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Pat Fitzgerald’s first pledge from the portal is a big one. And it comes at a significant area of need for Michigan State football.
The Spartans picked up a commitment from offensive lineman Ben Murawksi on Sunday, Jan. 4, according to CBS Sports. The former Connecticut starting left tackle becomes Fitzgerald’s first addition after the portal opened Friday.
Michigan State's new football coach Pat Fitzgerald pats his heart at the crowd in attendance for the Spartans basketball game against Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
THE NEEDS: Michigan State football must fill 3 needs as transfer portal opens
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The 6-foot-7, 335-pound native of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, was named a second-team Group of 5 All-American this season. Murawski, who also has experience at guard, started all 12 games at left tackle for the Huskies and anchored an offensive line that allowed 1.25 sacks per game to rank 18th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. UConn also averaged 159 rushing yards per game.
Murawski started six games at guard in 2024 and one in 2023 for the Huskies
Following the hiring of Fitzgerald, MSU had 10 offensive linemen enter their name in the portal.
The Spartans’ trench play on offense has been an issue for the better part of a decade, from the end of Mark Dantonio’s tenure through the Mel Tucker and Jonathan Smith eras. Last season, MSU allowed 37 sacks which tied for 12th-most in the FBS and ranked 109th in rushing yards per game (122.8).
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Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ben Murawski is first transfer add for Michigan State football
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