Jeff McPherson: Whatever It Takes

Sept. 19, 2008

By Bob Healy, MSU Athletics Communications Student Assistant

No matter what it took, Jeff McPherson was going to make the Michigan State football team.

In this age of flashy five-star high school recruits gaining mass media coverage before they are even old enough to drive a car, McPherson worked his way from walk-on to scholarship player and consistent contributor for the Spartans.

The fifth-year senior came to East Lansing as a walk-on linebacker in 2004, hoping to land a spot on the roster and play for the team he grew up following. He earned a spot on the scout team, won several weekly awards, and took home the Jim Adams Award as Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.

Working his way from the scout team to the game day roster wasn't what made McPherson's situation unique. After contributing on special teams through the end of his sophomore season, he was offered an interesting opportunity.

The hiring of head coach Mark Dantonio after the 2006 season meant the abandonment of a pass-heavy style of offense and the adoption of another that focused more on the running game. Dantonio began constructing his new offense, but he was missing one piece - a fullback.

When offered the chance to line up on the other side of the ball and fill the void at fullback, McPherson hardly hesitated. Instead, he jumped right in, re-learning the game from a new position.

"It was a good opportunity for me to get on the field in a new offense and in a wide open position, so I knew I would have an opportunity to play," McPherson said. "It was challenging at first, but I had good coaching so it wasn't too bad - it was pretty easy to make the adjustment."

McPherson's coaching came not only from the newly hired staff at MSU, but from a source closer to home as well. His older brother, Bill, played fullback for the Spartans in 1999 and 2000.

"He's always helped me - he's pretty much a personal coach for me," said McPherson. "So when I made the change, I would ask him tons of questions all the time and ask him for advice, and he had a lot of good stuff for me that helped me with making the adjustment."

Thanks to the additional help, McPherson caught on quickly - so quickly, in fact, that Dantonio decided he deserved a scholarship for his effort. Needless to say, McPherson didn't hesitate about that offer, either.

"I feel very fortunate that this new staff has given opportunities to walk-ons," he said. "If they can prove that they can play, then they'll play them. That says a lot about the staff, and it says a lot about the program."

There was an adjustment period between positions, however - despite the similar physical characteristics of the linebacker and fullback positions, there were some aspects of the position that he still needed to pick up.

"To be able to block, you need to make good contact but then you have to stay on," he said. "On defense, if you're trying to shed a blocker, you just hit them and get off of them right away, so that was probably my biggest adjustment."

McPherson played in all 13 of the Spartans' games last season, making perhaps his biggest mark in the final Big Ten game of the season against Penn State.

With Penn State leading 24-7 in the third quarter, McPherson caught the first touchdown pass of his career - a 3-yard reception from Brian Hoyer. The score cut the lead to 24-14 and sparked a remarkable comeback that ended with MSU on top, 35-31.

"It was a thrill," McPherson said. "I was really excited. It was fun being in the end zone with all my teammates, and it was nice that we ended up getting the win - that was most important. If we didn't win, then I guess it wouldn't really mean that much."

McPherson has gotten to do things not many other college football players can say they have accomplished. Making the leap from scout team regular to scholarship player, along with changing positions in the process, gives him claim to a unique story of success.

And he'll be the first to tell you that he's just thankful for the opportunity.

"I love playing defense and offense, so I guess I don't really have a favorite," he said. "I guess my favorite thing was that I got to do both while I was here."

This feature was originally published in the Sept. 13 edition of Michigan State Football Gameday Magazine.