Spartans Face Badgers in 106th Homecoming Game

Game 7: Michigan State (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Wisconsin (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 15
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass
Tickets: msuspartans.com
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Live Stats
Game Day Information (Parking/Tickets/Tailgating): msuspartans.com/gameday
Parking: Lots open at 7 a.m.

TV: FOX
Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Tim Brando (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst)

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines: Steve Courtney
Broadcast Host: Will Tieman
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/MSU Spartans app/Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 24 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: Sirius/XM (Ch. 108/201), SiriusXM app (Ch. 964)
Pregame Show: Begins at 2:30 p.m.

National Radio: Touchdown Radio | Affiliate Listings (TouchdownRadio.com)
Play-by-Play: Brett Dolan | Analyst: Gino Torretta

All-Time Series: MSU leads, 30-24
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 16-8
Last Meeting: UW 38, MSU 0 (2019)
Current Series Streak: 2 by UW (2016, 2019)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 15-11 (third year)
Overall Record: 20-18 (fourth year)
Record vs. Wisconsin: 0-0

Wisconsin Head Coach: Jim Leonhard
Wisconsin Record: 1-0 (first year)
Overall Record: 1-0 (first year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0

►FIRST-AND-10
• Michigan State welcomes Wisconsin for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX with Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst) on the call. MSU (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) fell at home to No. 3/3 Ohio State last Saturday, 49-20, while the Badgers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 42-7 win at Northwestern.

• Dating back to 1915, this year marks the 106th Homecoming game for Michigan State. The only years Homecoming games were not held since 1915 were 1943 and 2020. MSU is 69-33-3 (.671) in 105 previous Homecoming games.

• This year's Homecoming theme is "Spartans Bring the Magic" and will celebrate Spartans around the world creating real-life magic by making the world a better place. MSU welcomes former men's track and field head coach and MSU Athletics Hall of Famer Jim Bibbs as this year's Homecoming grand marshal. Bibbs was the first Black head coach at the university and first Black head track coach in the Big Ten. During Bibbs' career from 1968-95 at MSU, his student-athletes won 52 Big Ten titles, earned All-America honors 26 times, claimed three NCAA titles and set two world records. His deep commitment to youth and passion for the sport has gained the respect of countless colleagues, athletes, parents and friends nationwide. This year's Homecoming Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14. The parade starts at the Hannah Community Center, travels down Abbot to Grand River and into campus at the Farm Lane entrance. For more information, please visit homecoming.msu.edu.

• Saturday's game marks the 55th meeting between Michigan State and Wisconsin. It's the first game in Spartan Stadium between the two teams since 2016. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 30-24, including a 16-8 advantage in East Lansing. MSU is looking to snap a two-game losing streak to the Badgers after falling to UW in 2016 and 2019.

• Sixth-year graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer, a Ray Guy Award candidate, continues to lead the FBS with a 52.0-yard average (25 punts for 1,301 yards). Baringer led the Big Ten and set an MSU single-season record in 2021 with a 48.4-yard average; that mark was also the second best in conference history, trailing only Iowa's Reggie Roby, who had a 49.8-yard average in 1981. Fourteen of Baringer's 25 punts this season have been for 50-plus yards, including four of 60-plus yards, and he has placed 10 inside the 20-yard line. Baringer was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week after averaging 48.9 yards per punt against Ohio State (seven punts for 342 yards). He also tied a career high with five punts placed inside the 20.

• Senior defensive lineman/linebacker Jacoby Windmon leads the FBS in forced fumbles (5), is tied for seventh in sacks (5.5 for 31 yards), and is tied for 16th in tackles for loss (8.5 for 40 yards). All of those marks also lead the Big Ten Conference. He became the first Spartan player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks (vs. Western Michigan and Akron). In Week 2 against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, the most by a Spartan since Joe Bachie against Maryland in 2018. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards) and 1.5 sacks (14 yards), broke up a pass, and recovered a fumble while collecting five stops overall. In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan in Week 1, Windmon had four sacks, tied for the second most in school history. A transfer from UNLV, Windmon posted 169 career tackles in three seasons (2019-21) for the Runnin' Rebels, adding 18.5 TFLs (100 yards), 12 sacks (85 yards), four pass break-ups and three forced fumbles in 30 career games.

• In six games, Michigan State has forced nine fumbles, which is tied for third most in the FBS. The Spartans have recovered seven of those fumbles, which is tied for fifth in the FBS. The Spartans converted four Akron fumbles into 28 points in the 52-0 shutout over the Zips in Week 2. Jacoby Windmon leads the nation with five forced fumbles, while teammate Kendell Brooks ranks tied for second in the FBS with three forced fumbles. Last season, Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked tied for seventh in the FBS with 15 forced fumbles and ranked tied for 16th in the FBS with 10 fumble recoveries.

• Senior safety Kendell Brooks leads the team with 57 tackles, which ranks second in the Big Ten and tied for 24th in the FBS. The Division II transfer from North Greenville, who joined the Spartans in 2021, collected a career-high 18 stops vs. Minnesota, the most by a Spartan since Eric Smith recorded 19 vs. Notre Dame in 2004. He also had double-digit stops with 10 vs. No. 3/3 Ohio State. The Swansea, South Carolina, product also ranks tied for second in the FBS with three forced fumbles. Brooks replaced Xavier Henderson in the starting lineup in Week 2 following Henderson's injury in the season opener vs. Western Michigan; Henderson had started the previous 34 consecutive games at safety.

• After missing the Washington game in Week 3 due to an injury, fifth-year graduate senior wide receiver Jayden Reed returned to the starting lineup vs. Minnesota in Week 4 and has led the Spartans with 15 catches for 149 yards and two TDs in the last three games. Overall, Reed has 23 receptions for 256 yards in five games. Reed, who earned first-team All-America honors last season as an all-purpose player by the American Football Coaches Association, had 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2021. He also ranked first in the Big Ten in punt returns (19.8 avg.; 12 returns for 238 yards) and tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). His 10 TD grabs were sixth most in an MSU single-season and his 1,026 receiving yards ranked ninth most.

• Michigan State has suffered a rash of injuries this season on the defensive side of the ball. Four starters from the Week 1 game vs. Western Michigan have missed extensive time, including fifth-year graduate senior safety Xavier Henderson, who has been out since the first half of Week 1 against the Broncos. Junior linebacker Darius Snow also was injured in the first half vs. WMU and is out for the season. Preseason All-American defensive tackle Jacob Slade has missed the last four games, while junior defensive end Jeff Pietrowski has been out the past three contests. Senior defensive end Khris Bogle, who transferred from Florida, started in Week 4 vs. Minnesota but was injured against the Gophers and has also been out the past two games.

