Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 30-20vs Toledo | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 35-7vs Eastern Michigan | 8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 8 tackles |
| Total | 13 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#45
Brady Pretzlaff
Sophomore linebacker for Michigan State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 238 lb · Gaylord, MI · Gaylord
Returning to Michigan State for 2026
The numbers
13
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 8 tackles, vs Eastern Michigan
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Michigan State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Michigan State in 2024.
Brady Pretzlaff
Brady Pretzlaff has been at Michigan State through two head coaches in three seasons. One game to point at: 8 tackles against Eastern Michigan — Week 2, 2026.
13 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
20243 games
- Signed with Michigan State4-star out of Gaylord
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Michigan State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coaches2024–2025
Michigan State
Coaching transition mid-career: Jonathan Smith → Pat Fitzgerald. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Michigan State5-7HC: Jonathan Smith · Balanced, slow tempo
2025Michigan State4-8HC: Jonathan Smith · Balanced
2026Michigan State2-0HC: Pat Fitzgerald · Run-heavy, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: solo tackles (16th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 6.5 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan State | 13 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Michigan State | 4 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Michigan State | 7 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 24 | 13 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 30–20
vs Toledo
5 TOT · 2 SOLO
With A. Milivojevic — 247 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 87.3 · -5 rush yds (6 car) · C. Mccray — 4 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Michigan State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Michigan State
Returning around him
- 2 Michigan State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -18 net (28 in / 46 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Michigan State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #61 · 2026 recruiting class #45
Background
Redshirt sophomore linebacker enters his third season with the Spartans in 2026 . . . has played in seven games the past two seasons (four in 2024, three in 2025) . . . has 11 career tackles, including two for losses (7 yards) and two pass break-ups. 2025 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in the...
The linebacker corps · Michigan State
- #5Jordan Hall88 tackles · 2025
- #18Dion Crawford79 tackles · 2025
- #45Brady Pretzlaff4 tackles · 2025
- #44Caleb Wheatland1 tackle · 2025
- #12Cam Stodghill1 game · 2026
4 more on the roster · Michigan State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology