Fears and Carr: Spartans’ Secret Weapons Return
Michigan State boasts two high-profile returnees for 2026–27: All-American point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and high-flying sophomore Coen Carr. Field of 68 ranked Fears third overall among returning college basketball players, citing his elite analytics and scoring prowess behind only Florida’s Thomas Haugh and Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner. Carr checked in at 25th, recognized more for highlight-reel dunks and athleticism than box-score stats—averaging 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds last season despite a relatively low analytical ranking. With KenPom and EvanMiya.com hailing Fears among the best returners, and Carr’s off-court appeal guaranteed to fill the Breslin Center, Tom Izzo’s squad should have both production and spectacle on their side.
Welcome to “Sparty’s Greatest Hits,” where returning players are more valuable than a flying shoe at a Tom Izzo pep rally. Jeremy Fears Jr. has decided that the NBA can wait while he racks up assists and three-pointers—presumably between sips of green Gatorade and philosophical tweets about shot selection. Meanwhile, Coen Carr—college basketball’s unofficial dunk contest MVP—will be back to intimidate rims and small children in the front row. Sure, analytics might say Carr is less essential than a fourth water break, but have you seen those windmills? In East Lansing, highlights trump metrics, and Carr’s air show will likely generate enough TikTok views to buy the team a new practice facility. Strap in, Spartans fans: next season’s home games are less basketball and more Cirque du Dunk.
Isaac Smith: Spartans’ 6’6″ Pass-Rush Unicorn
After transferring from Texas Tech, sixth-year senior Isaac Smith started every game for Michigan State in 2026, logging 286 defensive snaps, 26 tackles, and a sack against Minnesota. Smith’s hybrid role as a rush end—a blend of linebacker and defensive end—adds versatility to a Spartans defense that ranked 14th in the Big Ten with just 1.83 sacks per game in 2025. With teammates Kenny Soares Jr. and Anelu Lafaele vying for edge snaps, Smith’s 6’6″, 255-pound frame could be the medium option that balances run defense and pass rush in Joe Rossi’s scheme.
Behold Isaac Smith, the rare collegiate legendary creature that’s part linebacker, part defensive end, and all hat-thrown-in-the-air when he sacks someone wearing a maize helmet. Having hopped from Texas Tech to East Lansing, Smith embodies the transfer-portal gladiator spirit—ready to do battle on a rush-end spot between amateur punter blockers and unsuspecting quarterbacks. If the Spartans defense was a party, Smith’s that guest who actually shows up and mingles without complaining about the dip. With Soares and Lafaele also in the mix, it’s less “star search” and more “Smash Bros. Ultimate” for edge snaps. Can he turn those twitchy hips and long arms into sacks? Time—and probably a few retweeted Vine compilations—will tell.
Division II to Spartan Dreams: Aidan Boehle’s Leap
Michigan State will host Division II Harding transfer Aidan Boehle, a 6’6″ defensive lineman with two seasons of eligibility, for a visit on June 2. Boehle spent 2025 at Winona State, recording five tackles, 2.5 TFLs, two sacks, and one forced fumble in eight games. Initially a wide-receiver recruit out of Minnetonka, Minn., Boehle entered the portal twice, drawing offers from FCS programs Presbyterian, San Diego, and Houston Christian before MSU’s late-process interest. His size and athleticism make him a candidate for edge or rush-end under position coach Andrew Bindelglass as the Spartans look to improve their sack total (1.83 per game in 2025).
Enter Aidan Boehle, Division II’s answer to Cinderella—except this carriage might actually sack quarterbacks. Having pirouetted from Winona State to Harding and back into the portal faster than you can say “compliance paperwork,” Boehle’s finally got a shot at Spartan glory. He may have only forced one fumble in eight games, but hey, that’s one more than some scholarship linebackers. Michigan State’s defensive line is thinner than cafeteria lasagna, so why not toss in a 6’6″, former wide receiver turned edge rusher and hope he sticks? If he ends up as a touchdown-celebrating defensive end, MSU fans will be chanting his name—which is more than some walk-ons ever get.
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