Defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren and the Spartans held their first practice of the season on Tuesday.
Spartans Officially Open Preseason Camp
7/29/2025 4:19:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State football team officially opened preseason camp with its first practice on Tuesday on the outdoor practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building.
The Spartans worked out in helmets, spider pads and shorts under cloudy skies and temperatures in the 70s during the first half of practice before the sun heated up the temperatures into the 80s for the second portion of practice.
Following practice, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith met with the media to recap the first day.
"It's always good to get started," said Smith. "Practice one, common, but we had good energy out there, a lot of work has been put in this summer, really getting ready for this day and this month.
"Really excited about this group – you can tell the work that's been made. Guys are bigger, faster, stronger, guys moving around and getting it. First day in a helmet only but I thought it was a really good start and guys have progressed."
The Spartans reported on Monday and held team meetings throughout the day before beginning practice on Tuesday.
Michigan State is slated to return to the practice field on Wednesday morning.
The 2025 season opener is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29 vs. Western Michigan at 7 p.m. in Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State head football coach Jonathan Smith (Tuesday, July 29)
On the weather…
Today I thought it was pretty nice. It got a little warm towards the end but we got out there and it was perfect.
On the difference of first practice this year to last…
Quite a difference in how much lead-up time with a year of experience, even with what we got done this summer. We did a heavy amount in June as well, getting with guys second year in the scheme with offense, defense and special teams. We actually did a little bit of prep last week in regards to getting with these guys. So it felt a lot different, a lot cleaner. Just guys moving in the right spots, less mistakes, that kind of thing.
On the new faces from the portal…
There's an advantage to the more you can retain to start. We're happy we got 70-something guys that are still on the roster. We did do a heavy amount of work in January, and then you just get more time with them with spring ball and all of that. And then yes, we did have some additions, not just the portal but some high school guys in June here. So we are still getting our first look at those guys. There's a few positions that are a little bit heavier with the new additions so it'll take us time to do a thorough evaluation on these guys.
On the feeling of guys coming back…
You definitely feel a deeper bond, more comfortable just because you had a longer experience with them. I do sarcastically say, but everyone chooses what roster they've been on and for them to choose us it's a real thing because they got options to go to other places. And with this day and age in college football you are going to have more movement than we would have had, call it, four or five years ago. So it's an exciting time in regards to having a good amount of guys back but also diving into some new pieces that we think are really going to help us with our depth and competition.
On Coach Izzo being at practice…
It's always good to see him. Haven't seen him a ton this month, he's been working and all that. But it just goes to show again how he's all in on every sport around here continuing to support. He says he'll come back, I know he'll be at the home games and he's been a great person to lean on since I've been here.
On the strength program over the summer with Coach Mike McDonald…
I don't want to give away all our secrets, but going through year one you learn some things. But we always want to be on the cutting edge of how we are training. Again, it's not only the two hours that are spent in the weight room, it's the nutrition part of that, sports science part of that, our training room is part of that. I think we just have elite groups and all of those groups do a great job.
On identifying leaders…
I think we are getting leadership from, yes, guys that are back, that have been through the process, that are all in on our approach and how we are doing it. But I do think we have added some guys, especially in January, that have some influence. I think about guys like Matt Gulbin, guy's been around the block, started some games at a high level, Luka Vincic in that room as well. Newcomers that have some influence on the place. We aren't just going to say, 'Hey you've been here long enough, you can become a leader.' We are in double digits in regards to leadership on this team.
More on Gulbin as a leader…
I think he continues to be the teammate guys enjoy to be around. Guys see how hard he works and how much it means to him and he's definitely got a year under his belt to continue to grow in that leadership belt because he is a leader on this team.
On Aidan Chiles in year two as the starter…
Just experience, it's hard to recreate in practice and all of that. And yes, experience playing in the game, learning things from first down, second down, red zone and all of that. Handling the week to week, handling the crowd noise, handling how you prepare another go-around. He's grown and ready to do it at a higher level.
