Official 2026 Roster Movement Thread - Who's In and Who's Out?




So far so good. Lots of returning starers/contributors, minimal key departures and what appears to be a solid crop of transfers. 2026 roster seems to be coming together nicely.
 










I don't think the other brother played as much for Michigan St?

Went to the MSU roster page. Looks like the older brother transferred to MSU from Merrimack College (where he was a redshirting freshman) at around the same time his higher rated brother matriculated at MSU. So, looks like they were a package deal there too.
 





I like the potential for a starting CB and potential upside of the Safety and competition there. The new WR will be a great addition and hoping the talent pans out.
 




Yep, but if he can find a role on special teams or as a backup in the secondary he will be well worth adding if that is what it takes to get the younger brother to come here.
Honestly, the risk is so low at this point with free agency. If the "better" West brother doesn't pan out, you cut them both after 2026. If he does pan out, having his brother on roster is worth the cost.
 

Added a kicker from Michigan Beckham Sunderland. Does not have a rating per 247.
Looking at his Michigan bio it would appear that he is a kickoff specialist who gets a lot of touchbacks. Would guess they will still bring in a different kicker for Pat/FG to at the very least compete with Jackson for the job.
 

I am surprised Thompson's commitment is going under the radar alittle under this thread. He was a big time HS recruit and I am excited for that but our history with former big time HS WRs through the transfer portal: Malachi Coleman, Dylan Wright, Tyler Williams to name a few isn't making it look good. I hope I can be proved wrong here.
I am very hopeful about Thompson’s commitment. He has excellent height, but he also is about 210-15 lbs. Differs from Malachi in that he’s built up more. Might actually be able to use his height and strength to give Drake the green light to throw down field, one-in-one balls that could end up contested. Johnson and Bateman made hay on contested single coverage throws. Totally missing from the Goph’s game recently.
 


I am very hopeful about Thompson’s commitment. He has excellent height, but he also is about 210-15 lbs. Differs from Malachi in that he’s built up more. Might actually be able to use his height and strength to give Drake the green light to throw down field, one-in-one balls that could end up contested. Johnson and Bateman made hay on contested single coverage throws. Totally missing from the Goph’s game recently.
Maybe he can make a contested catch.
 



Yep, but if he can find a role on special teams or as a backup in the secondary he will be well worth adding if that is what it takes to get the younger brother to come here.
Can his brother return punts or kicks, we have n opening in that role.
 

Interesting to add another kickoff specialist type kicker as opposed to a FG specialist. Need some kickers for competition purposes so have to hope the coaches see this guy as a viable option to hit FG because Sunderland seems like a straight KO guy.
 



Was this year (2025) a net positive? Honest question?
Appears (so far) we've added experienced/qualifiable starting talent and depth at our most needed spots while only losing two mentionable contributors at positions where quality replacements haven't been difficult to find or develop based in our staff's history. That's a net positive to me!
 





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