Tyler Higby: The Versatile Handyman

Not knowing what to expect during his time at Michigan State, redshirt senior Tyler Higby did know that he was ready to step out on his own. Coming all the way from Houston, Texas, the offensive lineman has had an experience that's made an impact on and off the field not only for himself, but his teammates and the people of his hometown.

Thinking back to five years ago, Higby knows he made the right choice to be a Spartan.

"Michigan State was never really on my radar until I took a visit. I messaged one of the coaches and asked if I could take a visit," he said. "So, I came up here with my mom and toured the campus, met with Coach D and Coach (Terrence) Samuel… It felt like home, when I took that visit, it felt like a different atmosphere; it felt more like a family more than other places."

As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Higby played in 10 games, including six starts at left guard. Toward the end of the season, the lineman broke his ankle against Rutgers, which unfortunately ended his season.

Fully recovered and ready to play in 2017, Higby had a strong beginning to his redshirt sophomore year. He tied for the most snaps on the offensive line with 78 plays against Bowling Green and recorded seven knockdowns, including three dominators against Western Michigan.

On the field, Higby was succeeding, but off the field, he was worried about the safety of his friends and family back in Houston due to Hurricane Harvey.

"There wasn't really a whole lot I could do," the offensive lineman said. "I just remember knowing it was coming, knowing that my parents were getting ready for it… I didn't realize it was going to be as bad as it was… When it hit, it kind of just stopped right over Houston and dumped a whole bunch of rain. The only thing I could really do was be on Twitter. I was looking at pictures and just saw places that I recognized and saw the side-by-side pictures, normal and then when all the rain came. It was hard to see."

Luckily, Higby didn't have to play through his worry for much longer. The offensive lineman was able to go back to Houston during the bye-week following the second game. Originally thinking he was going back to his hometown alone, nine other Spartans made the commitment to support Higby, while also helping the people of Houston start their recovery.

"The day we got there, we went to my pre-K teacher's house," Higby recalled. "It had about a foot and a half of water in it, so we had to rip off about four feet of dry wall. They had to replace their cabinets, their floors, and their drywall, so we helped them rip up everything they could."

The group of 10 continued to make a direct impact in the lives of Houston and people close to Higby. On their second day in the city the group made a 30-minute drive south, put on hazmat suits and got to work.

"The house was still soaking wet, so we couldn't really be in the house because it was dangerous for us to be in there," he said. "We were in like hazmat suits with our mouths covered, eyes covered and all that to be safe. We were ripping up the floorboard, which was hard for her because she wanted to keep most stuff because that's all she had. Some of us were just trying to be with her to let her know that we were there for her."

The overall experience was lifechanging for the redshirt senior. To have his fellow Spartans behind him, helping his city recover is a moment he'll never forget.

"There was 10 of us all staying at my house," Higby said. "There were guys upstairs in the bed, there were guys in the living room, we made pallets on the ground, air mattresses, it was like a bonding trip for a few days. But it definitely brought us closer together."

After the eye-opening trip off the field, Higby's role completely changed as he entered new territory on the field during the 2018 season.

As a redshirt junior, Higby showed a versatility that very few other possess in college football as he played multiple offensive lineman positions during the season. Higby has played left tackle, left and right guard, as well as center. He was one of two linemen in the FBS to start multiple games on the offensive line at three different positions.

Higby was also awarded the Most Outstanding Lineman Award at the end of the 2018 season. Now, in his final season, the redshirt senior has seen firsthand how being his versatility can come in handy for the Spartans in times of need.

"I think with injuries, if someone gets hurt, Coach knows that I can pretty much play anywhere," he said. "So, it helps the team knowing that if someone goes down, like in the game against Arizona State, I was at right guard and then Kevin (Jarvis) went down unfortunately, but I just moved over to left tackle the next play. I think that helps knowing that he (Coach Dantonio) can put me anywhere."

Entering the fifth game of his final season for the Green & White, Higby's time with Spartan football is finishing almost as quick as it began. Succeeding during his time, in and out of Spartan Stadium, the redshirt senior cherishes the moments off the field the most.

"It's crazy because the summer goes by fast, you feel like camp kind of drags on and then these first three weeks feels like we just started, like we just played Tulsa," Higby said. "These weeks have gone by fast, and I'm just going to miss being around the guys, being around at practice, when we're in the locker room playing music, dancing, at our team meals and stuff, just talking and having a good time on the weekends. That's probably what I'll miss the most."

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