Former Michigan State Players in 2024 UFL

The 2024 UFL season is underway and there are a couple of former Michigan State players participating this year. The UFL kicked off just this past weekend. It is the new spring league in its first season, following the merger of the USFL and the XFL. Here is a look at the former Michigan State players participating in the 2024 UFL season.

Former Michigan State Players in the UFL

There are currently six former Michigan State players participating in the UFL this year. Heading into the season, offensive lineman, Matt Carrick was listed on the DC Defenders roster, but he is no longer there. Here is a look at the other former Spartans, their time at Michigan State, and their journey into the UFL.

Montae Nicholson – S

Safety Montae Nicholson is currently in the UFL on the D.C. Defenders. He played with the Michigan State Spartans from 2014 until 2016. Nicholson played in all 13 games in 2014 as a freshman, including three starts. He started against Nebraska, Purdue, and Indiana, according to Michigan State Athletics. In three years, Carrick had 200 total tackles, 109 solo, and 4.5 tackles for loss, according to Sports Reference. He also had one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and four interceptions. From there, Nicholson declared for the NFL Draft.

Nicholson was drafted in the fourth round with the 123rd overall pick by Washington. He played there from 2017 until 2019. In his three years in the NFL, Nicholson had 126 total tackles, 92 solo, according to Pro Football Reference. He also had two fumble recovers and three interceptions. He was waived in March of 2020 with a failed physical designation. In March of 2023, he signed with the D.C. Defenders. The D.C. Defenders are currently 1-1 looking for a winning record.

Matthew Coghlin – K

Kicker, Matthew Coughlin is currently on the Memphis Showboats. He played with Michigan State from 2017 to 2021, spending five years there. In 2021, he earned All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media, according to Michigan State Athletics. In his five years, he made all 148 extra points that he attempted. He also made 73.1% of his field goals, according to Sports Reference. Following his time with the Spartans, Coghlin never made an NFL roster.

In 2023 he signed with the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL. He made 18 out of 19 field goal attempts there and all 25 extra points, according to The Football Database. This year, he is playing with the Memphis Showboats in the UFL. So far he has made six field goals, attempting eight. His longest one was for 51 yards. The Memphis Showboats are currently 1-1 following a loss against the San Antonio Brahmas.

Brian Lewerke – QB

Quarterback Brian Lewerke is another one of the former Michigan State players in the UFL. He played with the Spartans from 2015 until 2019, though he was red-shirted in 2016. Throughout his time with Michigan State, he completed 721 passes for 8,293 yards and 47 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. This is compared to 32 interceptions. 

Following his time with the Spartans, Lewerke went undrafted in 2020. He signed with a couple of teams between the practice squad and offseason rosters. The teams he signed with at the New England Patriots in 2020 and the New York Giants in 2021 and 2022. In 2023 he joined the XFL signing with the Seattle Sea Dragons. Now he is with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL. The Michigan Panthers are currently 1-1 looking to get back to winning.

Jarrett Horst – OT

Offensive tackle, Harrett Horst is another former Spartan in the UFL. He is also playing with the Michigan Panthers. Horst only spent the 2021 season with Michigan State. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media that year, according to Michigan State Athletics. Before Michigan State, he played for Arkansas State from 2019-2020. In 2018 as a true freshman, he played at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa.

Following his time at Michigan State, he spent a brief time with the Miami Dolphins after going undrafted. He was never on the active roster. Now, in the UFL, Horst is on the Michigan Panthers. The Michigan Panthers are currently 1-1 looking for another win.

Mike Panasiuk – C

Center Mike Panasiuk is another one of the former Michigan State players in the UFL this year. This is back when he was a defensive tackle, not a center. While at Michigan State, he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the media in 2017 and named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2019, according to Michigan State Athletics. In four years, as a defensive tackle, Panasiuk had 95 total tackles, 41 solo, 19 tackles for loss, and five sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also had two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown in 2019, and one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

In the NFL, Panasiuk rotated on and off the Michigan Panthers practice squad in 2020 In 2021, the Panthers placed him on Injured Reserve in August. It was in 2023 that he joined the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL. This was when he switched to playing center. He is once again with the Battlehawks in the UFL. The St.Louis Battlehawks are currently 1-1 following their first win of the season.

Kenny Willekes – Edge

Edge rusher, Kenny Willekes is the final former Michigan State player to be mentioned here. He played with Michigan State from 2015 until 2019. Willekes was red-shirted in 2015 and only played in one game in 2016 which was against Rutgers, according to Michigan State Athletics. In 2018 he was named First-Team All-American by the Athletic. He was also made Second-Team All-American by other publications. In 2019 he was named the winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best player who was a former walk-on. In five years, he had 228 total tackles, 99 solo, 49 tackles for loss, and 23.5 sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also had two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and one interception. 

Willekes was drafted in the 7th round with the 225th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He spent 2020 to 2022 with the Vikings. The edge rusher was placed on the Injured Reserve in 2020 and then placed on the practice squad in 2021. He made the active roster in January of 2022. In 2022 he was once again placed on the injured reserve and released in May of 2023. Now he is with the Michigan Panthers So far this season, he has two combined tackles in week one according to The UFL. As stated, the Michigan Panthers are 1-1, looking to get another win soon.

To Watch These Players

The Arlington Renegades will face the. D.C. Defenders on Saturday, April 13th at 1 P.M. Eastern. 

The Birmingham Stallions will face the Memphis Showboats on Saturday, April 13th at 7 P.M. Eastern. 

The Michigan Panthers will face the Houston Roughnecks on Sunday, April 14th at 12 P.M. Eastern.

The St. Louis Battlehawks will face the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday, April 14th at 3 P.M. Eastern.