Spartans Crown Team‑First Leader with No. 1 Jersey
Michigan State’s football program has long used the No. 1 jersey as a visual shorthand for the ideals it seeks to cultivate in its players.
Coach Pat Fitzgerald announced that the jersey would be reserved for a player who consistently puts the team ahead of personal ambition, a philosophy he describes as caring about teammates more than themselves.
The honor came after a team‑wide vote in which eight candidates were nominated by the unity council, and the final decision was made by a full squad ballot.
Kenny Soares Jr., a graduate transfer who arrived from Northwestern and North Carolina State, emerged as the unanimous choice, becoming the first player to wear the No. 1 without having taken a single snap for the Spartans.
Standing 6‑foot‑2 and weighing 234 pounds, Soares brings a blend of size and experience, having logged 80 tackles and 656 defensive snaps in 13 games for North Carolina State last season.
Previously he wore No. 5 at Northwestern and No. 33 at NC State before switching to No. 23 during Michigan State’s preseason, a number he now will replace with the coveted No. 1.
The university’s official channels highlighted the selection with a video and social‑media post, emphasizing that the award reflects earned respect from teammates rather than a symbolic hand‑out.
Fitzgerald’s decision underscores a broader narrative at Michigan State: success is measured by service, collaboration and the willingness to sacrifice personal glory for the collective good.