Jayden Reed vs Ohio Statea — **Jayden Reed had four catches for 67 yards, including an 18-yard touchown, against Ohio State.**

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 3 OHIO STATE 49, MSU 20

►SERIES/TEAM
• Third-ranked Ohio State won for the seventh straight time over Michigan State with a 49-20 victory over the Spartans last Saturday in East Lansing.

►OFFENSE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne was 11-of-18 passing for 113 yards with one TD . . . Thorne now has 397 career completions, closing in on becoming the 11th Spartan quarterback to reach 400 career completions . . . Thorne now has at least one TD in four of this season's six games, as part of nine TD passes on the season and 39 for his career . . . Thorne passed the 5,000-yard passing milestone in the game; he ranks 10th in MSU history with 5,049 career passing yards.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Kim was 6-of-10 for 82 yards with one TD . . . Kim has now played in four games and is 14-of-19 for 174 yards and three TDs.

• Fifth-year graduate senior wide receiver Jayden Reed had four catches for 67 yards with one TD . . . Reed had a TD catch in back-to-back games for the first time this season, his second scoring catch of the year, his 15th TD reception during his MSU career and his 23rd of his collegiate career.

• Redshirt junior wide receiver Tre Mosley snared a season-high six receptions, tying his second-most receptions ever, behind his career-high of eight receptions vs. Maryland (11/30/19) and tying six vs. Nebraska (9/25/21).

• Junior wide receiver Montorie Foster snared his first TD catch of the season and his second career scoring reception.

►DEFENSE
• Sophomore cornerback Charles Brantley intercepted a C.J. Stroud pass in the first quarter and raced 32 yards to the end zone for Michigan State's first touchdown of the day . . . it marked MSU's first interception of the season and first pick-six since Cal Haladay had a 78-yard pick-six in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

• Redshirt junior safety/nickelback Justin White recorded a career-high 11 tackles.

• Senior safety Kendell Brooks collected 10 tackles, marking the second time this season he has produced double-digit tackles in a game (18 vs. Minnesota).

• Redshirt freshman Derrick Harmon recorded his first career solo sack with a 4-yard stop of C.J. Stroud in the third quarter.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer had a season-high seven punts, and tied a career-high with five inside the 20, matching his career-best vs. Ohio State (11/20/21) . . . Baringer's average of 48.9 ypp was the first time this season below 50.0 ypp, as he entered the game leading the FBS in punting average at 53.3 ypp . . . with a long of 59 yards, as part of three total punts over 50 yards, Baringer now has 14 punts of 50+ yards this season . . . Baringer has had at least one punt of 50+ yards in each of the six games this season and in his last seven games played going back to last season, as part of in 23 of 30 career games.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Jalen Berger (64 carries for 308 yards, 4.8 avg., 4 TDs, 51.3 ypg)
Passing – R-Jr. Payton Thorne (115-of-180, .639, 1,234 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs, 205.7 ypg)
Receiving – So. Keon Coleman (26 catches for 314 yards, 12.1 avg., 3 TDs, 52.3 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. S Kendell Brooks (57 tackles; 28 solo, 29 assists; 3 FF, 1 PBU, 0.5 TFLs)

Wisconsin:
Rushing – So. Braelon Allen (104 carries for 634 yards, 6.1 avg., 6 TDs, 105.7 ypg)
Passing – R-Jr. Graham Mertz (92-of-143, .643, 1,296 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs, 216.0 ypg)
Receiving – Jr. Chimere Dike (25 receptions for 442 yards, 17.7 avg., 4 TDs, 73.7 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Maema Njongmeta (38 tackles, 18 solo, 20 assists; 3.0 TFLs, 1 INT)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT WISCONSIN (3-3, 1-2 BIG TEN)
• The Badgers bring a 3-3 overall and 1-2 Big Ten record to East Lansing for Saturday's battle with the Spartans. Saturday is Wisconsin's second straight road game and third in the Badgers' last four contests after a three-game homestand to open the season.

• Wisconsin is coming off a 42-7 win at Northwestern in interim head coach Jim Leonhard's head coaching debut. The Badgers amassed 515 yards of total offense, including a career-high 299 passing yards from junior quarterback Graham Mertz. The defense had three takeaways with two interceptions and one fumble recovery, and held Northwestern to just 3-of-13 on third-down conversions.

• UW opened the season with a 38-0 win over Illinois State on Sept. 3, before a 17-14 home loss to Washington State on Sept. 10. The Badgers got back in the win column with a 66-7 rout of New Mexico State on Sept. 17, before a 52-21 loss at No. 3 Ohio State and a 34-10 defeat at home against Illinois on Oct. 1, before UW announced a coaching change on Oct. 2, with Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard replacing Paul Chryst.

• On the season, Wisconsin is seventh in the Big Ten and 53rd in the FBS in scoring offense (31.8 ppg). The Badgers are eighth in the conference and 65th in the country in total offense (409.2 ypg), ranking sixth in the league and 52nd in the nation in rushing offense (173.7 ypg) and 10th in the conference and 77th in the country in passing offense (203.5 ypg).

• The Badger defense is seventh in the B1G and 32nd in the FBS in scoring defense (19.5 ppg), along with seventh in the league and 26th in the nation in total defense (320.5 ypg). UW is seventh in the conference and 41st in the country in passing yards allowed (203.5 ypg), along with ninth in the B1G and 33rd in the FBS in rushing defense (117.0 ypg).

• Junior quarterback Graham Mertz is second in the league and 25th in the nation in passing TDs with 13, while ranking fourth in the conference and 20th in the country in passing efficiency (163.6). The Badger signal-caller is eighth in the B1G and 76th in the FBS in passing yards per game (215.0), in addition to third in the league and 36th in the nation in points responsible for per game (15.0). Mertz is 91-of-142 for 1,290 yards with 13 TDs and five INTs on the season.

• Sophomore running back Braelon Allen is fifth in the Big Ten and 15th in the FBS in rushing yards per game (105.7), as well as fifth in the fourth in the league and 24th in the nation in rushing TDs (6) and seventh in the conference and 28th in the country in rushing yards per carry (6.10). He has 104 carries for 634 yards, adding six catches for 28 yards and one receiving TD. Allen had 135 yards on 23 carries vs. Northwestern.

