RB Room Revamped and Ready to Run

Michigan State Spartans RB Room Year-over-Year Analysis

If we want to think about YoY improvements, we need to understand what we are benchmarking off. In short, it's a low bar... and it's easy to point fingers to what led to the lack of success: 1. Not the most talented RB room. 2. OL injuries. 3. Unstable QB play. 4. Play-calling. But don't worry, there's reason for optimism (check out the Offensive Line Revamp here).

Departures (2025 Production Leaving)

Even with poor national rankings in rushing, it's worth noting the departing stats to understand how they are being replaced.

M. Frazier (Portal)

• 116 carries, 520 yards (4.5 YPC), 2 TD

• Added limited value in passing game (12 catches, 25 yards). PFF supports this with a 61.1 Receiving Grade.

• What we are loosing: steady, replacement-level early-down back

• PFF context: functional but not a play driver

E. Tau-Tolliver (Graduation)

• 72 carries, 428 yards (5.9 YPC), 2 TD

• 18 catches, 139 yards. This was his strength, supported by 72 PFF Receiving Grade

• True efficiency back with burst and receiving ability

• PFF grades suggest a space player and complementary 3rd down back.

  
  

  Net loss: ~950 rushing yards, but much of it came without explosiveness or high TD impact

  
  

Additions (Why This Is a Clear Upgrade)

Cam Edwards (UConn) Senior — RB1

Career profile

• 3-year producer

• Career YPC: 5.6

• 2025: 1,200+ rushing yards, 15 TD. Great 87 PFF Run Grade.

• Receiving: 13+ catches, 130+ yards 3 seasons in a row. Solid 65 PFF Receivin Grade

Skill set

• True three-down back

• Between-the-tackles power with burst

• Proven red-zone finisher

• Legitimate passing-game value

• Strong Pass Blocker with a 70 Pass Block Grade

➡️ Upgrade over both Frazier and Tau-Tolliver combined

• More efficient

• More durable

• More scoring

Marvis Parrish Sophmore — RB2 / Change of Pace

• 2025: 576 yards, 5.4 YPC. PFF Run Grade of 78.

• 36 receptions. Capable PFF Receiving Grade of 61.

• C-USA All-Freshman

Skill set

• Speed + lateral burst

• Space weapon

• Mismatch vs linebackers

• Screen / angle / perimeter threat

➡️ Replaces Tau-Tolliver’s explosiveness and then some, with more receiving upside.

Patterson (Iowa) Senior — RB3

• Career: ~800 yards, 4 TD.

• 2025: 300 yards, 5.2 YPC in 9 games.

Skill set

• Downhill, no-nonsense runner

• Vision + pad level

• Trustworthy rotational back

➡️ Raises the floor of the room — fewer wasted snaps when RB1/RB2 are off the field.

Returning Piece

Brandon Tullis

• 69 carries, 301 yards (4.4 YPC), 4 TD. Run grade of 72, per PFF.

• 11 receptions, 82 yards. Capable Receiving grade of 65, per PFF.

Context matters

• Ran behind an inconsistent OL

• Often used situationally

• PFF grades were volatile week-to-week

Role in 2026

• RB3/RB4 flexibility

• Short-yardage, relief carries

• Insurance with experience

➡️ Tullis slides from “needed contributor” to “luxury depth” — a healthy shift.

Production Swap: In vs Out

2025 Production Leaving

• ~188 carries

• ~948 rushing yards

• ~4 TD

• Moderate receiving impact

Career / Recent Production Coming In

• 443 carries

• ~2,500 rushing yards

• 20 TD

• 5.75 YPC

• Legit receiving resumes across the board

➡️ This is not lateral. This is a clear talent + efficiency upgrade.

Skill Set Evolution (YoY)

Trait	2025 RB Room	2026 RB Room
RB1 Quality	Solid	High-end, proven
Explosiveness	Inconsistent	Multiple sources
Receiving Threat	Limited	Multiple backs
TD Reliability	Spotty	Bankable
Role Clarity	Blurry	Very defined
Injury Cushion	Thin	Strong

Receiving Back

It's worth noting how Edwards and Parrish can work in the passing game. Let's look at 2025 numbers to guide us:

Marvis Parrish

How he was used

• 77.5% of targets behind the LOS

• 93.5% catch rate on those looks

• 5.3 YAC per reception

• Very limited targets beyond 5–7 yards

• Minimal route responsibility; touches were manufactured

What that tells us

• Parrish wasn’t asked to run the passing game

• He was asked to turn space into yards

• High efficiency when schemed, low margin when freelancing

Cam Edwards

How he was used

• Balanced target distribution:

  • ~41% behind LOS

  • ~55% short (0–9 yards)

  • Some medium-depth usage

• Strong catch efficiency across all areas

• High YAC within structure, not just on screens

• Trusted on real routes (angles, flats, checkdowns)

What that tells us

• Edwards was a functional part of the route tree

• Comfortable catching in traffic

• Reliable outlet on broken plays and pressure looks

Role Translation: 2025 → 2026

Parrish in 2026

Projected role

• Designed-touch specialist

• Motion player

• Screen / swing / flare usage

• Perimeter stressor

How MSU should use him

• 4–8 touches per game

• High leverage situations

• Space creation, not volume accumulation

  
  

Edwards in 2026

Projected role

• True three-down back

• Primary checkdown option

• 3rd-down and 2-minute offense RB

How MSU should use him

• Full route participation

• Protection + release responsibilities

• Extension of the run game on early downs

  
  

Why This Pairing Works (Big Picture)

Trait	Edwards	Parrish
Route diversity	✅	❌
Designed touches	Secondary	Primary
LOS usage	Complement	Core
Short-yard routes	Strength	Limited
Pass protection	Functional	Liability
Snap trust	High	Situational

Key takeaway

• Edwards handles the infrastructure of the passing game

• Parrish supplies the explosiveness

• No overlap, no redundancy

In 2025, Edwards proved he could function as a true receiving back within structure, while Parrish thrived as a manufactured-touch weapon; in 2026, Michigan State can lean into both roles without forcing either player outside his strengths.

Snapshot: What Changed at a High Level

• Out: Volume without explosion (Frazier), efficiency + versatility (Tau-Tolliver)

• In: Proven production, higher efficiency, more receiving juice, clearer role definition

• Net Effect: Fewer “just guys,” more defined skill sets, higher ceiling per touch

Bottom Line

• Michigan State traded volume for efficiency

• Added a true RB1 instead of a committee headliner

• Increased receiving versatility without sacrificing power

• Turned Brandon Tullis into depth instead of necessity

• Raised both ceiling and floor of the room

We expect the offensive line to take a step forward (check out why here). This RB group will benefit from the OLine improvement, and we will see it with more explosive plays and more drive-to-drive consistency. From a coaching standpoint, I'd expect them to be far more difficult to game-plan against than in 2025.