On position battles with the team…
I think a year ago we had more battles to start type of thing. This year we've got more battles for how much you are going to play. We might have guys run out there first, but we're going to be a place where you're rotating and I think on the defensive side we played a lot of guys. We might know 'Jordan Hall is going to start' type thing, but we are going to play a bunch of guys at that position. In the secondary with what we brought in here in January and the summer, that's going to work itself out. That's probably a position group that is truly competing to start.
On the depth difference with offensive line…
Really big. I was asked last week on what you learned from last year to now. Going from the nine conference games, the Big Ten, depth is critically important, especially at that position. And yeah, we got snake-bitten a little bit early in the season, a couple guys go down early in the season but we want to be able to play more than five guys on the O-line. It's a physical brand of football so you need depth. And we are trying to create more and more and feel good. We had some younger guys that played last year and got a chance to grow and they have added some things in the portal that create more competition in that room, and then we do have some starters at the O-line that need to continue to take a step in their game. So we are hoping that shows up this fall that we have depth in the O-line.
On players recovering from injuries on the O-line…
All three went today. I think about Dooley (Kristian Phillips) and (Gavin) Broscious, those guys ran with the first and second groups today. I think Cole (Dellinger) was around that today a little bit, I gotta watch the tape again. All three are coming along and it's nice to finally watch them healthy.
On the development of Aidan Chiles…
I know there's an emphasis on the reads, the decision-making, recognition, getting the ball out of his hand, also this balancing act of he can extend and create. And so when he goes and does that and it's pull the trigger and go down the field or it's get out and not make a bad play worse, that's where I'm anxious to see in practice when he gets in those situations what it looks like.
On the backup quarterbacks…
That was a conversation we had going into spring ball. It was about getting those guys reps and seeing what it looks like to see if maybe we needed to go get a veteran quarterback. But I thought Alessio (Milivojevic) had a great spring, he's our backup quarterback, we have a lot of confidence in him, he threw a lot of good balls today. He's really taken the step that he'd be the next man up. I want to be a place of development and at the quarterback position, I think of the schemes, the reads, with more time you get with them we'd love to be in a place where we are developing them with sitting a year or two. In this day and age, we'd love to do it.
The Spartans worked out in helmets, spider pads and shorts under cloudy skies and temperatures in the 70s during the first half of practice before the sun heated up the temperatures into the 80s for the second portion of practice.
Following practice, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith met with the media to recap the first day.
"It's always good to get started," said Smith. "Practice one, common, but we had good energy out there, a lot of work has been put in this summer, really getting ready for this day and this month.
"Really excited about this group – you can tell the work that's been made. Guys are bigger, faster, stronger, guys moving around and getting it. First day in a helmet only but I thought it was a really good start and guys have progressed."
The Spartans reported on Monday and held team meetings throughout the day before beginning practice on Tuesday.
Michigan State is slated to return to the practice field on Wednesday morning.
The 2025 season opener is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29 vs. Western Michigan at 7 p.m. in Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State head football coach Jonathan Smith (Tuesday, July 29)
On the weather…
Today I thought it was pretty nice. It got a little warm towards the end but we got out there and it was perfect.
On the difference of first practice this year to last…
Quite a difference in how much lead-up time with a year of experience, even with what we got done this summer. We did a heavy amount in June as well, getting with guys second year in the scheme with offense, defense and special teams. We actually did a little bit of prep last week in regards to getting with these guys. So it felt a lot different, a lot cleaner. Just guys moving in the right spots, less mistakes, that kind of thing.
On the new faces from the portal…
There's an advantage to the more you can retain to start. We're happy we got 70-something guys that are still on the roster. We did do a heavy amount of work in January, and then you just get more time with them with spring ball and all of that. And then yes, we did have some additions, not just the portal but some high school guys in June here. So we are still getting our first look at those guys. There's a few positions that are a little bit heavier with the new additions so it'll take us time to do a thorough evaluation on these guys.
On the feeling of guys coming back…
You definitely feel a deeper bond, more comfortable just because you had a longer experience with them. I do sarcastically say, but everyone chooses what roster they've been on and for them to choose us it's a real thing because they got options to go to other places. And with this day and age in college football you are going to have more movement than we would have had, call it, four or five years ago. So it's an exciting time in regards to having a good amount of guys back but also diving into some new pieces that we think are really going to help us with our depth and competition.