• Junior wide receiver Chimere Dike is fifth in the conference and 43rd in the country in receiving TDs (4), as well as sixth in the Big Ten and 60th in the FBS in receiving yards per game (73.7 ypg). On the season, he has 25 receptions for 442 yards with four TDs. He had career-bests of 185 yards receiving and three TDs vs. Northwestern.

• Junior linebacker Maema Njongmeta leads the UW defense with 38 total tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and one INT.

• Junior linebacker Nick Herbig is third in the league and 13th in the nation in sacks per game (0.83) with 5.0 sacks total, ranking tied for second in the conference and tied for 10th in the country. He is also tied for fourth in the league and tied for 33rd in the nation with 7.0 tackles for loss. Herbig has 24 total tackles, adding one pass break-up and one forced fumble.

• Redshirt freshman placekicker Nate Van Zelst is 19-of-19 on PATs and 2-for-3 on field goals, with a long of 39 yards. Junior placekicker Vito Calvaruso is 7-of-7 on extra points and 1-for-3 on field goals with a long of 28 yards.

• Fifth-year senior punter Andy Vujnovich has punted 21 times for a 45.4 ypp average, with a long of 58 yards, one of 10 punts of 50+ yards, with seven inside the 20.

• Wisconsin interim head coach Jim Leonhard was named interim head coach on Oct. 2, as announced by Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh. Leonhard is in his seventh season overall on the Badger staff, including his sixth season as defensive coordinator. Leonhard was a three-time All-American during his playing days at Wisconsin (2001-04) as a safety, tying the school record with 21 career interceptions. He also broke the Big Ten record with 1,347 career punt return yards. Despite being undrafted, he went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL.

►MSU/WISCONSIN SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 55th meeting between Michigan State and Wisconsin. It's the first game in Spartan Stadium between the two teams since 2016. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 30-24, including a 16-8 advantage in East Lansing. MSU is looking to snap a two-game losing streak to the Badgers after falling to UW in 2016 and 2019.

• Mel Tucker is a 1995 graduate of Wisconsin and was a member of the first recruiting class for Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez. He lettered three times at both cornerback and safety from 1990-94 and was on the Badgers' 1993 Big Ten champion team that defeated UCLA in the Rose Bowl, 21-16. As a sophomore, he made a game-saving hit in the end zone with time running out that preserved a 19-16 win at Minnesota. He had 47 tackles and four pass deflections in his career (he missed his entire junior season after breaking a leg in fall camp).

►2022 SPARTAN COACHING STAFF
• A new era of Spartan football began in 2020 as Mel Tucker started his head coaching tenure in East Lansing. Tucker, a 26-year coaching veteran with championship experience, was named Michigan State University's 25th head football coach on Feb. 12 following Mark Dantonio's retirement on Feb. 4. Tucker signed an updated contact on Nov. 24, 2021, that expires on Jan. 15, 2032. Tucker's contract includes non-performance related compensation of $9.5 million per year, including a $5.9 million base, $3.2 million in supplemental compensation for media and personal appearances, plus a $400,000 contingent annual bonus. The contract was approved by the MSU Board of Trustees on Dec. 17, 2021.

• In just his second year in East Lansing in 2021, Tucker led MSU to an 11-2 record, a Top 10 ranking, and a win in the New Year's Six with a victory over ACC Champion and No. 12 Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Tucker was named a finalist for National Coach of the Year by multiple organizations, including the American Football Coaches Association, the Paul Bear Bryant Awards, the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club. He was also named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media and the AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year.

• Going from two wins in 2020 to 11 wins in 2021, MSU completed the biggest turnaround in school history (previous: seven-game improvement from 2016 to 2017) and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 9 in The Associated Press Poll. Tucker is the earliest Spartan coach to win double-figure games in a season (previous: Mark Dantonio with 11 wins in his fourth season at MSU in 2010).

• Tucker's resume, which began as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under Nick Saban, has an impressive track record of success. The journey that led him back to East Lansing included a head coaching position at Colorado (2019), five seasons as a defensive coach in the Southeastern Conference (2000; 2015-18), 10 seasons in the NFL (2005-14), and four seasons at Ohio State (2001-04). He was a defensive coordinator in the NFL for seven seasons and 11 seasons overall in his coaching career.

• In 168 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker's teams have collected a 121-47 (.720) record, including 11 postseason bowl/playoff games (2000 Peach, 2002 Outback, 2003 Fiesta/BCS National Championship, 2004 Fiesta, 2004 Alamo, 2015 Cotton/CFP Semifinal, 2016 CFP/National Championship, 2016 Liberty, 2018 Rose/CFP Semifinal, 2018 CFP/National Championship, 2021 Peach), three conference championships, three national championship games and two national championships (2002 with Ohio State, 2015 with Alabama). Tucker also coached 160 games in the National Football League (64 with Cleveland, 64 with Jacksonville, 32 with Chicago).

• Seven of MSU head coach Mel Tucker's 20 wins as a head coach have come against AP Top 25 opponents (2021: No. 24 Miami, No. 6 Michigan, No. 13 Pittsburgh; 2020: No. 11 Northwestern and No. 13 Michigan; 2019: No. 25 Nebraska and No. 24 Arizona State at Colorado). Tucker is 7-6 overall against AP Top 25 opponents (2-2 at Colorado; 5-4 at MSU). He became the first Spartan head coach to defeat a ranked team (AP No. 11 Northwestern) in his first home win.

• Michigan State has three new assistant coaches for the 2021 season. Effrem Reed, who served as an offensive analyst the past two seasons, was promoted to running backs coach. Brandon Jordan, who has specialized in training elite defensive linemen the past few years, including more than 200 players on NFL rosters, was hired in January as a pass rushing specialist. In February, Marco Coleman joined the Spartan coaching staff as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator. Coleman played 14 seasons in the NFL and spent the past three seasons coaching the defensive ends and outside linebackers at Georgia Tech.

• Chris Kapilovic, who is in his third season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Michigan State, was promoted to assistant head coach in January 2021. Kapilovic, 53, joined Tucker's staff in East Lansing in February 2020 after spending the 2019 season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator in Colorado. Kapilovic has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including roles as an offensive coordinator and/or run game coordinator at Southern Mississippi (2008-11), North Carolina (2012-18) and Colorado (2019). He has coached multiple NFL players, first-round draft picks and record-setting offenses during his career. Last fall, the Spartan offensive line was named one of 13 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the nation's top offensive line.

• Jay Johnson, a 2021 Broyles Award nominee for the nation's top assistant coach, is in his third season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Michigan State. Johnson, 52, is a veteran coach and administrator of 27 seasons, including 12 as an offensive coordinator at five FBS schools (Michigan State, Colorado, Minnesota, Louisiana, Southern Mississippi) in addition to coaching quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends as a position coach. Johnson arrived to East Lansing after serving as the offensive coordinator at Colorado for one season (2019) under head coach Mel Tucker.

• A 26-year coaching veteran with stints at all levels of collegiate football and the NFL, Scottie Hazelton is in his third season as the Secchia Family Defensive Coordinator. Hazelton arrived in East Lansing after spending one season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Kansas State in 2019. He will also coach the linebackers for the Spartans in 2022.

• Ted Gilmore coaches the tight ends for the Spartans. Gilmore, who has coached 27 years, has experience at the FBS and NFL ranks and has developed numerous NFL players, draft picks and All-Americans during his ccareer. He was named the 2011 FootballScoop Wide Receivers Coach of the Year after mentoring consensus All-American Robert Woods and 2011 Freshman All-American Marqise Lee at USC. Gilmore, 55, previously spent five seasons (2015-19) as the wide receivers coach at Wisconsin.

• Former Spartan great Courtney Hawkins is in his third season as the wide receivers coach. Hawkins oversaw one of the best wide receiver rooms in the Big Ten in 2021 as redshirt juniors Jayden Reed and Jalen Nailor formed a potent duo that fueled MSU's big-play offense that ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring at 31.8 points per game. Reed and Nailor both ranked in the top 10 in the conference in several categories, including receiving yards per game and yards per catch.

• With more than three decades of coaching experience, Ross Els is in his third season as the program's special teams coordinator. In addition, after coaching the linebackers his first two seasons in East Lansing, Els will help assist the nickelbacks in 2022. Els, 55, has previous experience in the Big Ten, serving as the defensive coordinator at Purdue in 2016 and four seasons at Nebraska under Coach Bo Pelini from 2011-14.

• Harlon Barnett, who is in his 14th season overall on the Spartan defensive staff and third with Tucker, coaches the secondary. Barnett has coached four All-Americans, nine first-team All-Big Ten selections and 10 NFL Draft picks during his time at MSU (2007-17; 2020-).

Payton Thorne vs Ohio State — **Payton Thorne has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,234 yards and nine touchdowns through the first six games.**

OFFENSE

►QUARTERBACKS
• #12 Katin Houser (Fr., 6-3, 213, Anaheim, Calif./St. John Bosco)
(1 game, 1-for-2 passing (.500), 2 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs)

• #14 Noah Kim (R-So., 6-2, 185, Centreville, Va./Westfield)
(4 games, 14-for-19 passing (.737), 174 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs)

• #10 Payton Thorne (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(6 games/6 starts, 115-of-180 passing (.639), 1,234 yards, 205.7 ypg, 9 TDs, 7 INTs; 32 carries for 22 yards)

►PAYTON THORNE BACK AFTER RECORD-SETTING SEASON IN 2021
• After a record-setting season in his first year as the starting quarterback, redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne is back for the Spartans in 2022. He has started 20 consecutive games (13-7 record). Thorne set a school single-season record with 27 touchdown passes in 2021, surpassing Kirk Cousins, who previously held the record with 25 TDs in 2011. Overall in his first year as the starting quarterback, Thorne was 234-of-388 passing (.603) for 3,233 yards, 27 TDs and 10 interceptions.

• An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media in 2021, Thorne was especially effective at throwing the ball downfield, ranking tied for sixth in the FBS with 14 TD passes of 20-plus yards and tied for ninth with eight completions for 50-plus yards. He threw for 200-plus yards in eight games and 300-plus yards in three games, including a career-high 354 yards in MSU's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over No. 12 Pitt.

• The Naperville, Illinois, native was named one of four captains last season and will also be counted on for his leadership for the Spartans this fall. He has been named a game captain in three of MSU's six games.

• Through six games this season, Thorne is 115-of-180 passing (.639) for 1,234 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. He ranks tied for fifth in the Big Ten with nine passing touchdowns. Five of Thorne's nine TDs are for 25-plus yards, and four of those were thrown downfield for 20-plus yards.

• Thorne surpassed the 5,000-yard passing milestone in the Ohio State game and is now 10th in Michigan State history with 5,049 career passing yards. Thorne is also ninth in MSU history in career touchdown passes (39), 11th in passing completions (397) and 12th in passing attempts (653).

• In Week 3, Thorne completed a career-high 30 passes against Washington on 42 attempts for 323 yards and three touchdowns (7 and 33 yards to Keon Coleman; 26 yards to Tre Mosley)

• In the first game of the season, Thorne tied his career high with four touchdown passes against Western Michigan in Week 1. Thorne was 12-of-24 passing for 233 yards overall, including scoring strikes to Germie Bernard (44 yards), Daniel Barker (13 yards), Coleman (41 yards) and Mosley (43 yards). Thorne joins Connor Cook as the only Spartans to throw four TDs in a single game four times in a career.

►NOAH KIM, KATIN HOUSER BACKING UP THORNE
• Redshirt sophomore Noah Kim serves as the back-up quarterback and is 14-of-19 passing (.737) for 174 yards and three touchdowns in four games. He was 2-for-2 passing for 22 yards against Akron in Week 2 and was 6-of-7 for 70 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard, vs. Minnesota. On his first official passing attempt of his career against the Zips he threw a 16-yard touchdown to Tre Mosley. Kim was 6-of-10 passing for 82 yards, including a 25-yard TD to Montorie Foster, vs. No. 3 Ohio State.

• The Spartans also welcomed in freshman Katin Houser as an early enrollee in January and he participated in spring practice. Houser was rated a consensus four-star prospect and was an Elite 11 finalist last summer. He played six snaps in his collegiate debut vs. Akron.

• Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson is in his third year coaching the quarterbacks for the Spartans.

