MSU redshirt junior kicker Ryan Eckley (96) during the first kickoff play versus Youngstown State at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan on Sept. 13, 2025.
The Big Ten conference has announced its football all-conference teams and individual awards. The defensive and special team selections were announced on Dec. 3, while the offensive selections were announced on Dec. 4.
Overall, seven Michigan State players were selected, highlighting their skills, talents and efforts that they showcased during the 2025 college football season.
Junior punter Ryan Eckley
Only two days after declaring for the NFL draft, Eckley was named first team All-Big Ten punter, receiving the selection from both the Big Ten coaches and the media. Eckley was also named Big Ten Eddleman-Fields punter of the year, making him the second MSU punter to win the award – the other being Bryce Baringer, who won it in 2022.
On the season, Eckley led the Big Ten and ranked second in the FBS with a 48.5 yards per punt average. He leads the Big Ten in punts of 50-plus yards (23), which is nine more than the next punter. The Florida native has also downed 20 punts inside the 20-yard line, with ten inside the ten-yard line and one touchback, pinning four punts down at the one-yard line.
Eckley’s leg — and the power that comes with it — isn’t anything new. This selection makes him a three-time Big Ten honoree: he earned consensus second-team honors in 2023 and was named second team by coaches and third team by the media in 2024. Eckley also owns a career punting average of 47.7 yards, which ranks No. 1 in school history, surpassing Baringer’s 46-yard average.
Senior tight end Jack Velling
Velling was named third-team All-Big Ten by the media while receiving honorable mention by the coaches.
This season, Velling had 36 receptions for 359 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks top five in the Big Ten in each of these statistics. He played all 12 games, starting nine.
The transfer tight end – who came to MSU with former head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State in 2023 – tallied 117 receptions for 1,489 yards and 15 touchdowns in his four-year career. In his two-year career with MSU, Velling had 72 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns.
Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh
Three days after entering the transfer portal, Marsh was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by both the coaches and the media.
This season, MSU’s wide receiver-one tallied 59 receptions for 662 yards with six touchdowns. He also had three rushes for 11 yards. Marsh is tied ninth in the Big Ten and tied 50th in the FBS in touchdown catches, and second in the Big Ten and 24th in the FBS with 97 targets. He started all 12 games and had at least one catch in each of them.
In his career, Marsh has 100 receptions for 1,311 yards with nine touchdowns, all in 23 career games with 20 consecutive starts. His 100 receptions rank him No. 33 in program history and his 1,311 reception yards rank 38th in program history.
Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly
Kelly was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media.
This season, Kelly had 47 receptions for 626 yards and two touchdowns. He also had six rushes for 33 yards with 12 punt returns for 150 yards. He led MSU with 809 all-purpose yards.
In his career, the transfer wide receiver — who spent two seasons at Auburn and one at Middle Tennessee State — tallied 105 receptions for 1,596 yards and six touchdowns. Including his rushing and punt return yards, Kelly finished his college career with 1,862 all-purpose yards.
Fifth-year senior offensive lineman Matt Gulbin
Gulbin was All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media.
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Gulbin started 11 games at center for MSU, missing the season finale against Maryland due to injury. This season, the Connecticut native was graded as the No. 1 center in both the Big Ten and the FBS in run blocking (80.3), and the No. 2 center in overall offense in both the Big Ten and the FBS (82.1). He also graded well in pass protection, ranking third in the Big Ten and seventh in the FBS (87.2). Additionally, he was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation’s top center.
In his career, Gulbin – a transfer from Wake Forest – played in 52 games, including 34 starts. 11 of these starts were at left guard, 11 at right guard and 12 at enter.
Junior linebacker Jordan Hall
Hall was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and the media.
This season, the MSU team captain recorded 88 tackles — 47 solo, 41 assisted — with 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. He started all 12 games for MSU, possessing the job of being the green dot linebacker (communicator of the defense).
In his career, Hall has recorded 179 tackles — 91 solo, 88 assisted — with seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. He still has another year of eligibility.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Wayne Matthews
Matthews was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media.
This season, Matthews recorded 73 tackles – 32 solo, 41 assisted – with 4.5 tackles for loss and one interception. He started all 12 games and finished with 699 total snaps – the second most on MSU’s defense.
In his career, the transfer linebacker – who spent three seasons at Old Dominion — recorded 255 total tackles – 95 solo, 160 assisted – with 3.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. In his two seasons with MSU, Matthews had 106 total tackles – 50 solo, 56 assisted – with 4.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one interception.
