Del Rio Images
The curtain lifts on the 2025 season Friday night in East Lansing as Michigan State hosts Western Michigan in Spartan Stadium. While the conversation this week has circled around Jonathan Smith’s unsettled kicking situation, scouts and draftniks will have their eyes on a different subplot: the future pros taking the field for both sides.
This non-conference matchup might not seem like a hotbed for NFL-caliber talent, but there are legitimate 2026 draft prospects suiting up on both rosters. Here’s a breakdown of the names to know.
Michigan State Draft Watch
Aidan Chiles | Quarterback | 6-3, 220
Chiles is the clear headliner for Michigan State. The former Oregon State transfer enters Year 2 as the Spartans’ starter with expectations to take a big leap. Scouts love his size, live arm, and mobility — traits that popped late last season when he posted an 8-to-3 TD/INT ratio over the final six games.
The questions remain about consistency and decision-making, but Chiles’ natural arm talent and athletic profile scream NFL upside. A clean, efficient season could push him into the Day 2 conversation for 2026.
Jack Velling | Tight End | 6-3, 245
Another Oregon State transplant, Velling has been on scouts’ radars since his breakout sophomore season in Corvallis when he caught eight touchdowns. At Michigan State, he’s a seam-stretching tight end with strong hands and refined route running. Blocking remains a work in progress, but in today’s NFL, his receiving skill set will get him drafted. If he produces as a red zone weapon again in 2025, he could be in that mid-round TE cluster next spring.
Jalen Thompson | Edge Rusher | 6-2, 260
Thompson has the kind of first-step quickness and bend that evaluators covet off the edge. Injuries slowed his 2024 campaign, but when healthy he flashes an NFL-ready spin move and relentless motor. His lack of ideal length could cap his ceiling, but his ability to disrupt from different alignments makes him a fascinating watch this fall.
Malik Spencer | Safety | 6-1, 195
Spencer isn’t the flashiest name in the Spartans’ secondary, but his versatility makes him intriguing. He profiles best as a nickel safety or big nickel defender, with instincts in zone coverage and toughness in run support. If he sharpens up his man-to-man work, he has the traits to stick as a rotational DB at the next level.
Western Michigan Draft Watch
Blake Bosma | Tight End | 6-3, 240
Bosma has quietly become one of the MAC’s most reliable tight ends, capped by a 2024 season with 37 catches and six scores. His three-touchdown outburst against Buffalo put him on the radar, and his soft hands plus red zone production will give him a shot at the next level. He’s not the most explosive athlete, but as a developmental H-back or possession TE, he’ll get looks.
Jack Parker | Offensive Line | 6-5, 288
A former tight end who transitioned to the offensive line, Parker is still raw but has the frame and athletic background that make him intriguing to scouts. At 6-5, 288, he moves better than most interior linemen and has already earned steady playing time after just one year in the trenches.
While he’s not polished enough to seriously consider leaving early, Parker’s draft eligibility makes him a developmental name to know. Continued growth in 2025 — particularly in anchoring against power and refining hand placement — could put him on NFL radars as a mid-round upside swing if he blossoms over the next two seasons.
Tate Hallock | Safety | 6-4, 210
Hallock’s story is interesting — a Michigan State transfer who reinvented himself at Western Michigan. He led the Broncos with four interceptions last season, including a pick-six at Central Michigan. At 6-4, he has unusual length for a safety, and if he tests well, that frame plus production could earn him a priority free agent shot.
Popeye Williams | Defensive End | 6-3, 250
Once a four-star signee at Louisville, Williams has landed in Kalamazoo looking for a fresh start. He showed flashes in 2024 with a sack and two TFLs, and his get-off remains a strength. If he can build consistency and add to his pass-rush toolbox, his pedigree alone could get him into NFL camps.
The Matchup Through a Draft Lens
Michigan State comes into Friday as a heavy favorite and the more draft-loaded roster, led by Chiles’ potential emergence into a top quarterback prospect. For Western Michigan, Bosma and Hallock give the Broncos two experienced seniors who will get NFL interest, while Williams is a classic “tools guy” scouts will monitor.
For both sides, this game is about more than the final score. It’s a chance for players to put fresh tape out in front of evaluators — whether it’s Chiles commanding the offense, Velling stretching the seam, or Bosma finding space against Big Ten defenders.
Come April 2026, don’t be surprised if some of the names from this Friday night opener in East Lansing are still in the conversation.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
