Execution, Trust, Improvement: How Keith Bhonapha is shaping the Spartan backfield

Michigan State entered October with aspirations of victory — but went winless for the month, falling to 3-5 overall (0-5 Big Ten). The Spartans are in the middle of a five-game losing streak and are searching for answers in the last quarter of the 2025 season.

As Michigan State travels to face Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) this weekend, one thing is certain — the Spartans have to improve in multiple facets. MSU assistant head coach/co-special teams coordinator/running backs coach Keith Bhonapha believes in the team’s future success, his positional group and the players’ continued improvements — on and off the field.  

Despite the Spartans’ current record, Bhonapha remains positive — his coaching approach is rooted in three core values.

“I think it always has to be the focus on continuing to improve," Bhonapha said. "There's three things that I'm trying to keep the guys focused on —especially in my room. Execution, trust and improvement. As a group, we've got to continue to improve."

Michigan State has rotated three running backs in Makhi Frazier (sophomore), Brandon Tullis (sophomore) and Elijah Tau-Tolliver (redshirt senior and transfer from Sacramento State) this season. The trio has combined for 727 rushing yards and six touchdowns, with Frazier leading the corps on 108 attempts for 493 rushing yards.

Quarterback Aidan Chiles has also contributed on the ground, rushing for 227 yards and six touchdowns on 81 attempts.

As a team, the Spartans rank No. 14 in the Big Ten for rushing, with 976 total yards this season.  

While Michigan State’s rushing average sits at just 3.6 yards per carry, the running backs room is filled with young and new players — but no longer inexperienced ones at this point in the season. The Spartans’ rushing attack has shown glimpses of hope this season, and albeit not perfect, has been a spark of inspiration for this team at times. Frazier’s 49-yard run against Michigan showed exactly what Bhonapha values — building momentum in times of adversity.

Still, there hasn’t been enough of that production to win more football games so far and MSU's run game has struggled to find consistency throughout the 2025 campaign. But Bhonapha looks for positivity, encouraging his players to step up and ascend to the next level in games, practice and in life.

“When you're going through a struggle like this, losing the last five games, you don't feel like we're playing up to the standard," he said. "Football is life, and it makes it seem like all the walls are crashing down."