While we’ve covered both the offense and the defense, you can’t forget about special teams.
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Last season’s special teams unit was highlighted by the Big Ten Punter of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honoree Ryan Eckley, who was one of only two Spartans drafted to the NFL in April. This group will be led by Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach LeVar Woods. Woods spent the previous 18 years at Iowa under Kirk Ferentz, but joined MSU to be Pat Fitzgerald’s
right-hand man as he looks to become a head coach one day. Woods is considered to be the best special teams coach in the B1G, and maybe even the best in the nation.
Let’s take a look at the changes made in this room since last year.
Departed Players
- Ryan Eckley, P (12 games)
- Jack Wills, LS (12 games)
- Martin Connington, K (11 games)
- Blake Sislo, K (3 games)
- Tarik Ahmetbasic, K
- Carson Voss, P
- Kaden Schickel, LS
- Aiden DeCorte, LS
Eckley was drafted by the Ravens, Wills transferred to Nebraska, Connington to Kansas, and Ahmetbasic to Memphis.
Returning Players
There are none – every player in the Special Teams room is new to Michigan State.
New Players
Coach Fitz added four transfers and two freshmen to the specialists group for 2026:
- Liam Boyd, K (Gr, 6’1”, 200#) – 12 games, 9/12 FGs, 15/15 PATs – Charlotte
- Rhys Dakin, P (Jr, 6’4”, 235#) – 13 games, averaged 43.9 yards per punt – Iowa
- Nick Duzansky, LS (R-Jr, 6’5”, 197#) – 3 games – Oregon
- Alex Weeks, P (R-Fr, 6’4”, 191#) – redshirt from Northern Arizona
- Stephen Gonzales, K (Fr, 5’10”, 182#) – 2025 5-star from Monroe, NC
- Trey Serauskis, LS (Fr, 5’10”, 205#) – 2025 3-star from Frankfort, IL
2026 Projection
With a brand new group in his first year in East Lansing, I’d expect LeVar Woods to roll with the experience of Boyd, Dakin, and Duzansky. I’d keep an eye on Stephen Gonzales, however, as an exciting prospect at K for the future. With the departures of Elijah Tau-Tolliver and Omari Kelly, Chrison McGray is the only returning MSU player with some experience returning kicks. Kenneth Williams, a transfer RB from Nebraska, averaged almost 33 yards per return and even had a kick-return TD last year.
Expected Starters:
- Kicker: Liam Boyd
- Punter: Rhys Dakin
- Long-Snapper: Nick Duzansky
- Holder: Rhys Dakin
- Kick-off: Liam Boyd
- Kick Returner: Kenneth Williams
- Punt Returner: Chrishon McCray
Go Green!
