Michigan State Football 2025 Positional Preview: Defensive ends and rush ends

The Michigan State football team is suddenly two weeks from its 2025 season-opening game versus Western Michigan. Heading into his second season at the helm, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith needs better play across the board to improve on last season’s 5-7 record.

One of the areas of utmost need for improvement is the pass rush, which was anemic for most of the 2024 campaign. At one point last season, the Spartans went over two months, six full games, without a sack of the opposing quarterback. A defense that was better than average on first and second downs was gouged repeatedly on third down due to the unit’s ineffectiveness in corralling passers on third down.

Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi, co-special teams coordinator/rush ends coach Chad Wilt and defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa all return to East Lansing for a second season with the task of developing a better pass rush and creating some havoc for opposing offenses.

As is status quo in current times of college athletics, there was a bevy of defections and additions to MSU’s roster. I’ll attempt to provide a detailed view (in numerical jersey order) of who will be in the mix at defensive end and rush end/EDGE for Michigan State during the 2025 season. While there will be some positional flexibility of players occupying different spots, I will break down this group into those two separate units.

No. 9 Jalen Thompson (junior, 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, Detroit, MI/Cass Tech)

The former four-star local prospect out of Detroit Cass Tech looks for his breakout year after starting all 12 games last season, and 16 of his first 20 career games player overall. He tallied 17 tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass break up, while primarily playing defensive end, in 2024. However, he did not record a sack last year. Thompson’s 376 snaps were second most on the team last season, and in 2025, expectations are that he will be a starter and anchor for the unit once again. It would be highly beneficial for the Spartan defense if he could rise to another level of production and meet the expectations placed on him after being an exceptional player in high school and showing some real promise as a true freshman with four-and-a-half tackles for loss and one-and-a-half sacks in 2023. Thompson, who is also known for his work off of the field and in the community, recently noted that the pass rush is something the MSU defense has been “honing in” on as a unit.

No. 26 Stone Chaney (redshirt freshman, 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, Novi, MI/Detroit Catholic Central)

Joining the team as a preferred walk-on i n2024, Chaney redshirted last season after appearing in one game against FCS opponent Prairie View A&M. In only five snaps, Chaney recorded two tackles, including one-and-a-half for loss in that game. Much like the other redshirt freshman in this grouping, Chaney is unlikely to see a lot of action on game days in 2025. However, he has the requisite frame and has shown ability to play well in a brief opportunity and is somebody who has potential to carve out a rule in the future. Chaney also recently represented the Spartans during the Big Ten’s trip to Selma, Alabama. Note that Chaney is still listed as an “EDGE” (rush end) on MSU’s 2025 roster, and he has positional flexibility, but sources tell Spartans Illustrated that Chaney is now primarily playing the traditional defensive end spot.

No. 51 Kekai Burnett (redshirt freshman, 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, Honolulu, HI/Punahou)

In the 2024 season, Burnett only saw five snaps against Prairie View A&M and redshirted to maintain eligibility. He projects as a developmental player at defensive end, but appears to be somebody who has exciting potential, and could potentially carve a rotational role out in 2025. However, with a fair amount of more experienced and physically advanced players in his position group, such as Thompson and Quindarius Dunnigan, his immediate contributions will likely be light in the early part of the season as he continues to learn his trade and tries to crack the two-deep in the depth chart.

No. 94 Cal Thrush (true freshman, 6-foot-4, 247 pounds, Upper Arlington, OH/Upper Arlington)

Thrush is a true freshman who was an early enrollee and went through spring ball with the Spartans, Thrush will battle Burnett for snaps behind the upperclassmen. As with Burnett, he is not expected to be an instant game-changer and will primarily spend his time getting up to speed with the physical demands of Big Ten football. Thrush was a three-star defensive line prospect out of Upper Arlington High School in Ohio.

No. 99 Quindarius Dunnigan (graduate senior, 6-foot-4, 257 pounds, Chattanooga, TN/MTSU)

Dunnigan enters his seventh season of collegiate football in 2025 and his second with Michigan State. In nearly 250 snaps in 2024, he had 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a sack against Boston College. Like Thompson, look for Dunnigan to flex inside and out with the staff looking to utilize their most experienced and trustworthy talents, although Dunnigan will continue to focus on the defensive end spot. Dunnigan previously played at a high level for Middle Tennessee State, earning second-team All-Conference honors in Conference USA. After a year of transition from the Group of Five to Power Conference level,a slimmed-down Dunnigan is feeling good and expected to play a large role for MSU’s defense in 2025.

