Michigan State football position-by-position reviews heading into fall camp
Michigan State opens fall camp next week and the outlook is a lot different than a year ago.
Following an 11-win season and top-10 finish in the national rankings in 2021, the Spartans slumped to a 5-7 record last year.
Coach Mel Tucker is heading into his fourth season leading the program and there are significant roster questions in all three phases of the game.
MLive recently broke down Michigan State’s roster by position, looking back at last year and ahead to this season. Here are brief recaps with links to the full stories:
Quarterback
Tucker declared it an open quarterback competition at the beginning and end of spring practice. That’s where it stands but now without the most-experienced option after two-year starter Payton Thorne transferred to Auburn in May. That leaves redshirt junior Noah Kim and redshirt freshman Katin Houser as the lone scholarship returners at the position and four-star recruit Sam Leavitt joined the program in the summer. Kim was sharp in limited snaps last season and heads into fall camp as the likely favorite to win the job but Houser will be pushing him.
Running back
With the loss of All-American Kenneth Walker III to the NFL, Michigan State’s run game took a major step back last season. The Spartans return leading rusher Jalen Berger along with depth and they added two running back transfers in UConn’s Nathan Carter and South Florida’s Jaren Mangham. There are a lot of carries up for grabs and a need for Michigan State to be a lot more effective on the ground than last fall.
Wide receiver
Jayden Reed was picked by the Packers in the second round of the draft and Keon Coleman transferred to Florida State in May. The Spartans are now without their top two receivers and offensive playmakers from last season. Starter Tre Mosley returns for a fifth year they’ll need youth to emerge and step up.
Tight end
Daniel Barker and Tyler Hunt both used their final season of eligibility last year leaving Maliq Carr as the lone returning tight end on the roster with a college reception. Carr has shown flashes of his talent and athleticism over the last two seasons and could be poised for a breakout year. The Spartans also have unproven players at the position and added a trio of transfers.
Offensive line
Michigan State returns a trio of full-time starters in left guard J.D. Duplain, center Nick Samac and right tackle Spencer Brown while Brandon Baldwin made five starts at left tackle last season. Geno VanDeMark is the likely frontrunner to start at right guard and the Spartans added four-star JUCO tackle Keyshawn Blackstock. They’re hoping for more depth up front and will need emerging youth to fill out those spots.
Defensive line
The Spartans should be strong at defensive tackle with plenty of depth returning and veteran transfer additions. They bring back experience at defensive end but that spot appears more open for leaders to emerge. Tunmise Adeleye, a former four-star recruit who spent the last two seasons at Texas A&M, is an intriguing addition who expects to play all across the line. Michigan State also signed a trio of four-star ends to its 2023 recruiting class in Bai Jobe, Andrew Depaepe and Jalen Thompson.
Linebacker
Leading tackler Cal Haladay returns while Jacoby Windmon and Aaron Brule are both back to use their final season of eligibility. It’s unclear when Darius Snow, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in the opener last year, will be healthy enough to return but the Spartans appear to have a solid group of veterans in place.
Defensive back
Michigan State’s secondary has been a liability the last two seasons and the group is a now a lot younger after losing veterans, including safety Xavier Henderson and cornerback Ameer Speed. Charles Brantley is the top returner at cornerback while second-year players Jaden Mangham and Malik Spencer were working as the first-team safeties during spring practice. The Spartans also added experience at defensive back through the portal.
Special teams
The Spartans need to replace All-American punter Bryce Baringer, who was arguably the team’s MVP last season. They also need to find a more reliable placekicker after a mess at the position last season and reset with new options. Stephen Rusnak and North Carolina transfer Jonathan Kim are the favorites to take over at kicker but neither has made a field goal in college.
