MSU Safety Nikai Martinez is Ready for USC: 'We're looking forward to being the No. 1 defense'

Michigan State senior safety Nikai Martinez made his 2025 debut on Saturday against Youngstown State, adding a key ingredient to MSU's defensive mix. Martinez had missed the first two games of the season with a shoulder injury, but continues to work his way back.

“I could’ve played Week One, but we were just trying to maintain and see how we’re going week to week,” Martinez said earlier this week. “And I just felt like me and the staff felt like last week was a good week to get my feet up before Big Ten play.”

Against Youngstown State, Martinez finished with two total tackles.

No Spartan returner had more total tackles (51) or interceptions (two) than Martinez did in 2024. Before transferring to East Lansing for his junior season, he began his collegiate career at UCF, where he exceeded the 50 total-tackles milestone as just a sophomore.

In his first season wearing Spartan green, Martinez made an immediate impact. The senior being healthy for Big Ten play, especially with traveling to play No. 25 USC’s explosive offense, is significant for the defense. However, even while he couldn’t be on the field earlier this season, Martinez still made his impact felt.

“I always look at the bright side of things," Martinez said about the injury. “So, I think it was a great opportunity to be able to give confidence to the other guys, and actually get into coach mode, where I see stuff more as coaches (do). How they see stuff off the field, instead of being on the field … I think that helped me, so now that I’m back, I can see stuff a little differently.”

Matching up with the Trojans

Michigan State is off to a 3-0 start, sweeping its non-conference slate. However, an area of concern entering Big 10 play has been the defense. Despite only playing one Power Conference opponent (Boston College), the Spartan defense is allowing 23.33 points per game.

FCS opponent Youngstown State scored 24 on them last Saturday.