Football is a game that is often won or lost in the trenches. Skill players such as quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers are often the ones who make the highlight reels. But substandard blocking from the offensive line in front of them can undercut the ability of the offense to shine and can hamper the ability of a team to win games.
In 2024, the Michigan State Spartans' offensive line struggled with both injuries and inconsistency. As a result, the ground attack racked up just 90 yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry, making it the least potent rushing attack in modern Spartan history.
Head Coach Jonathan Smith wants to assemble a team built on toughness that thrives in part due to a strong run games. In their second campaign in East Lansing, Smith and Spartan offensive line coach Jim Michalczik look for improved play and depth along the front line in the fall of 2025.
Here is a breakdown are where things currently stand with the Michigan State offensive line for the upcoming season.
Left Tackle
Projected Starter: No. 56 Stanton Ramil (redshirt sophomore)
Project Depth Chart:
No. 73 Rustin Young (redshirt freshman)
No. 63 Payton Stewart (redshirt freshman)
No. 79 Mercer Luniewski (redshirt freshman)
Ramil (listed at 6-7 and 302 pounds this spring) was pressed into action in 2024 when veteran left tackle Brandon Baldwin was forced to move inside due to a string of injuries at the guard position in the month of September. Ramil started in eight of the final nine game and played over 600 snaps, gaining valuable experience in the process.
The Alabama native enters the 2025 season as the Spartans' second-most experienced returning offensive lineman as well as the player in the room who was the highest rated prospect in high school (four-star recruit with an On3 rating of 91.82). Coaches are expecting a jump from Ramil this year based on that combination of raw talent and experience.
There is a lack of proven depth behind Ramil, however, as the current depth chart features three redshirt freshman in Rustin Young (6-4, 296 pounds), Payton Stewart (6-6, 298 pounds), and Mercer Luniewski 6-6, 309 pounds).
Young was the only player to see the field in 2024, having logged just 19 snaps against Ohio State in the fifth game of the season. As the only other four-star prospect (On3 rating of 90.4) on the offensive line, the Hawaiian native has the potential to provide quality depth.
Left Guard
Projected Starter: No. 74 Gavin Broscious (redshirt junior)
Project Depth Chart:
No. 72 Caleb Carter (redshirt senior transfer from Western Carolina)
No. 63 Andrew Dennis (redshirt freshman)
Gavin Broscious (6-4, 307 pounds) was promoted to the starting line-up at the right guard position for the Week Two contest at Maryland due to an injury to Week One starter, Kristian Phillips. Over the next two games Brocscious split time at the position with back-up center Dallas Fincher, who departed as a grad transfer last December. But, the Arizona-native Broscious suffered a season-ending injury in the third quarter of the Week Three contest with Prairie View A&M after just 65 total snaps.
The loss of both Phillips and Broscious set off a chain reaction of position shuffling on the line which was a major source in inconsistency for the unit for the remainder of the 2024 season. With both players now healthy, they will provide solid depth, stability and some experience to potentially both the left and right guard position.
Broscious seems to be the most likely candidate to return to his natural position of left guard following the graduation of Luke Newman. The Holy Cross transfer started all 12 games last year for the Spartans before being selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
The Spartans also added graduate transfer Caleb Carter (6-3, 310 pounds) from Western Carolina in the off-season. Carter is viewed as a versatile and experienced lineman who started all 11 games for the Catamounts and who has taken snaps at all five positions on the line over his career.
Carter has played over 1,200 snaps over his 35-game career so far. He has the potential to challenge Broscious for the starting position and will likely be a key member of the offensive line rotation.
Redshirt freshman Andrew Dennis (6-4, 290 pounds) may also see limited action in 2025 and will provide depth at the position.
Center
Projected Starter: No. 51 Matt Gulbin (graduate transfer from Wake Forest)
Project Depth Chart:
No. 55 Rakeem Johnson (redshirt freshman)
No. 56 Cole Dellinger (redshirt sophomore)
In 2024 the Michigan State offensive line was anchored by Oregon State graduate transfer Tanner Miller at the center position. Miller started in all 12 games for the Spartans and according the Pro Football Focus was the highest graded offensive lineman on the team (72.3).
