Michigan State's Reloaded Running Back Room: Can Cam Edwards Deliver in 2026?

Michigan State football is just weeks away from kickoff in East Lansing, and the running back position looks completely different than it did a year ago. After losing leading rusher Makhi Frazier to the transfer portal and Elijah Tau-Tolliver to graduation, head coach Jonathan Smith and his staff went to work rebuilding the room through the transfer portal. The result is a deep, versatile group headlined by UConn transfer Cam Edwards, who arrives with the starting job seemingly within reach.

The Spartans' 2026 backfield features a mix of proven production, physical runners, and speed threats. The big question is whether Edwards can become the next one-year transfer to take the Big Ten by storm, or if the crowded room will limit his workload.

Who left the Spartans' backfield?

Frazier's departure to Ole Miss leaves the biggest hole after he led Michigan State in rushing last season. Tau-Tolliver also exhausted his eligibility but landed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. Together, they accounted for a significant chunk of the team's rushing production in 2025.

Brandon Tullis brings size and experience

Brandon Tullis is the most experienced returning back and might be the forgotten man in this room. At 6'1