Nathan Carter still had a season of eligibility remaining.
The Michigan State running back decided not to use it and declared for the 2025 NFL draft.
Carter, a two-year starter for the Spartans who began his career at UConn, didn’t get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. No spot in a pre-draft all-star game was offered either.
The snub added more motivation for Carter, who put together an impressive pro day in East Lansing in March.
“I feel like I put myself in a great position today,” Carter said at the time.
Carter’s name wasn’t called in the draft but his gamble paid off by making the 53-man roster for the Atlanta Falcons heading into the season.
As the 2025 NFL season kicks off on Thursday night, Carter is one of 12 players who finished their college career at Michigan State on active rosters. Four from that group went undrafted before signing as free agents.
Here’s a rundown of former Spartans on NFL rosters:
**Joe Bachie, LB, Colts**
After going undrafted in 2020, Bachie spent time with the Saints before playing four games for the Eagles as a rookie. He posted 46 tackles in 47 games with two starts over the following four seasons with the Bengals before signing with the Colts in May. That reunited him with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after the two worked together in Cincinnati and Bachie is listed as the starting weak-side linebacker on the Colts’ depth chart.
**Bryce Baringer, P, Patriots**
From walk-on who lost a roster spot to All-American and draft pick, Baringer’s time in East Lansing remains a remarkable story. The sixth-round pick from 2023 continues to be among the best punters in the world and his 49.8 yard average last season ranked fourth in the NFL and broke a franchise record.
**Nathan Carter, RB, Falcons**
A standout performance in the preseason, including a 43-yard touchdown run, obviously helped Carter beat the odds and make the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie. He heads into the season as Atlanta’s No. 3 running back behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
**Jack Conklin, OL, Browns**
The former walk-on turned All-American offensive tackle remains Michigan State’s last first-round draft pick after going No. 8 overall to Tennessee in 2016. Conklin has appeared in 106 career games – all starts – and the two-time first team All-Pro is heading into his sixth season in Cleveland.
**Kirk Cousins, QB, Falcons**
Following six years with the Vikings, Cousins left for a four-year deal worth $180 million and his first season with the Falcons was a disaster. First, they traded up to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 overall in the draft in a shocking move that immediately put Cousins’ future in Atlanta in question. Cousins, a 13-year veteran, threw 18 touchdowns and a career-high 16 interceptions while starting the first 14 games last season before being benched for Penix and is now a backup.
**Connor Heyward, TE/FB, Steelers**
Another Spartan who took an unconventional path to the NFL, Heyward’s switch from running back to tight end in 2021 led to him being drafted. He has appeared in all 51 games with 12 starts over three seasons in Pittsburgh and had six catches for 40 yards and a touchdown last year.
**Jalen Nailor, WR, Vikings**
A former sixth-round pick by Minnesota in 2022, Nailor is coming off the best season of his NFL career. He posted 28 receptions for 414 yards and six touchdowns with seven starts while appearing in all 17 games for the first time. Nailor is dealing with a hand injury but could be available to start the season.
**Luke Newman, OL, Bears**
A former FCS All-American at Holy Cross, Newman started all 12 games for the Spartans at left guard last season and was their lone draft pick this year. He was taken by Chicago in the sixth round and made the roster coming out of camp.
**Jayden Reed, WR, Packers**
After beginning his career at Western Michigan, Reed became an All-American and one of the best receivers in Michigan State history. Following three seasons in East Lansing, he was picked by the Packers in the second round of the 2023 draft. Reed has 119 catches for 1,650 yards and 14 touchdowns and 31 rushes for 282 yards and three scores in 33 games with 23 starts. He’s the only player in NFL history to record at least 55 receptions, 750 receiving yards, six touchdown grabs and 100 rushing yards with a score on the ground in each of his first two seasons.
**Ben VanSumeren, FB, Eagles**
VanSumeren was a linebacker for the Spartans and is now heading into his third season with Philadelphia after going undrafted. He made the switch to fullback last season with one start in 11 games while also logging 213 snaps on special teams before suffering a torn ACL as the Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl.
**Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seahawks**
Walker needed only one season at Michigan State to cement his legendary status with the program. A second-round pick in 2022, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a rookie but is coming off his least productive season on the ground while dealing with injuries. Walker had 153 rushes for 573 yards and seven touchdowns to go with 46 catches for 299 yards and a score while starting all 11 games.
**Cody White, WR, Seahawks**
White left Michigan State with a season of eligibility remaining and despite going undrafted, is still carving out a spot after bouncing between five teams. This is actually the first time he made a 53-man roster coming out of training camp. After appearing in 16 games over two seasons (2021-22) with the Steelers, he landed a shot with Seattle last year and had two catches for 44 yards.
**Practice squad**
AJ Arcuri, OL, Rams
Naquan Jones, DT, Chargers
Nick Samac, OL, Ravens
Jordan Turner, LB, Broncos
**Active/physically unable to perform**
Josh Butler, CB, Cowboys
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