With Miller out of eligibility, Smith and Michalczik brought in yet another power five conference transfer in the form of Wake Forest alumnus and Connecticut native Matt Gulbin (6-4, 317 pounds). He has appeared in 40 games total, started in 22 total games, and took 1579 snaps as a Demon Deacon. Gulbin was also selected as an honorable mention member of the All-ACC Team following the 2024 season.
Gulbin mostly played at the guard position at Wake Forest, but he is projected to be the starting center this coming fall in East Lansing.
The next most likely player off the bench in the middle of the line is redshirt freshman Rakeem Johnson (6-3, 287 pounds). Idaho native Johnson took a total of 104 snaps last year as a true freshman and even earned a start at left tackle against Ohio State. However, Johnson played in just four games total and was able preserve his redshirt.
Redshirt sophomore Cole Dellinger (6-4, 294 pounds) is expected to provide depth at the center position
Right Guard
Projected Starter: No. 71 Kristian Phillips (redshirt junior)
Project Depth Chart:
No. 60 Luka Vincic (redshirt junior transfer from Oregon State)
No. 54 Cooper Terpstra (redshirt sophomore)
Kristian Phillips (6-4, 319 pounds) emerged from fall camp in 2024 as the new starting right guard and played all 64 snaps in the first game of the season against Florida Atlantic. Georgia native “Big Dooley” Phillips then suffered a season-ending injury in practice and did not see the field again.
Now that Phillips is fully healed, he will face stiff competition for a starting spot from Oregon State transfer and Washington native Luka Vinic, who has experience playing for Smith and Michalczik during their time together in Corvallis. Vinic played in 10 games for the Beavers last year and started two games at center, but he has played only 356 snaps total in his college career.
Right guard is the most difficult position to predict which player will start for the Spartans this fall. Michalczik could even opt to use a four-man rotation at the two guard positions between Phillips, Vinic, Broscious, and Carter. The competition is expected to last well into fall camp.
Another player who could see action at right guard or center is redshirt sophomore Cooper Terpstra (6-4, 312 pounds) from Holland, Mich., who saw very limited action in 2024 (just 36 snaps) but did appear in a total of 10 games.
Right Tackle
Projected Starter:
No. 58 Conner Moore (redshirt junior transfer from Montana State)
Project Depth Chart:
No. 66 Ashton Lepo (redshirt junior)
No. 67 Hayden Lorius (redshirt freshman)
Grand Haven, Mich. native Ashton Lepo (6-7, 308 pounds) started all 12 games and played 774 snaps last year at right tackle for the Spartans making him the most experienced returning member of the offensive line. But the coaching staff dipped into the transfer portal in an effort to create depth and competition at the position. In this case, the staff brough in Conner Moore (6-5, 309 pounds) from FCS national runner-up Montana State.
Moore played over 1,600 snaps and started 28 consecutive games during his tenure with the Bobcats. He was bestowed the honor of second-team AP All-America at the FCS level last year. The Ohio native is projected to start for the Spartans this fall at right tackle with Lepo making a significant contribution off the bench.
Additional depth at the position will be provided by redshirt freshman and preferred walk-on Hayden Lorius (6-4, 317 pounds) from Brighton, Mich. who did not see action last year.
Other new additions to the offensive lineman position group will come from the incoming class of true freshman including early enrollee Justin Bell (6-6, 307 pounds) from Dakota High School in Macomb Co., Drew Nichols from Temecula, Calif., Antonio Johnson from Orchard Lake St. Mary's in Detroit, and preferred walk-on Rashawn Rogers from Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids.
Long Snapper
Projected starter:
No. 47 Kaden Schickel (redshirt senior)
Project Depth Chart:
Aiden Decorte (redshirt sophomore)
Jack Wills (true freshman)
Kaden Schickel transferred to Michigan State from James Madison prior to the 2024 season and handled almost all of the field goal, extra point, and punt snaps for the first seven-and-a-half games of the season. Schickel was injured late in the first half in the game against Michigan and missed the remainder of the season. He is back and healthy in 2025 and is expected to resume in his starting role.
Depth at the long snapper position will be provided by a young pair of preferred walk-ons: recent Colorado transfer and Jackson, Mich. native Aiden Decorte and true freshman Jack Wills.
Stay tuned to Spartans Illustrated all summer as the position preview series continues.
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