Michigan State Weekly Positional Breakdown: Can the Spartans' Young Tight Ends Rise to the Occasion?

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Week by week, we are doing a positional breakdown for the Michigan State Spartans. With projected starters, interesting tidbits, and recaps, we're taking a closer look at the players who make up the Spartans' roster.

Each week, we're focusing on one positional group, from the players expected to be major contributors all the way down to those simply looking for any playing time.

As we work through each position, we get one step closer to breaking down the entire roster. Once that's complete, it'll finally be time for the Spartans' first game of the season.

Nine weeks, nine positional breakdowns, and one hopeful outcome from every position on the field.

This week, we're diving into one of the smallest position groups on the roster. The only group with fewer players is quarterback, but this week it's all about the players who will be catching passes from Alessio Milivojevic while simultaneously paving the way for Cam Edwards and the rest of the rushing attack.

The tight end is arguably one of the hardest positions to learn in football. Sure, you're not expected to memorize more than 100 plays right away like a quarterback, but learning the position requires elite pass-catching ability like a wide receiver while also demanding the physical, nose-down grit of an offensive lineman.

As a tight end, you're essentially learning two positions while often receiving little credit for opening running lanes and being one of the first players blamed for dropped passes. The tight end is a quarterback's security blanket, and although the Spartans spent extra time rebuilding the offensive line this offseason, there are still question marks surrounding that unit. If the line struggles early, Milivojevic may need to rely on his tight ends sooner rather than later.

So, who are the tight ends on Michigan State's roster?

Projected Starter — Brennan Parachek | Junior

Projecting a starter for this inexperienced group is almost like predicting a coin flip. In my opinion, the Spartans will go with the only player who has been in East Lansing for the past three seasons: Brennan Parachek.

Parachek enters his fourth year at Michigan State after totaling 118 receiving yards on 14 catches through his first two seasons. That works out to an 8.4 yards-per-catch average while averaging 4.9 receiving yards per game.

Last season, Parachek appeared in just four games and was held without a reception.

With Jack Velling, last year's starting tight end, now gone, the Spartans will be looking for someone to immediately become Milivojevic's safety valve whenever the offense needs a reliable target. Parachek's experience alone could give him the early edge.

Carson Gulker | Senior | Transfer from Ferris State

The other player I believe could challenge for the starting role is senior transfer Carson Gulker from Ferris State.

A true athlete, Gulker seems capable of doing just about everything on a football field. His offensive versatility played a major role in the Bulldogs' success over the past few seasons.

Over Ferris State's final five games last season, Gulker rushed 59 times for 397 yards and five touchdowns. During that same stretch, he completed all four of his pass attempts for 96 yards and another touchdown while also catching 10 passes for 124 yards and two receiving scores.

Gulker can truly do it all, but I expect him to be utilized all over the offense rather than strictly as the starting tight end.

Kai Rios | Senior | Transfer from Indiana State

Last year's transfer from Indiana State appeared in nine games during the 2025 season but didn't record a statistic.

Before arriving in East Lansing, Rios put together a respectable career at Indiana State. In 2024, he played in 11 games, recording seven receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Rios has developed a reputation as a strong blocker and has patiently waited for his opportunity. With such an inexperienced tight end room, this could be the season he finally breaks through.

Jayden Savoury | Redshirt Freshman

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end is another returning Spartan who appeared in one game last season before preserving his redshirt.

Before being shut down, Savoury hauled in a 16-yard reception, which ended up being his lone catch of the year.

Much like Rios, Savoury enters a position group that lacks both experience and proven production. Because of that, just about anyone could emerge as the leader of this unit. It would be a significant leap for Savoury, considering the players ahead of him, but Pat Fitzgerald will be searching for someone to seize the opportunity, and there's no reason it can't be him.

Eddie Whiting | Freshman

Whiting is likely to begin the season near the bottom of the depth chart and could see only limited action this year.

Still, he looks like a major piece of the future for Michigan State. After turning down offers from Alabama, Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, and several other programs to play for Pat Fitzgerald and the Spartans, Whiting certainly has the talent to become a difference-maker.

For my money, though, that breakout probably won't come this season.

Overall

This group is young, inexperienced, and still searching for its identity.

The Spartans need someone to emerge as both a dependable security blanket for Milivojevic and a bulldozer in the running game. They'll also need a player with the awareness and composure to make the right plays when games are on the line.

Michigan State's roster leaves little room for error this season, and with so little experience at tight end, this position group will be under the microscope. If someone steps up, the Spartans could quietly develop one of the offense's most important units. If not, the lack of experience at tight end could become a storyline throughout the season.

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