Reactions: Michigan State's 2026 signees share excitement about signing with the Spartans
Quotes from MS's class of 2026 signees regarding how it feels to officially become Spartans.
It is a new era for the Michigan State football program. After firing head coach Jonathan Smith on Nov. 30, MSU hired Pat Fitzgerald as the 27th head football coach in program history one day later on Dec. 1.
While the coaching change is the biggest news of the week, it is also the most important time for the recruiting calendar. The early signing period opened on Wednesday, Dec. 3 and runs through Friday, Dec. 5. This is the time period in which the Spartans, and all programs across the country, sign the majority of their 2026 recruiting class. There will also be a later signing period that opens on Feb. 4, 2026.
Four-star wide receiver commit Samson Gash needs more time to assess, and plans to wait until the February period (or possibly at the end of this week) to decide if he will sign with the Spartans or go elsewhere, but most of Michigan State's commits have already signed with the program or plan to do so this week.
Fitzgerald worked the phones immediately and spoke with recruits and their families to help keep the majority of the 2026 recruiting class intact. Smith's staff, including interim head coach/defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, the other assistant coaches and the recruiting/personnel staff, deserve a lot of credit for not only putting the class together, but also getting the class across the finish line with the signings.
Spartans Illustrated spoke with many of MSU's 2026 signees to get their thoughts on officially signing with MSU, Coach Fitzgerald's hiring, the previous staff or anything else that was on their mind. Those reactions are shared below.
