Michigan State position battles and depth chart projections as camp hits full stride

EAST LANSING, Mich. – After nearly 11 months of transition, anxiety and repair, it was refreshing for Michigan State football to get back to some time-honored staples like preseason camp and position battles.

A new year of gridiron hopes rang out at the practice fields outside the Skandalaris Center, Tuesday, the first day of college football training camp across the country.

Last year’s 4-8 season, and the Mel Tucker scandal which surrounded it, has been largely forgotten by some, and was never even experienced by many of the current Spartans.

More than half of the scholarship players who took the field for practice on Tuesday were not part of the team at this time last year. Forty-three new scholarship players – including 20 incoming freshmen and 23 transfers – signed on to become Spartans under first-year head coach Jonathan Smith . Last year’s tumult is just a rumor to them.

For those players, and Smith, football had ever reason to feel familiar, and good, on Tuesday.

“I thought it was crisp,” Smith said after Tuesday’s morning practice. “You could tell we’ve gone through spring ball and they’ve had a good summer. A lot of guys get bigger, faster, stronger, more comfortable in the scheme and I thought that showed up in day one.”

The Spartans were in helmets, but not full pads. Full pads will be worn, per NCAA rules, later in the week.

“It’s great to get started,” Smith said. “Day one, as expected, good energy. Guys were flying around pretty good. Obviously we were just in helmets and spiders but we were pleased with what it looked like today.”

Thirteen of the 43 new players transferred to Michigan State after spring practice, and 11 incoming freshmen weren’t on campus for spring practice.

That makes 24 scholarship players who were on Michigan State’s practice field for the first time Tuesday. That’s roughly the same type of number we used to see in the old days when programs signed a full class and none of them enrolled early.

On Tuesday, there was a mixture of college rookies and veteran transfers.

“There’s no question that there’s teaching,” Smith said. “They did get the advantage of some summer, and there’s work there. I kind of described to the team last night: A lot of teaching in spring ball and into the summer a little bit.”

Of the 43 new scholarship players, SpartanMag unofficially projects 13 of them to be in the two-deep by September. Whether or not that turns out to be the case will depend largely on how some key position battles shake out during August camp.

“This thing is going to be pretty competitive for the depth chart. We’ve got a lot of depth at (some) positions.”

There will be competitions for starting jobs at left guard, wide receiver, defensive tackle, defensive end, all the linebacker positions and both cornerback positions, among others.

Michigan State has returning players with starting experience at some of those positions, but an influx of transfers will make for a competitive August.

“That secondary, there are some new faces in there,” Smith said. “We’ve got some guys that have played some football. We’ve got competition going there.

“I’ll be curious just with the type of players we have at inside linebacker. The receivers, I felt, as a group had a pretty good summer. So that’s going to be competitive on playing time there.”

SpartanMag projects nine offensive players as strong, presumptive front runners for starting jobs, and four on defense.

SpartanMag’s projected nine presumptive starters: QB Aidan Chiles , RB Nathan Carter , TE Jack Velling , WR Montorie Foster , WR Jaron Glover , C Tanner Miller , LT Brandon Baldwin , RG Luke Newman , RT Ashton Lepo .

The presumptive defensive starters: DE Jalen Thompson , DT Maverick Hansen , SS Malik Spencer , FS Dillon Tatum .

What about returning starters Cal Haladay , Jordan Hall , Angelo Grose , Charles Brantley , Chance Rucker? They’re sure to have major roles. In the meantime, they are competing for starting jobs.

Transfers Ed Woods at CB, Nikai Martinez at FS, Jordan Turner at LB, Wayne Mathews at LB, D’Quan Douse at DT and Quindarius Dunnigan at DE are among the candidates to start at their positions.

“We are always pushing for some competition and just because maybe guys are slotted currently at a spot, they know that others are chasing them down,” Smith said. “And then we know it’s a long season, this is a physical game, everybody has got to be ready to go.”

Jonathan Smith photo by Nick King | USA Today Network

POSITION BATTLES: MICHIGAN STATE OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Aidan Chiles is the unspoken cinch to start … Tommy Schuster , the transfer from North Dakota, has gained immediate trust.

“I want him to be totally ready,” Smith said of Schuster when asked what he wants to see from Schuster at camp. “He had a nice day today. We’re not going to change the offense if he’s in the game. He’ll be able to operate at a high level. That’s what we’re expecting of him.”

RB: Nate Carter is the returning starter and continues to impress … Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams gained 1,157 yards last year at UMass … True freshman Brandon Tullis overtook Jalen Berger and Davion Primm in the spring; they have since transferred … Fellow incoming freshman Makhi Frazier is brand new.

THE BATTLE … seems to be for second string. Could Lynch-Adams push Carter for starting duty at some point this season? It’s possible.