►RUNNING BACKS
• #8 Jalen Berger (R-So., 6-1, 215, Newark, N.J./Wisconsin)
(6 games/5 starts, 64 carries, 308 yards. 4.8 avg., 4 TDs, 51.3 ypg)

• #3 Jarek Broussard (Gr.-5, 5-9, 195, Dallas, Texas/Colorado)
(6 games/1 start, 41 carries, 185 yards, 4. avg., 2 TDs, 30.8 ypg)

• #24 Elijah Collins (3L, R-Sr., 6-1, 215, Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit)
(6 games, 16 carries, 103 yards, 6.4 avg., 3 TDs, 17.2 ypg)

• #2 Harold Joiner (1L, R-Sr., 6-4, 220, Birmingham, Ala./Auburn)
(6 games, 1 carry, 1 yard, 1.0 avg., 0 TDs, 0.2 ypg)

• #22 Jordon Simmons (2L, Jr., 5-11, 195, Marietta, Ga./McEachern)
(6 games, 4 carries, 9 yards, 2.3 avg., 0 TDs, 1.5 ypg)

►TRANSFERS BERGER AND BROUSSARD LEAD SPARTAN RUNNING GAME
• The Spartans featured an explosive and resurgent rushing attack last year thanks to unanimous first-team All-American Kenneth Walker III, who had one of the best seasons in Michigan State history en route to winning the Doak Walker Award, the Walter Camp National Player of the Year and the Big Ten Running Back of the Year. Walker ranked second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards and his 18 rushing TDs ranked tied for eighth in the nation.

• Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger, a Wisconsin transfer, leads the Spartans in carries (64), rushing yards (308) and rushing touchdowns (4). Berger rushed for a career-high 120 yards and one touchdown in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan, and followed that effort with a career-high three touchdowns and 107 yards vs. Akron in Week 2. Berger is 15th in the Big Ten in rushing (308 yards; 51.3 ypg) and tied for eighth in the conference in rushing TDs (four).

• Berger was rated a four-star prospect out of high school before attending Wisconsin for two years (2020-21). He rushed for 389 yards and three TDs in seven career games with the Badgers, including a team-leading 301 yards on 60 carries in just four games as a true freshman during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Newark, New Jersey, native enrolled at MSU in January and made strong gains toward the end of spring practice.

• Fellow running back transfer Jarek Broussard (Colorado) ranks second on the team with 41 carries for 185 yards and two TDs. He scored his first two touchdowns as a Spartan in the Week 2 win over Akron and had 15 carries overall for 81 yards against the Zips. Broussard, who joined the program in May from Colorado, rushed for 1,556 yards and seven TDs the past two seasons (2020-21) in just 17 games for the Buffaloes. He was named the 2020 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 895 rushing yards and five touchdowns in six games during the pandemic-shortened season, and followed up with 661 yards and two TDs last fall.

• Three returning letterwinners – Elijah Collins (R-Sr.), Harold Joiner (R-Sr.) and Jordon Simmons (Jr.) – will also compete in the backfield for carries during the season.

• Collins is looking to regain the form he showed during his redshirt freshman season in 2019, when he nearly rushed for 1,000 yards (222 carries for 988 yards) in 13 games, including 12 starts. He had 41 carries for 90 yards in 2020 and 18 carries for 102 yards in seven games last season while battling an ankle injury. Collins ranks third on the team with 103 rushing yards on 16 carries (6.4 avg.), including three touchdowns. He rushed for 57 yards on eight carries (7.1 avg.), including a 1-yard touchdown, in the win over Akron.

• Joiner, an Auburn transfer, primarily played on special teams and in third-down situations during his first season with the Spartans in 2021. He recorded 43 rushing yards on 13 attempts and also had five catches for 35 yards.

• Simmons led the Spartans in rushing as a true freshman in 2020 with 219 yards on 56 carries in five games, but saw a more limited role as a sophomore with the emergence of Walker. Simmons still ranked second on the team with 278 yards on 70 carries last season and earned the start in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after Walker opted out of the game. He recorded his first 100-yard rushing game with 121 yards on 16 carries in the win over Youngstown State in Week 2. Simmons has four carries for 9 yards this season.

• Effrem Reed, who was an offensive analyst the past two seasons, was promoted to running backs coach in the offseason.

►WIDE RECEIVERS
• #5 Germie Bernard (Fr., 6-0, 200, Henderson, Nev./Liberty)
(6 games/1 start, 7 catches, 128 yards, 18.3 avg., 2 TDs, 21.3 ypg)

• #0 Keon Coleman (So., 6-4, 215, Opelousas, La./Opelousas Catholic)
(6 games/6 starts, 26 catches, 314 yards, 12.1 avg., 3 TDs, 52.3 ypg)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (R-So., 6-4, 218, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(5 games, 2 catches, 17 yards, 8.5 avg., 0 TDs, 3.4 ypg)

• #83 Montorie Foster (2L, Jr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(4 games, 6 catches, 82 yards, 13.7 avg., 1 TD, 20.5 ypg)

• #15 Jaron Glover (Fr., 6-1, 205, Sarasota, Fla./Riverview)
(1 game, 1 catch, 2 yards, 2.0 avg., 0 TDs, 2.0 ypg)

• #85 Cade McDonald (2L, R-Jr., 5-11, 195, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(6 games, 3 catches, 31 yards, 10.3 avg., 0 TDs, 6.2 ypg)

• #17 Tre Mosley (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 198, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(6 games/4 starts, 21 catches, 221 yards, 10.5 avg., 3 TDs, 36.8 ypg)

• #1 Jayden Reed (2L, Gr.-5, 6-0, 190, Naperville, Ill./Western Michigan)
(5 games/5 starts, 23 catches, 256 yards, 11.1 avg., 2 TDs, 51.2 ypg)

►RETURNING ALL-AMERICAN JAYDEN REED LEADS TALENTED WIDE RECEIVING CORPS
• Fifth-year graduate senior Jayden Reed, who earned first-team All-America honors as an all-purpose player by the American Football Coaches Association as a junior in 2021, leads a talented wide receiving corps for the Spartans. Reed's explosiveness was one of the main reasons for MSU's school-record turnaround season last year – he not only led the Spartans with 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he also ranked first in the Big Ten in punt returns (19.8 avg.; 12 returns for 238 yards) and tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). His 10 TD grabs were sixth most in an MSU single-season and his 1,026 receiving yards ranked ninth most.

• Named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the nation's most versatile player, Reed averaged 18.0 yards per play (1,674 all-purpose yards on 93 total plays), which led the Big Ten and ranked tied for seventh in the FBS. Forty-two of Reed's 59 catches (.712) went for either a first down or a touchdown, and he led MSU with 32 explosive plays (20-plus yards), including 20 receptions, nine kick returns and three punt returns. In addition, seven of his 10 TD catches were from 25-plus yards.

• In five games this season, Reed has 23 catches for 256 yards (11.1 avg.; 51.2 ypg) and two touchdowns; he missed the Washington game in Week 3 due to an injury he suffered in the second quarter vs. Akron.

