Ben Murawski didn’t need Pat Fitzgerald to sell him a dream

One of the first things that stood out when left tackle Ben Murawski arrived in East Lansing was his size.

But after Michigan State’s first day of fall camp, what stood out most to Murawski was something less tangible – the clarity the Spartans possessed about their collective mission.

Michigan State isn’t aiming for a rebuild.

The Spartans are aiming for a rebirth.

Coming off another disappointing regime, new head coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff overhauled much of the roster in an effort to reshape the program. For players navigating the transfer portal, there was no shortage of schools willing to make promises.

Murawski wasn’t looking for promises.

He was looking for conviction.

When discussing what ultimately sold him on Michigan State, the former UConn offensive lineman pointed directly to Fitzgerald’s vision for the program.

“I think when I got here, his vision was super dead on and super clear,” Murawski said. “It’s like, we want to win a Big Ten championship. We want to win everything.”

For Murawski, that direct approach was important.

“And that’s what I needed from a head coach,” Murawski said. “I didn’t want, like, ‘We’re supposed to be this,’ or, ‘We’re supposed to be that.’ Like, I needed the demand, and that’s what Coach Fitz has given me.”

Now, months after arriving on campus, Murawski finds himself at the center of one of the most important position groups on Michigan State’s roster.