accomplish that, it means the five men up front will be operating like a well-oiled machine, putting together impressive film and preparing themselves for the next chapter of their football careers.
Continue reading...
