Spartan Football Showcases Spring Potential

MSU football holds final spring practice open to the public, offering glimpse of team's future

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:19am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in shades of green and white, capturing the dynamic movements and competitive spirit of a Spartan football game in an abstract, deconstructed style.A cubist interpretation of the energy and potential on display at the Spartan football spring showcase.East Lansing Today

Michigan State University's football team held its final spring practice today, opening it up to the public. While the no-tackling format made it difficult to fully evaluate the team's strengths and weaknesses, particularly in the trenches, the practice offered some promising signs for the Spartans' future, including solid quarterback play from Payton Alessio and an aggressive secondary. The kicking game, however, still needs work. Overall, the energy and enthusiasm on the sidelines left fans optimistic about the team's ability to turn the program around this fall.

Why it matters

MSU football is looking to rebound after a disappointing season, and this spring showcase provided an early look at the team's progress and potential under new leadership. The public practice allowed fans to gauge the team's development and get a sense of the program's direction heading into the 2026 season.

The details

The spring practice was a no-tackling affair, making it challenging to fully evaluate the team's performance, especially in the trenches. However, quarterback Payton Alessio showed promise, mixing pocket passing with the ability to scramble. He had a strong sequence with a beautiful completion followed by an unfortunate interception, indicating room for growth. Backup quarterback Kayd Coffman also looked solid in limited action. The kicking game, on the other hand, struggled, with punter Eckley's short shanks and kickers Boyd and Ahmetbasic combining for just 2-of-6 on field goal attempts. The secondary was a bright spot, with cornerback Tyran Chappell making several pass breakups and showcasing an aggressive, physical style of play.

  • The spring practice was held on April 19, 2026.
  • It was the final spring practice for the Spartans.

The players

Payton Alessio

The Spartans' starting quarterback, who displayed a mix of pocket passing and scrambling ability during the spring practice.

Kayd Coffman

A backup quarterback for the Spartans, who looked solid in limited action during the spring practice.

Tyran Chappell

A cornerback for the Spartans, who made several pass breakups and showcased an aggressive, physical style of play during the spring practice.

Kenneth Williams

A running back for the Spartans, who had a 67-yard sprint down the sideline during the spring practice.

Jaziun Patterson

A running back for the Spartans, who had the most carries (5 for 19 yards) during the spring practice.

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What they’re saying

“It was nice to see the aggression of the corners who were actually playing up on receivers and getting physical with their hands.”

— Steve Neumann, Author

“My son even told Zion Gist that the fireworks are his sister's favorite part of the game and he can make those happen so he better score a lot. Gist replied with, 'I'll get that first one just for her.'”

— Steve Neumann, Author

What’s next

The Spartans will continue to work on improving their kicking game and further developing their quarterback play as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 season.

The takeaway

While the spring practice had its ups and downs, the energy and enthusiasm on the sidelines left fans optimistic about the Spartans' ability to turn the program around this fall. The team's aggressive play in the secondary and promising quarterback performance offer hope for a more competitive season ahead.