• Reed has started all 25 Michigan State games he has played in since 2020 and has at least one catch in every one of those games. He started 12 games as a freshman at Western Michigan in 2018 and earned Freshman All-America honors for the Broncos before sitting out the entire 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

• Redshirt junior Tre Mosley (R-Jr.) has been consistently productive for the Spartans throughout his career and recorded career highs in catches (35), receiving yards (530) and TD receptions (3) last season while earning nine starting assignments. Mosley is tied for the team lead with three touchdowns in the first six games and has 21 catches for 221 yards overall. He has 84 catches for 1,038 yards and seven TDs in his 30-game collegiate career, including 17 starts. Mosley surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving milestone for his career in the Ohio State game with a season-best six catches for 40 yards.

• Sophomore Keon Coleman showed flashes of his athleticism as a true freshman and is now a full-time starter for the Spartans. He leads the team with 26 receptions for 314 yards and is tied for first with three TDs. The 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound Coleman recorded career highs with nine catches for 116 yards and two TDs in Week 3 at Washington, and he also caught two two-point conversion passes. He spent last winter with the basketball team, playing in six games, to earn letters in both football and basketball as a true freshman in 2021-22.

• True freshman Germie Bernard leads the Spartans with 18.3-yards per catch (seven receptions for 128 yards). He made an immediate impact in his first game as a Spartan, catching his first pass and racing 44 yards to the end zone in the first quarter against Western Michigan. He also caught a 27-yard TD pass vs. Minnesota from Noah Kim. Bernard joined the Spartans in January and competed in spring practice.

• Courtney Hawkins is entering his third season as the wide receivers coach for the Spartans.

►OFFENSIVE LINE
• #53 OT Brandon Baldwin (R-So., 6-7, 315, Detroit, Mich./Independence CC, 4 games/1 start at LT)

• #58 OT Spencer Brown (1L, R-Jr., 6-6, 315, Commerce Twp., Mich, Walled Lake Western, 6 games/6 starts at RT)

• #56 RG Matt Carrick (4L, Gr.-6, 6-5, 320, Minerva, Ohio/Perry, 6 games/6 starts at RG)

• #67 LG J.D. Duplain (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 6 games/6 starts at LG)

• #50 OG/C Brian Greene (Gr.-6, 6-3, 300, Yakima, Wash./Washington State, 6 games)

• #79 LT Jarrett Horst (Sr.-5, 6-6, 300, Milddleton, Wis./Arkansas State, 6 games/5 starts at LT)

• #59 C Nick Samac (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 6 games/6 starts at C)

►SPARTANS FEATURE 120 COMBINED CAREER STARTS ON OFFENSIVE LINE
• The Spartans lost eight lettermen from last season's offensive line, including four starters (center Matt Allen, guard Blake Bueter, tackle AJ Arcuri, guard/tackle Kevin Jarvis), but assistant head coach/offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Kapilovic still returns plenty of experience in 2022.

• Although Allen started every game at center in 2021, senior Nick Samac split time with Allen during the season and is now the full-time starter at center. Samac has 16 career starts under his belt and has played in 33 collegiate games.

• Senior J.D. Duplain, a second-team All-Big Ten honoree by Pro Football Focus, is back for his fourth consecutive season starting games at left guard. Duplain earned five starts at left guard as a true freshman in 2019 and five more as a sophomore in 2020 before starting every game at the position last season while helping pave the way for Doak Walker Award winner and unanimous All-American Kenneth Walker III. Duplain has started a team-best 24 consecutive games for the Spartans at left guard and has 29 career starts overall.

• At right guard, sixth-year graduate senior Matt Carrick brings 24 career starts and 44 games of experience to the table. Carrick rotated at right guard in the first seven games last season, but missed the second half of the year with an ACL injury. He returned to the starting lineup in the season opener against Western Michigan. Carrick started all seven games at the position in 2020 and 11 times in 2019.

• Redshirt junior Spencer Brown, who still has three years of eligibility remaining, earned his first career start in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over No. 12 Pitt, playing in all 89 snaps at right tackle against the Panthers. Brown has started the first six games of the season at right tackle.

• Fifth-year senior Jarrett Horst, who transferred to MSU in 2021 after starting two years (2019-20) at left tackle at Arkansas State, started the first eight games of last season at left tackle during the Spartans' 8-0 start. Although he missed the last five games of the year, Horst still earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by the coaches and media in playing a total of 317 offensive snaps. Horst returned to the lineup in a reserve role at left tackle against Western Michigan in Week 1 and was back in the starting lineup for Week 2 against Akron, earning co-offensive player of the week honors for the Spartans. He has five starts this season and 33 for his career (20 at Arkansas State, 13 at MSU).

• Another experienced transfer joined the Spartans over the summer, as Brian Greene landed in East Lansing from Washington State. A sixth-year graduate senior, Greene has played in 35 career games overall, including 10 starts at center for the Cougars (four in 2020, six in 2021). He has rotated at guard for the Spartans in 2022.

• Redshirt sophomore Brandon Baldwin earned his first career start at left tackle in Week 1 against Western Michigan and played 41 snaps vs. the Bronocs. Baldwin transferred to MSU in 2021 from Independence Community College but did not see game action last season.

►TIGHT ENDS
• #9 Daniel Barker (Gr.-5, 6-4, 250, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Illinois)
(6 games/2 starts, 11 catches, 122 yards, 11.1 avg., 1 TD, 20.3 ypg)

• #6 Maliq Carr (1L, R-So., 6-5, 255, Inkster, Mich./Purdue)
(6 games, 5 catches, 51 yards, 10.2 avg., 0 TDs, 8.5 ypg)

• #97 Tyler Hunt (4L, Gr.-6, 6-3, 248, Gobles, Mich./Gobles)
(6 games/6 starts, 11 catches, 87 yards, 7.9 avg., 0 TDs, 14.5 ypg)

►TIGHT ENDS SEE A PROMINENT ROLE IN SPARTAN OFFENSE
• Although the Spartans lost Connor Heyward, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Steelers after a successful season in 2021, there are still plenty of intriguing options at tight end for third-year coach Ted Gilmore.

• Former walk-on Tyler Hunt, who began his Spartan career as a punter, is in his sixth season in 2022. Hunt posted career highs in receptions (14) and receiving yards (136) in 11 games last season, including four starts, before missing the last two games with an injury. He made the transition from a specialist to a tight end during preseason practice in 2020. Hunt has started the first six games and has 11 receptions for 87 yards this season.

