Matt Gulbin’s one year with Michigan State football proved pivotal in getting drafted into the NFL.
The offensive lineman, who arrived from Wake Forest before the 2025 season, was selected by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round Saturday, April 25, with the No. 209 overall pick.
Gulbin is the Spartans’ second one-year transfer portal offensive line addition by former coach Jonathan Smith to get picked in the past two seasons. Last year, Luke Newman, a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native and Brother Rice High graduate, went to the Chicago Bears in the sixth round with the No. 195 overall pick after spending his first four seasons at Holy Cross of the Football Championship Subdivision.
The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Gulbin made a significant impact in his one season in East Lansing, getting named a team captain before earning All-Big Ten honorable mention while starting the first 11 games at center before missing the finale against Maryland. Pro Football Focus college graded the Connecticut native as the No. 1 Power 4 center (82.6) by and No. 2 overall in the Football Bowl Subdivision, thanks in part to being rated No. 2 in run blocking (81.9) and No. 5 in pass blocking (87.8).
Prior to MSU, Gulbin started 34 of his 41 games at Wake Forest and showed versatility there by getting the nod 11 times at left guard, 11 games at right guard and one at center.
It is the third straight year MSU had an offensive lineman drafted. Center Nick Samac was taken in the seventh round by the Ravens in 2024. Gulbin’s selection means a Spartan has been picked in 85 of the 86 NFL drafts. MSU’s 80-year streak ended in 2021.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State OL Matt Gulbin picked by Commanders in Round 6 of NFL Draft
Reporting by Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