“All four of those guys getting some turns and (walk-on) Jo Jo (Joseph Martinez) is getting some turns too. Excited about young freshmen and their opportunity. But right now, Nate’s leading that race.”

TIGHT END: Oregon State transfer Jack Velling is a lock … Sophomore Brennan Parachek and redshirt sophomore Michael Masunas are working to earn trust. Parachek has a little more game experience, but he missed the spring while Masunas made up some ground.

“Parachek had a nice catch today,” Smith said Tuesday.

THE BATTLE … is for second string.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Montorie Foster led Michigan State with 43 catches last year and has impressed Smith … Jaron Glover had 14 catches in eight games last year and began fall camp with a strong practice on Tuesday.

“A little bit off of his summer and then today, Jaron Glover has taken a nice step in his game,” Smith said, when asked which receiver is likely ready to join Foster in taking a step forward. “He (Glover) had a couple of catches today. But there are plenty of others.”

THE BATTLE … is likely for the third starting job with Alante Brown , Antonio Gates Jr. and true freshman Nick Marsh in the fray. Marsh played X, Z and a little bit of slot with the twos in the Spring Showcase.

“Nick Marsh, he continues to grow,” Smith said. “I’m careful to point guys out after just one day but those two (Marsh and Glover) had good summers.”

LEFT TACKLE: Brandon Baldwin has 15 career starts and it will be interesting to see what kind of development he makes with a new o-line coach and strength coach … It will also be interesting to see who emerges as No. 2 at left tackle. Walk-on Jacob Merritt repped there in the spring … Redshirt-freshman Stanton Ramil packs potential, but suffered a season-ending injury last fall and missed most of the spring. He seemed to be at full speed on Tuesday.

THE BATTLE … is for second-string duty, provided that Baldwin can reaffirm himself as No. 1.

LEFT GUARD: Redshirt-sophomore Kristian Phillips repped with the ones during the spring … Redshirt-sophomore Gavin Broscious developed nicely right with Phillips in the spring. Those might be desited to compete for a spot in the top five.

THE BATTLE … could become a tight one for the starting job if Broscious continues to come along. But Phillips entered the summer with the inside track.

CENTER: Oregon State transfer Tanner Miller won the job early in the spring … Senior Dallas Fincher has two career starts at the position … The new staff is finally getting a look at redshirt-freshman Cole Dellinger, who missed the spring and most of last year due to an injury. He has repped at center in the past … Holy Cross transfer Luke Newman is slated to get a crack at first-string right guard but he repped a bit at center on Tuesday.

“He’s got a background at tackle but we’re starting and forcing the issue more inside,” Smith said of Newman.

As for Miller and his immediate leadership example, Smith said: “He’s been around it, a leader, he knows the thing and sets a high standard for the group.”

THE BATTLE … is for second string.

RIGHT GUARD: Luke Newman was one of the best in the country at the FCS level at left tackle last year. Michigan State has a job opening at right guard with Geno VanDeMark transferring to Alabama after the spring. That seems to be the reason that Newman is getting a look at right guard initially. If anyone falters at tackle, Newman could slide to that position … Fincher and freshman walk-on Cooper Terpstra repped at right guard in the spring. Depth is a concern.

“I think Coach M (Jim Michalczik) does a good job of not just pigeon-holing a guy at one spot,” Smith said. “We’re trying to find the best five guys out there, so having some position flexibility. You’ll see that throughout camp with guys playing a couple of different positions.”

THE BATTLE … is for second string, if Newman sticks at right guard.

RIGHT TACKLE: Redshirt-sophomore Ashton Lepo repped with the first string during the spring. He was second-string left tackle last year and played 96 snaps. Now Michigan State needs him to perform like a starter.

THE BATTLE … is for Lepo to prove he’s ready to be a starter, and to keep Newman at guard. Additional battles will take place for second string, with true freshmen Charlton Luniewski and AJ Dennis possible candidates. The lack of mature depth at offensive tackle is a concern.

POSITION BATTLES: MICHIGAN STATE DEFENSE

RUSH END: Sophomore Jalen Thompson likely has an inside track to the starting job at rush end. He dropped a handful of pounds to get quicker in pass defense, which is occasionally expected at the stand-up DE position … Khris Bogle has five career starts at Michigan State and seven at Florida … Indiana transfer Anthony Jones played a similar position for rush end coach Chad Wilt last year in Bloomington, starting four games.

THE BATTLE … will be fierce to see which of these players can play d-coordinator Joe Rossi’s specialized rush end position. Bogle wasn’t convincing in the Spring Showcase. Jones is an x-factor.

DEFENSIVE END: Middle Tennessee State transfer Quindarius Dunnigan was second-team All-Conference in the American last year, and looked good in the spring … Don’t sleep on redshirt-sophomore Ken Talley . The new staff is high on him. He was quiet in the Spring Showcase but had loud moments earlier in the spring … Senior Avery Dunn has been a functional reserve for the past two seasons.

