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The Spartans are still working to build the perfect roster for the 2026 season. That includes evaluating and meeting with some of the top remaining players who are eligible to join Michigan State this year.
One of those players is a massive 6-foot-6 edge rusher who spent the past three seasons playing Division II football with the Winona State Warriors and still has multiple years of eligibility remaining who has an official visit now set with the Spartans for June 2nd.
I've pounded the table on this all offseason, and I'll continue to do it in every article. If this is the 300th piece you've read from me about how Michigan State plans to win football games, I apologize—but here we go again. If this is your first time getting pulled into an article about a Spartans official visit, welcome. Here's the secret to how Michigan State plans to win games under its new leadership.
They will out-grit you and outwork you in the trenches.
Whatever idea existed about what Michigan State was going to be under Jonathan Smith is gone. That narrative has been thrown out the window. This is no longer a program trying to rely on a quarterback outrunning an entire defense or flashy wide receivers wearing gold cleats while a team struggles to win conference games.
Under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State is building an identity centered around controlling the clock, winning on special teams, and dominating the trenches.
Will that automatically lead to huge upsets against teams like Oregon and Ohio State? Probably not. But if you're going to shock a more talented team, that's the blueprint. That's how the Spartans believe they can close the gap and win football games.
To do that, however, having the right players is just as important as having the right scheme. Not the best players and the right scheme—absolutely not. It's about finding the right players who are willing to listen, learn, and execute within the best scheme. It's a small difference in wording, but a major difference in philosophy.
That's where Aidan Boehle enters the conversation.
The Spartans have reportedly set an official visit with the Winona State edge rusher, a player who could provide valuable depth and developmental upside along the defensive front.
Last season, Boehle appeared in eight games for the Warriors and recorded two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, seven total tackles, and a forced fumble. While those numbers won't jump off the page, they show a player continuing to develop physically and technically at a premium position.
As a freshman two years ago, Boehle appeared in just three games but still managed to record half a sack while flashing the potential that would eventually earn him Power Four attention.
Coming out of high school in the 2023 recruiting class, Boehle was rated as a two-star prospect but was on the verge of earning three-star status. According to 247Sports, he carried a 79 rating and was ranked as the No. 21 recruit in the state of Minnesota.
Since then, he has spent the past three seasons developing at Winona State and now has the opportunity to take a significant step forward in competition.
For Michigan State, adding another body to the edge room makes plenty of sense.
The current group is led by redshirt senior Isaac Smith and transfer redshirt senior Kenny Soares Jr. Behind them, the Spartans have redshirt sophomore Kekai Burnett, redshirt sophomore Anelu Lafaele, transfer redshirt senior Keahnist Thompson, and transfer redshirt sophomore Trey Lisle competing for snaps.
Even with that group in place, Michigan State remains willing to bring in additional talent and give players a legitimate opportunity to earn a role. The coaching staff understands that competing against the upper-echelon programs in the Big Ten requires quality depth throughout the roster, especially along the defensive line.
Whether Boehle ultimately commits or not remains to be seen, but the interest makes perfect sense. He's a long, athletic edge rusher with experience, multiple years of eligibility remaining, and the type of developmental profile that fits what this staff appears to be looking for.
Adding someone like Boehle would be a top-notch move late in the offseason and could end up being one of the underrated additions that helps define Michigan State's 2026 season.
Continue reading...
One of those players is a massive 6-foot-6 edge rusher who spent the past three seasons playing Division II football with the Winona State Warriors and still has multiple years of eligibility remaining who has an official visit now set with the Spartans for June 2nd.
I've pounded the table on this all offseason, and I'll continue to do it in every article. If this is the 300th piece you've read from me about how Michigan State plans to win football games, I apologize—but here we go again. If this is your first time getting pulled into an article about a Spartans official visit, welcome. Here's the secret to how Michigan State plans to win games under its new leadership.
They will out-grit you and outwork you in the trenches.
Whatever idea existed about what Michigan State was going to be under Jonathan Smith is gone. That narrative has been thrown out the window. This is no longer a program trying to rely on a quarterback outrunning an entire defense or flashy wide receivers wearing gold cleats while a team struggles to win conference games.
Under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State is building an identity centered around controlling the clock, winning on special teams, and dominating the trenches.
Will that automatically lead to huge upsets against teams like Oregon and Ohio State? Probably not. But if you're going to shock a more talented team, that's the blueprint. That's how the Spartans believe they can close the gap and win football games.
To do that, however, having the right players is just as important as having the right scheme. Not the best players and the right scheme—absolutely not. It's about finding the right players who are willing to listen, learn, and execute within the best scheme. It's a small difference in wording, but a major difference in philosophy.
That's where Aidan Boehle enters the conversation.
The Spartans have reportedly set an official visit with the Winona State edge rusher, a player who could provide valuable depth and developmental upside along the defensive front.
Last season, Boehle appeared in eight games for the Warriors and recorded two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, seven total tackles, and a forced fumble. While those numbers won't jump off the page, they show a player continuing to develop physically and technically at a premium position.
As a freshman two years ago, Boehle appeared in just three games but still managed to record half a sack while flashing the potential that would eventually earn him Power Four attention.
Coming out of high school in the 2023 recruiting class, Boehle was rated as a two-star prospect but was on the verge of earning three-star status. According to 247Sports, he carried a 79 rating and was ranked as the No. 21 recruit in the state of Minnesota.
Since then, he has spent the past three seasons developing at Winona State and now has the opportunity to take a significant step forward in competition.
For Michigan State, adding another body to the edge room makes plenty of sense.
The current group is led by redshirt senior Isaac Smith and transfer redshirt senior Kenny Soares Jr. Behind them, the Spartans have redshirt sophomore Kekai Burnett, redshirt sophomore Anelu Lafaele, transfer redshirt senior Keahnist Thompson, and transfer redshirt sophomore Trey Lisle competing for snaps.
Even with that group in place, Michigan State remains willing to bring in additional talent and give players a legitimate opportunity to earn a role. The coaching staff understands that competing against the upper-echelon programs in the Big Ten requires quality depth throughout the roster, especially along the defensive line.
Whether Boehle ultimately commits or not remains to be seen, but the interest makes perfect sense. He's a long, athletic edge rusher with experience, multiple years of eligibility remaining, and the type of developmental profile that fits what this staff appears to be looking for.
Adding someone like Boehle would be a top-notch move late in the offseason and could end up being one of the underrated additions that helps define Michigan State's 2026 season.
Continue reading...