• The program welcomed transfer Daniel Barker (Gr.-5) from Illinois during the summer, an experienced player who owns the Fighting Illini record for most touchdown catches by a tight end with 11. Barker racked up 64 receptions for 827 yards in 44 games at Illinois from 2018-21, including 21 starting assignments. That production has carried over to East Lansing, as he leads the Spartan tight end room with 11 catches for 122 yards and one TD. In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan, Barker made a one-handed 13-yard touchdown grab in the left corner of the south end zone in the second quarter. In Week 3 at Washington, he had a career-high seven catches for 69 yards.

• Redshirt sophomore Maliq Carr showed plenty of promise during his first season with the Green and White in 2021 and expects to contribute more to the offense this fall. Carr had seven receptions for 128 yards in the last six games of 2021 and had eight receptions for 135 yards overall in 12 total games, including a start in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against No. 12 Pitt. Carr has five catches for 51 yards through five games.

DEFENSE

►DEFENSIVE ENDS
• #2 Khris Bogle (Sr., 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Florida)
(4 games/1 start, 11 tackles, 3 TFLs for 3 yards, 1 sack for 1 yard)

• #98 Avery Dunn (R-So., 6-4, 245, Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights)
(4 games, 10 tackles)

• #5 Michael Fletcher (R-Jr., 6-6, 260, Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth)
(3 games, 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL)

• #47 Jeff Pietrowski (2L, Jr., 6-2, 250, Medina, Ohio/St. Edward)
(3 games/3 starts, 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 2 yards)

• #4 Jacoby Windmon (Sr., 6-2, 250, New Orleans, La./UNLV)
(6 games/6 starts, 26 tackles, 8.5 TFLs for 40 yards, 5.5 sacks for 31 yards, 5 FF, 1 FR, 2 PBUs)

• #26 Brandon Wright (3L, Sr., 6-2, 250, Euclid, Ohio/Euclid)
(6 games/2 starts, 8 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 2 yards)

• #18 Zion Young (Fr., 6-6, 260, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(6 games, 9 tackles, 1.5 TFLs for 9 yards, 1 sack for 7 yards)

►WINDMON LEADS NATION IN FORCED FUMBLES, LEADS BIG TEN IN SACKS AND TFLs
• Michigan State lost both of its primary starters at defensive end to graduation in Drew Beesley and Jacub Panasiuk, but a position change for UNLV transfer Jacoby Windmon has proved beneficial for the Spartans this fall. Windmon, a linebacker, transferred to MSU in January 2022 and played linebacker in the spring and the beginning of preseason camp before moving to defensive end prior to the season opener. He responded in a big way against Western Michigan in Week 1, recording a career-high four sacks (17 yards), tying for the second most in a single game in MSU history, while earning Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

• Through six games, Windmon leads the FBS in forced fumbles (5), is tied for seventh in sacks (5.5), and is tied for 16th in tackles for loss (8.5). All of those marks also lead the Big Ten Conference. His five forced fumbles already rank tied for third most in an MSU season.

• In Week 2 against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, the most by a Spartan since Joe Bachie against Maryland in 2018. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards) and 1.5 sacks (14 yards), broke up a pass, and recovered a fumble while collecting five stops overall.

• Windmon, who is also still listed as a linebacker, arrived to East Lansing from UNLV, where he picked up second-team All-Mountain West recognition following his highly productive junior season with the Runnin' Rebels in 2021. The New Orleans native ranked third in the MWC and 13th in the FBS in tackles per game (9.8 avg.; 118 total) and also had 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

• For his performance in the first two weeks of the season, Windmon became the first Spartan player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks (vs. Western Michigan and Akron).

• Junior Jeff Pietrowski started the first three games at defensive end on the opposite side of Windmon before missing the last three games due to an injury he suffered in Week 3 at Washington. He has six tackles, including a half tackle for loss, in three games of action. Pietrowski was productive in his second season with the Spartans in 2021, ranking tied for second on the team with 5.5 sacks and third with seven tackles for loss in 13 games and three starts. He played a total of 483 snaps on defense and also ranked tied for second in the Big Ten with three forced fumbles.

• The Spartans also added impact transfer Khris Bogle from Florida to bolster the pass rush. Rated a four-star prospect in the Class of 2019, Bogle was ranked one of the top 100 overall players in the nation coming out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bogle played three seasons (2019-21) with the Gators, collecting 69 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 35 career games, including seven starts. He enrolled in January and participated in spring practice for the Spartans to get a head start for the 2022 season; he has 11 tackles, three tackles for loss (3 yards) and one sack (1 yard) in four games (missed last two games due to an injury).

• Senior Brandon Wright, who made the transition from running back to defensive end during spring practice in 2021, started his first career game at Maryland in Week 5. Wright made his presence known in the last two games of the 2021 season, recording a 14-yard sack and a forced fumble vs. Penn State and then picking up four tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in the win over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He has eight tackles (0.5 TFL) in the first six games of 2022.

• True freshman Zion Young made an impact in preseason camp and recorded his first career sack in Week 2 vs. Akron. He has nine tackles overall and 1.5 TFLs (9 yards) in six games.

• First-year coach Brandon Jordan, who was hired in January as a pass rush specialist, works with the defensive ends, along with fellow first-year defensive line coach and run game coordinator Marco Coleman.

►DEFENSIVE TACKLES
• #8 Simeon Barrow (1L, R-So., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(6 games/5 starts, 17 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 2 yards, 1 sack for 1 yard, 1 FR)

• #97 Maverick Hansen (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 300, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison)
(6 games/1 start, 23 tackles, 0.5 TFL fr 1 yard, 1 FR)

• #41 Derrick Harmon (R-Fr., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(6 games/4 starts, 19 tackles, 1.5 TFL for 8 yards, 1.5 sacks for 8 yards, 1 FR, 1 PBU)

• #99 Jalen Hunt (R-Jr., 6-4, 320, Belleville, Mich./Belleville)
(2 games, 1 tackle)

• #94 Dashaun Mallory (R-Sr., 6-2, 280, Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook)
(3 games, 3 tackles)

• #64 Jacob Slade (3L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy)
(2 games/2 starts, 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 1 yard)

• #91 Alex VanSumeren (Fr., 6-3, 300, Bay City, Mich./Garber)
(4 games, 3 tackles)

►SPARTANS FEATURE DEPTH ALONG THE DEFENSIVE INTERIOR
• The Spartans are loaded with experience and talent along the interior of the defensive line with five returning letterwinners, including starters Jacob Slade and Simeon Barrow, but unfortunately Slade suffered an injury in Week 2 vs. Akron and has missed the last four games.

