Free Press sports writer Chris Solari breaks down the Michigan State football recruits who signed Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period, to play for new coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Spartans:
*Listed in order of prospect ranking; will be updated as players sign
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMSU football recruiting class signees for 2026
OT Eli Bickel
School: North Branch.
Vitals: 6 feet 6, 270 pounds.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Four stars; No. 457 overall, No. 43 OT.
The buzz: Possesses strong footwork, power at the point of attack and athletic ability to pull and be a lead blocker. Has the toughness and strength to play inside but the size and reach to be on the edge of the offensive line in college. Bickel, the No. 7 player in the state according to 247 Sports' composite rankings, has wrestled and brings fierce competitiveness to his play on both lines for North Branch.
TE Joey Caudill
Lexington High School's Joe Caudill carries the ball against Toledo Central Catholic High School during OHSAA Division III regional quarterfinal high school football action Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 at Colonel Crawford High School.School: Lexington (Mansfield, Ohio).
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVitals: 6-5, 215.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Four stars; No. 432 overall, No. 23 TE.
The buzz: The first commitment for the 2026 class remained loyal to his pledge despite the coaching change. Caudill is a big target who will need to put on weight when he gets to college to handle the rigors of Big Ten blocking. A high school quarterback and linebacker, he's athletic and has good size to make that transition. Comes from the same town as current DB Aveon Grose and his brother, Angelo.
OG/C Jack Ziarko
Hoover’s Jack Ziarko runs a first half interception for a gain in the first half against Columbus Northland in a Division II, Region 7 first-round playoff game at Hoover, Friday, October. 31, 2025.School: Hoover (Canton, Ohio).
Vitals: 6-4, 280.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Three stars; No. 851 overall, No. 68 interior OL.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe buzz: Projected to be a center when he gets to college, Ziarko flipped his pledge from Miami (Ohio) to the Spartans on signing day after the hiring of Fitzgerald. Arrives with an athletic background as a two-way player on the Hoover defensive line and a star on the baseball team.
TE Eddie Whiting
School: Jefferson (Sioux Falls, South Dakota).
Vitals: 6-6, 230.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Three stars; No. 859 overall, No. 52 TE.
The buzz: A strong pass catcher with the size and willingness to block, Whiting is expected to enroll early. He shows good burst off the line of scrimmage and flashes modern tight end ability to line up wide with his quickness and agility to get open.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementS Brayden Thomas
St. Edward's Brayden Thomas defends during a game Oct. 24, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.School: St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio).
Vitals: 6-1, 175.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Three stars; No. 899 overall, No. 80 safety.
The buzz: Comes from Cleveland-area powerhouse St. Edward, which produced a number of former Spartans including Montorie Foster and the Dowell brothers in recent years. Has strong ball skills and can back pedal and play in coverage or come downhill and deliver big hits. Initially committed to Iowa State before flipping to MSU.
LB Adam Shaw
Pascack Valley football hosts River Dell, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, Hillsdale, New Jersey. PV #10 Adam Shaw.School: Pascack Valley (Hillsdale, New Jersey).
Vitals: 6-3, 205.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Three stars; No. 965 overall, No. 82 LB.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe buzz: Son of former MSU offensive lineman Scott Shaw, an All-American under Nick Saban, and former field hockey standout Angela (DiJames) Shaw. Adam Shaw also played quarterback in high school and shows quickness and toughness to attack run plays and move freely in coverage. Also a track athlete whose speed will be a big asset for Fitzgerald, himself a former star linebacker.
S Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy
Impact Christian athlete Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy speaks during High School Football Media Day presented by Baker's Sports and Jaguars Prep on Aug. 1, 2025.School: Global Impact Ministries Academy (Jacksonville, Florida).
Vitals: 6-0, 185.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Three stars; No. 1,124 overall, No. 102 S.
The buzz: Caldwell-Hardy played both ways and shows outstanding ball skills, flashing an athletic one-handed catch in-stride during a 2025 game at receiver for a 70-yard TD. That quickness and feel shows in his coverage, but Caldwell-Hardy also can attack the line of scrimmage in run situations and has the prototypical tweener size to be a strong slot corner.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDL Hudson Aultman
School: Olentangy Berlin (Delaware, Ohio).
Vitals: 6-4, 280.
247 Sports' composite ranking: Three stars; No. 1,218 overall, No. 125 DL.
The buzz: A tough-nosed, big-bodied tackler who shows size and strength to line up with his hand on the interior on the ground but also possessed enough quick-twitch to play on the edge and upright. A strong athlete who also plays basketball, as well as being a two-way player on the offensive line, Aultman showed footwork in evading blockers to be a disruptive force in the backfield of opposing offenses.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football recruiting 2026: Meet class for Pat Fitzgerald
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