On Coach Izzo being at practice…
It's always good to see him. Haven't seen him a ton this month, he's been working and all that. But it just goes to show again how he's all in on every sport around here continuing to support. He says he'll come back, I know he'll be at the home games and he's been a great person to lean on since I've been here.
On the strength program over the summer with Coach Mike McDonald…
I don't want to give away all our secrets, but going through year one you learn some things. But we always want to be on the cutting edge of how we are training. Again, it's not only the two hours that are spent in the weight room, it's the nutrition part of that, sports science part of that, our training room is part of that. I think we just have elite groups and all of those groups do a great job.
On identifying leaders…
I think we are getting leadership from, yes, guys that are back, that have been through the process, that are all in on our approach and how we are doing it. But I do think we have added some guys, especially in January, that have some influence. I think about guys like Matt Gulbin, guy's been around the block, started some games at a high level, Luka Vincic in that room as well. Newcomers that have some influence on the place. We aren't just going to say, 'Hey you've been here long enough, you can become a leader.' We are in double digits in regards to leadership on this team.
More on Gulbin as a leader…
I think he continues to be the teammate guys enjoy to be around. Guys see how hard he works and how much it means to him and he's definitely got a year under his belt to continue to grow in that leadership belt because he is a leader on this team.
On Aidan Chiles in year two as the starter…
Just experience, it's hard to recreate in practice and all of that. And yes, experience playing in the game, learning things from first down, second down, red zone and all of that. Handling the week to week, handling the crowd noise, handling how you prepare another go-around. He's grown and ready to do it at a higher level.
On position battles with the team…
I think a year ago we had more battles to start type of thing. This year we've got more battles for how much you are going to play. We might have guys run out there first, but we're going to be a place where you're rotating and I think on the defensive side we played a lot of guys. We might know 'Jordan Hall is going to start' type thing, but we are going to play a bunch of guys at that position. In the secondary with what we brought in here in January and the summer, that's going to work itself out. That's probably a position group that is truly competing to start.
On the depth difference with offensive line…
Really big. I was asked last week on what you learned from last year to now. Going from the nine conference games, the Big Ten, depth is critically important, especially at that position. And yeah, we got snake-bitten a little bit early in the season, a couple guys go down early in the season but we want to be able to play more than five guys on the O-line. It's a physical brand of football so you need depth. And we are trying to create more and more and feel good. We had some younger guys that played last year and got a chance to grow and they have added some things in the portal that create more competition in that room, and then we do have some starters at the O-line that need to continue to take a step in their game. So we are hoping that shows up this fall that we have depth in the O-line.
On players recovering from injuries on the O-line…
All three went today. I think about Dooley (Kristian Phillips) and (Gavin) Broscious, those guys ran with the first and second groups today. I think Cole (Dellinger) was around that today a little bit, I gotta watch the tape again. All three are coming along and it's nice to finally watch them healthy.
On the development of Aidan Chiles…
I know there's an emphasis on the reads, the decision-making, recognition, getting the ball out of his hand, also this balancing act of he can extend and create. And so when he goes and does that and it's pull the trigger and go down the field or it's get out and not make a bad play worse, that's where I'm anxious to see in practice when he gets in those situations what it looks like.
On the backup quarterbacks…
That was a conversation we had going into spring ball. It was about getting those guys reps and seeing what it looks like to see if maybe we needed to go get a veteran quarterback. But I thought Alessio (Milivojevic) had a great spring, he's our backup quarterback, we have a lot of confidence in him, he threw a lot of good balls today. He's really taken the step that he'd be the next man up. I want to be a place of development and at the quarterback position, I think of the schemes, the reads, with more time you get with them we'd love to be in a place where we are developing them with sitting a year or two. In this day and age, we'd love to do it.
A new season starts now. pic.twitter.com/YfdJ5ReMwC
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) July 29, 2025
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