Michigan State football got the 2026 season started with a 30-20 win over Toledo. The Spartans, playing their first game under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, got the tenure started right with a victory.
While it was a double digit victory, things were not always pretty for the Spartans, who needed to overcome a small deficit in the fourth quarter after having a very disappointing third quarter. In the end, though, the Spartans were victorious and are 1-0 on the season.
On defense, it is an interesting unit to evaluate. The Spartans did give up 20 points, and 273 yards of offense, but most of that damage was done on five individual plays that accounted for over 75-percent of the Rockets offensive output. All in all, the Spartans got the job done,
and got stops when they mattered most.
After the game, and evaluating the film, Pro Football Focus (Subscription Required) gave out their grades for the Spartans in the game.
Check out the top five defenders for the Spartans, according to PFF:
Edge Anelu Lafaele - 79.4
Leading the way for the Spartans defense was their Hawaiian pass rushing specialist. Lafaele did not get home for a sack, but netting three QB hurries and a couple of QB hits, his performance graded out well.
Edge Kenny Soares Jr. - 76.2
The NC State transfer, and No. 1 jersey wearer, Soares graded out very well in his debut with the Spartans. An interception led the stat line that included a couple of QB hits and a tackle for the MSU captain.
LB Jordan Hall - 75.8
To no one's surprise, the leader of the MSU defense and the man in the middle, Hall had a very good game in week one, despite dealing with a ton injury problems, finishing with three tackles in 28 snaps.
DE Keahnist Thompson
The strong-side defensive end spot saw a healthy rotation of players, with someone needing to set themselves above the others and Thompson may have been the one to do it. The Weber State transfer had two tackles to go along with a few QB pressures.
S Devin Vaught
A Maine transfer, Vaught showed that he belonged at this level in week one. Solid in coverage, Vaught was the Spartans leader in tackles with five.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State's top five defenders in win over Toledo, per PFF