THE BATTLE … is likely for second string, with Talley working to continue his development while Dunn is motivated to make his last stand.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Maverick Hansen has eight career starts and has seen time in 41 games. He was a dependable back-up and spot starter behind Derrick Harmon and Simeon Barrow for the past two years … D’Quan Douse had 20 starts at Georgia Tech as is SpartanMag’s projected favorite to start with Hansen … Redshirt-sophomore Alex VanSumeren hasn’t been seen in pads since September of 2022, but the former four star recruiting is gaining some man strength and is an intriguing variable for the fall … Hansen had strong compliments for Old Dominion transfer Jalen Satchel on Tuesday … Redshirt sophomore Ben Roberts is an interesting transfer from Oregon, but has some developing to do … Transfer Ru’Quan Buckley (6-5, 312) was a third-stringer at Nebraska but is a functional big body.

THE BATTLE … is likely to be a matter of finding a tag team starting partner for Hansen. D’ouse added 18 pounds after a good spring. VanSumeren’s scope of possibilities seems vast. He might settle in to being a solid role player but it’s not outside of the realm of possibility that he could emerge as the best defensive tackle in the program.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS: Cal Haladay and Jordan Hall have starting experience at Michigan State with major spats of success … Haladay has cut weight and is playing faster. The new one-gapping scheme should mesh nicely with his skill set … Hall is a blossoming leader. But they’re being pushed hard by Jordan Turner , who was honorable mention All-Big Ten at Wisconsin in 2022 and started seven games last year … Transfer Wayne Matthews was steady and productive at Old Dominion last year, and performed that way for Michigan State in the spring.

THE BATTLE … will be intense. All four are capable of starting at the two inside linebacker positions. Haladay is excited about having some depth around him, which he says will reduce the wear-down effect and serve the defense well. Who finishes games at the inside linebacker positions will be more intriguing than who starts.

CORNERBACKS: Charles Brantley has 15 career starts and once upon a time looked like a star in the making. The slightly-built hard hitter needs to stay healthy … Chance Rucker started eight games as a true freshman last year but didn’t seem to have many (any) freshman moments … Ed Woods had 12 starts  in four years at Arizona State … Lejond Cavasos started three games as a sophomore at North Carolina in 2022 but battled injuries last year … Jeremiah Hughes was a third-stringer at LSU last year … Redshirt-sophomore Caleb Coley looked like a rising factor two years ago but has been stalled by injuries in the past two seasons.

THE BATTLE … will be intense from top to bottom with every candidate out to prove something and reason to believe they can thrive.

STRONG SAFETY: Junior Malik Spencer is poised to emerge as one of the best players in the program after starting eight games last year … Angelo Grose has starting experience at safety and nickelback. Rossi likes for all safeties to have the flexibility of moving to nickel. Grose, who has 35 career starts, is likely to find an extended role somewhere … Armorion Smith was the first safety off the bench for the Spartans last year until he was lost to a season-ending injury in game four. He missed the spring while recovering back was back on the field, Tuesday.

“Armorion is a great story for his work ethic, his dedication to this game and he flew around today playing safety,” Smith said.

FREE SAFETY: Dillon Tatum started nine games at cornerback over the last two seasons, out of team necessity. Safety is more of a natural position for him, but he could come in handy at nickelback as well … Junior Nikai Martinez started 13 games at Central Florida last year … Ade Willie served as a second string safety last year and had one start (against Nebraska). He moved to cornerback during the spring and struggled in the Spring Showcase. He lost five pounds during the off-season and offers some experience and versatility in a crowded back five.

THE BATTLE … With five players at the two safety positions with starting capabilities, the assumption is that Spencer and Tatum are likely to start, although Tatum could conceivably slide to nickel. What if Martinez has a great camp? What if Smith is ready to take his game up a notch? Spencer and Tatum need to keep progressing and working, which has been their m.o. in the past. Overall, the safety position looks to be constructively competitive and deep despite the loss of Jaden Mangham to the transfer portal.

NICKEL BACK: Angelo Grose appeared to be the first choice at nickel back in the Spring Showcase. But if the offense changed to a two-TE, run-heavy set, Grose would move to safety and Darius Snow would check in as a slot linebacker … Khalil Majeed, a former walk-on, played in eight games last year as a second-stringer.

THE BATTLE … could be predicated on whether Grose shows a stronger communicative grasp on the new scheme than he did in the previous scheme, which seemed to confuse more than a few Spartans over the years … Between Grose, Snow, Majeed, Tatum and possibly Martinez, Rossi and the defensive back assistants have a lot of combinations to test and sort through in the coming days.

SPARTANMAG’S UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART PROJECTION

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