2026 Michigan State Football Positional Preview: Running backs
Michigan State's running backs room looks like a strength heading into 2026.
If the wide receiver room is the biggest question mark on Michigan State's roster entering the 2026 season, the running back room could be one of its biggest strengths.
That wasn't necessarily the case when Pat Fitzgerald and his staff took over. The Spartans lost leading rusher Makhi Frazier to the transfer portal shortly after Jonathan Smith was fired, while Elijah Tau-Tolliver exhausted his eligibility. Suddenly, a position that had some stability looked a lot thinner.
New running backs coach Devon Spalding, who spent the 2023-2025 seasons coaching Wisconsin's running backs, moved quickly to rebuild the group. MSU added several experienced backs through the transfer portal, giving the Spartans a mix of proven production, experience and younger talent.
At the top of the group is UConn transfer Cam Edwards. He enters East Lansing with more than 2,600 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns over three seasons, including 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Both numbers ranked among the top 15 nationally.
Behind Edwards, MSU added veteran transfers Jaziun Patterson and Marvis Parrish. The Spartans also brought back Brandon Tullis who finished third on the team in rushing last season.
The biggest question heading into fall camp may not be whether MSU has enough talent at running back but rather in figuring out how to divide the carries.
Likely Key Contributors
Cam Edwards (RB1)
Image credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
Edwards is the clear headliner of the group and should emerge from fall camp as the favorite to be Michigan State's starting running back.
As mentioned, the UConn transfer has the production to back it up. He ran for 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns last season and finished his three-year career with more than 2,600 rushing yards (fifth in program history with 2,690). He isn't known as a breakaway speedster, but his vision and ability to get through the hole make him a strong fit for an offense that should rely heavily on the running game.
There is one number that could raise some questions: Edwards averaged just 3.8 yards per carry when playing against ACC competition last season. He'll now have to deal with Big Ten defenses on a weekly basis.
MSU should be able to help him out, though. An offensive line that added fellow UConn transfer Ben Murawski, amomg other transfers, and returns starter Conner Moore could give Edwards more room to work with than he had at times last season.
Additionally, Fitzgerald recently had some strong praise for Edwards, noting that Edwards has the “talent” to be the best running back he’s ever coached and that he expects Edwards to be the best tailback in the country.
The good news for the Spartans is that Edwards shouldn't have to carry the entire workload. With this much depth behind him, Fitzgerald and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan can afford to keep him fresh instead of giving him 20-plus carries every week.
Jaziun Patterson
Image Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Patterson gives MSU another experienced option in the backfield.
The fifth-year senior spent the last several seasons at Iowa, where he finished his career with 858 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry in each of his final two seasons and saw his share of important snaps for the Hawkeyes.
He wasn't a featured back with the Hawkeyes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for MSU. Patterson has experience in a complementary role and should be capable of giving Edwards a break without a major drop-off in production.
He also had some of his better performances in Iowa's biggest games, which could make him a valuable option when the Spartans need someone they can trust in a big spot.
Marvis Parrish
Image Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
Parrish could be one of the more interesting players to watch during fall camp.
The Western Kentucky transfer was the team's lead running back as a true freshman last season, rushing for 576 yards while adding another 203 yards as a receiver. He's also added 13 pounds and now weighs 209 pounds according to MSU's official listing.
That's a significant change for a player who already showed he could handle a featured role.
Parrish probably won't need to carry that kind of workload with the Spartans given Edwards and Patterson being expected ahead of him, but his ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver gives Sheridan another way to use him.
He has four seasons of eligibility remaining under the NCAA's new eligibility rules, making him an especially interesting piece for both 2026 and the future.
Brandon Tullis
Image Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect.
Tullis is the one back in the room who already knows what it's like to play a game in Spartan Stadium.
As a redshirt sophomore last season, Tullis worked behind Frazier and carved out a role as a change-of-pace and short-yardage option. He finished third on the team with 301 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 69 carries while also catching 11 passes for 82 yards.
His size gives the Spartans something different, too. At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, Tullis is the biggest scholarship running back on the roster.
That could make him especially valuable near the goal line and in situations where MSU wants to run between the tackles. He already has Big Ten experience, and that familiarity should help him stay involved even with the additions at the position.
Potential Contributors
Kenneth Williams
Image Credit: Michigan State Athletics.
Williams came to Michigan State primarily as a return specialist after earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors at Nebraska for his work on special teams.
But there could be an opportunity for him to do more.
Williams had just one carry during MSU's spring game, but he turned it into a 65-plus-yard touchdown. That's obviously a small sample size, but it showed the kind of explosiveness he can bring to the offense.
He didn't receive much work as a running back at UNL, so his role in the actual rotation is still a question. If he continues to make plays during fall camp, though, the coaching staff could find ways to get him on the field.
Jace Clarizio
Image Credit: Michigan State Athletics.
Clarizio is one of the more intriguing long-term players in the room.
The East Lansing native was one of the more talked-about recruits in MSU's 2025 class. He initially flipped from the Spartans to Alabama before eventually returning to the Spartans late in the recruiting process.
With so many experienced backs ahead of him, Clarizio may have to wait for his opportunity. Fall camp should provide a better indication of whether he's ready to compete for snaps or remains more of a developmental option.
Zion Gist
Image Credit: Michigan State Athletics.
Gist enters his second season after redshirting in 2025 without appearing in a game.
He did, however, earn Scout Team Player of the Week honors twice last season. That doesn't guarantee he'll have a role on offense this year, but it is a positive sign that the coaching staff has noticed his work in practice.
For now, Gist looks like a depth option who will have a chance to earn more reps during fall camp.
Depth/Special Teams
Jaxson McCaig, Darrin Jones Jr., and Cedric Williams Jr. round out the running back room as non-scholarship players.
None are expected to be major offensive contributors entering the season, but all three give the Spartans additional depth for practice and special teams.
The Bottom Line
Running back looks like one of the more settled positions on Michigan State's roster heading into Fitzgerald's first season. Edwards gives the Spartans a proven lead back. Patterson brings experience. Parrish gives the room some upside, while Tullis provides a returning player who already has Big Ten production.
That leaves Sheridan with a pretty good problem to have: figuring out how to get enough carries for everyone. MSU may not have a single running back who needs to handle the entire workload. Instead, the Spartans could have the luxury of using several different backs depending on the situation. If the offensive line takes the step forward that the staff expects, this could end up being one of the deepest position groups on the roster.