Rush End/EDGE:

No. 11 Anelu Lafaele (redshirt freshman, 6-foot-2, 239 pounds, Kalihi, HI/Wisconsin)

A somewhat similar athletic profile and outlook to Burnett, but Lafaele is more explosive and a higher-regarded prospect (four-star by some outlets). Lafaele recently received praise from Chad Wilt for his fall camp performance, as his position coach said he has “juice.” Lafaele redshirted his freshman season after not seeing action with the Wisconsin Badgers. He transferred to MSU in January and went through spring ball with the program. Lafaele is of accomplished lineage, as his father and two uncles played Division 1 football. The latter two also played in the National Football League. Lafaele is still young and may need time to develop, but he presents strong athleticism and he could earn a role at a rush end position that may rotate multiple bodies during games.

No. 13Isaac Smith (graduate senior, 6-foot-6, 253 pounds, Wagoner, OK/Texas Tech)

Smith is a rangy and athletic transfer from Texas Tech who joined the team this summer. With the Red Raiders, he started half of the 12 games he played in during the 2024 season, logging over 400 snaps, registering 31 tackles, three-and-a-half tackles for loss and two-and-a-half sacks. Smith initially redshirted out of high school to add weight to a thin frame (he ran the 200 and 400 meters, along with the high jump, in high school track and field). As a redshirt freshman, he started two games. Unfortunately his third season in Lubbock also resulted in a redshirt due to an offseason injury. Smith will have every opportunity to secure the starting EDGE position, as he possesses the physical gifts and experience necessary for success. However, he will be challenged, and as mentioned, MSU could use a committee approach at rush end.

No. 22 Tyler Gillison (redshirt Junior, 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, Pickerington, OH/Cincinnati)

Tyler Gillison, brother to former Spartan tight end Trenton Gillison, transferred to Michigan State in 2024 from Cincinnati, but missed all of last season due to injury. In his redshirt freshman season at Cincinnati, he played 10 games and received 123 snaps at outside linebacker, recording 15 tackles and two-and-half tackles for loss. Purportedly, the word in 2025 is that the younger Gillison has looked healthy and capable to garner action on the field. Entering his fourth year in college, it is possible the former Luke Fickell recruit will surprise and be more involved than previously assumed.

No. 41 David Santiago (redshirt sophomore, 6-foot-4, 253 pounds, Raleigh, NC/Air Force)

An interesting prospect from Air Force, Santiago started 10 games in 2024 for the Falcons in his first season of competition in college football (redshirted in 2023). He was credited with 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, a team-leading three-and-a-half sacks and three passes broken up. Santiago was a well-regarded portal entrant who drew the attention of the staff with his pass rush capabilities. I would be rather surprised if he was not at least a well-used backup off the edge, but Santiago has a great chance to start as well. While he has three years of remaining eligibility, it would be extremely helpful if he could provide an immediate impact for the Spartans, and it looks like he will be able to carve a role out. Santiago recently spoke about adding good weight and being able to focus more on the finer details of football with the Spartans (something that was tough to do with other duties at the academy).

No. 44 Cam Williams (graduate senior, 6-foot-5, 253 pounds, Loganville, GA/Georgia State)

Like Isaac Smith, Williams is a graduate transfer who joined Michigan State this summer. Williams is entering his sixth collegiate season after starting his career at Troy, transferring to then FCS Jacksonville State, before then moving onto Georgia State in the Sun Belt. Last year for Georgia State, Williams played in 12 games, starting three, accumulating 21 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. He also recorded 12 quarterback pressures. Williams could battle for the open starting rush end spot, but there is a lot of competition. At the very least, he provides competent abilities and much-needed depth at the position.

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No. 87 Luke DeJager (redshirt freshman, 6-foot-3, 246 pounds, Grand Rapids, MI/South Christian)

DeJager joined the Spartans midseason in 2024 as a walk-on and did not see game action. He is not expected to see significant playing time in 2025, but provides depth for Michigan State and will look to carve out a role in the future. DeJager is a Grand Rapids native who attended South Christian High School.

Though lacking a bonafide star, the group of defensive ends and rush ends does offer talent and more than adequate experience. With five transfers in the mix who have never taken a snap for Michigan State, there is uncertainty what to expect, but the volume of options is encouraging. The Spartans are overdue for someone to shine off the edge, and a repeat of last season’s productivity would significantly hinder the loftier goals of 2025. This group has to take a step up this season.

For more information on the Michigan State roster for 2025, check out Spartans Illustrated’s other positional previews below:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Tight ends
• Wide receivers
• Offensive line
• Defensive tackles
• Defensive backs
• Linebackers