Michigan State football notes: Backup QB named and injury update
Scenes from Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
EAST LANSING – As players spread out across two outdoor fields on the first day of fall camp, Jonathan Smith bounced around surveying a new team before a familiar face showed up.
Michigan State’s second-year coach made a pitstop to chat with the colleague whose name is stamped on the football program’s new building.
Tom Izzo, now heading into his 31st season leading the Spartans on the court, is a well-known football fanatic. Making the trek from his Breslin Center office across Shaw Lane was far from a surprise.
Scenes from Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
“It’s always good to see him,” Smith said of Izzo. “I hadn’t seen him a ton this month, he’s been working and all of that. It just shows again how he’s all in on every sport around here and continued to support. I appreciate him stopping in.”
Michigan State wide receiver Bryson Williams (14) catches a pass Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
Backup QB set
For the second straight year, there’s no quarterback controversy at the top of the depth chart. Junior Aidan Chiles is coming off his first season as a starter and his role is cemented with a backup already identified in redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic as next up.
Scenes from Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
Chiles remains the focus but the plan is understandably different than a year ago when the Spartans landed FCS grad transfer Tommy Schuster as an insurance policy. It’s now an in-house option with Milivojevic, a former three-star recruit who was picked off on his lone pass attempt last season while taking a redshirt.
Michigan State running back Makhi Frazier (5) catches a pass Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
“That was a conversation we had going into spring ball, is letting those guys get reps and see what it looks like to see if we needed to go get maybe a veteran backup quarterback type thing,” Smith said. “Alessio had a great spring, he’s our backup quarterback, we have a lot of confidence in him. He threw a couple nice balls today so he’s really taken a step that he would be the next man up.”
Roster health
Smith acknowledged being “snake bit” by injuries early last season, especially on the offensive line. He’s also expecting that to be a position group with the biggest leap with a mixture of returners and veteran transfers.
There are a few spots locked up – Stanton Ramil at left tackle among them – while snaps at guard appear more available. Veterans Kristian Phillips and Gavin Brocious were both sidelined by season-ending leg injuries last year after cracking the starting lineup. They were both on the field Tuesday morning.
Michigan State quarterback Aiden Chiles (2) warms up Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
The opening 20 or so minutes of Tuesday’s practice were open to the media with a restriction on reporting who was available. There were a few notable players sidelined or absent but not a concern for Smith.
“I’d say solid,” Smith said of the team health. “Knock on wood, we haven’t come across a season-ending (injury) to that extent. We definitely are being I’d call it smart with some guys in the camp and we’ll ease them into it but currently we feel pretty solid.”
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Scenes from Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
Michigan State lineman Ben Roberts (55) goes through a drill during Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
Scenes from Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
Michigan State lineman Jalen Satchell (93) takes a water break during Michigan State football practice on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in East Lansing, Michigan.