• A first-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus, Slade posted career numbers in 2021 with 40 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. According to PFF, he racked up 40 QB pressures, the most of any Big Ten defensive tackle and tied for 10th most in the FBS, and 33 QB hurries, No. 1 among Big Ten DTs and No. 3 in the FBS. He was named to the AP All-Bowl Team after recording a career-high two tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, to go along with six stops overall in the victory over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Slade entered the 2022 season on watch lists for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award; he was also named a second-team preseason All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. After recording three tackles in the first two games, Slade has missed the last four games with an injury.

• Barrow also proved to be a solid force up the middle in his first year for the Spartans, tallying 34 tackles, four TFLs and three sacks in 10 starts. After missing the last three games of the regular season due to an injury, Barrow stormed back on the field with six tackles and a TFL in the bowl win against the Panthers. He recorded a career-high eight stops against Washington and has 17 tackles overall this season.

• Redshirt junior Maverick Hansen filled in for Barrow in the starting lineup for three games in 2021 and was equally effective during his time in the lineup. Hansen ranked fourth on the team with 3.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss in 13 games overall. He has 23 stops this season, most among Spartan defensive tackles.

• Promising redshirt freshman Derrick Harmon played in four games last fall to preserve his redshirt season. He has earned four starting assignments (Akron, Washington, Maryland, Ohio State) and has 19 tackles overall in six games. Harmon recorded his first career sack vs. Ohio State.

• Experienced defensive tackles Jalen Hunt (R-Jr.) and Dashaun Mallory (R-Sr.) have returned to action after missing time early in the season due to injury. Hunt played against Washington and Minnesota, while Mallory returned in Week 4 and has played the last three weeks.

• Four-star prospect Alex VanSumeren, who was ranked one of the top overall players in the nation by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports, enrolled in January at Michigan State and gained valuable experience during spring practice. He has three tackles in four games of action.

►LINEBACKERS
• #7 Aaron Brule (Gr.-5, 6-2, 242, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(6 games, 9 tackles, 1.5 TFLs for 7 yards, 1 sack for 5 yards)

• #10 Ma'a Gaoteote (So., 6-1, 230, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman)
(5 games, 6 tackles, 1 TFL for 9 yards)

• #27 Cal Haladay (1L, R-So., 6-1, 230, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(6 games/5 starts, 49 tackles, 3 TFLs for 16 yards, 1 sack for 10 yards, 1 FR for 21 yards, 1 FF)

• #13 Ben VanSumeren (Gr.-5, 6-3, 235, Bay City, Mich./Michigan)
(6 games/6 starts, 51 tackles, 1 TFL for 8 yards, 1 PBU)

►HALADAY, VANSUMEREN PACE LINEBACKERS IN TACKLES
• The linebackers, coached by Secchia Family Defensive Coordinator Scottie Hazelton, feature a strong position room, but unfortunately will be missing one of its key players as junior starter Darius Snow suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 against Western Michigan. Snow played safety and nickelback last season and racked up 87 tackles before moving to linebacker during spring practice. His versatility will be missed in 2022.

• In addition, UNLV transfer Jacoby Windmon, who joined the program in January 2022, made a late change to defensive end in preseason camp, although he still has the ability to play linebacker as well.

• Returning starter Cal Haladay (R-So.) won the middle linebacker job as a redshirt freshman in 2021 and went on to earn Freshman All-America honors after tying for the team lead with 96 tackles. He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns, including a game-winning 78-yard return for a score with less than a minute remaining in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory to earn Defensive MVP honors in the game. Haladay ranks third on the team with 49 tackles and has posted double-digit tackles in three of the six games, including a career-high 12 vs. Minnesota.

• Graduate senior Ben VanSumeren has started all six games for the Spartans and ranks second on the team with 51 tackles. He has posted double-digit stops in three games, including a career-high 14 at Maryland in Week 5.

• Aaron Brule started eight games and played in 12 last season at Mississippi State, recording 52 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. He brings a wealth of experience from Starkville, where he collected 141 tackles, including 17.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks, in 40 career games (19 starts) from 2018-21. Brule delivered a 5-yard sack in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan and has nine stops overall.

• Sophomore Ma'a Gaoteote, a former four-star and top-100 recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School, played in nine games as a true freshman to earn his first letter and will compete for time in the rotation. He has six tackles and one TFL (9 yards) in six games this season.

Charles Brantley vs Ohio State — **Charles Brantley returned an interceptions 32 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter vs. No. 3 Ohio State.**

►SECONDARY
• #0 CB Charles Brantley (1L, So., 6-0, 170, Sarasota, Fla./Venice)
(6 games/6 starts, 30 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 4 yards, 4 PBUs, 1 INT for 32 yards)

• #33 S Kendell Brooks (1L, Sr.-5, 6-0, 215, Swansea, S.C./North Greenville)
(6 games/5 starts, 57 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 0 yards, 3 FF, 1 PBU)

• #15 S/NB Angelo Grose (2L, Jr., 5-10, 185, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Senior)
(6 games/6 starts, 41 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 6 yards, 3 PBUs)

• #28 S Tate Hallock (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 210, Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central)
(2 games, 4 tackles)

• #3 S Xavier Henderson (4L, Gr.-5, 6-1, 210, Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Pickerington Central)
(1 game/1 start, 1 PBU)

• #12 NB/CB Chester Kimbrough (1L, Sr., 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La./Florida)
(6 games/3 starts, 12 tackles, 2 sacks for 13 yards, 1 FR for 3 yards, 3 PBUs)

• #29 CB Marqui Lowery (1L, R-So., 6-0, 180, Charlotte, N.C./Louisville)
(2 games, 2 tackles)

• #1 S Jaden Mangham (Fr., 6-2, 175, Bingham Farms, Mich./Wylie E. Groves)
(5 games/2 starts, 12 tackles)

• #6 CB Ameer Speed (Gr.-6, 6-3, 215, Jacksonville, Fla./Georgia)
(6 games/6 starts, 41 tackles, 1 TFL for 2 yards)

• #30 S/NB Justin White (1L, R-Jr., 5-9, 180, Agoura Hills, Calif./Colorado Mesa)
(6 games/1 start, 19 tackles)

• #9 CB Ronald Williams (1L, Sr.-6, 6-2, 195, Ferriday, La., Alabama)
(6 games, 9 tackles, 1 PBU)

►SAFETY KENDELL BROOKS LEADS SPARTANS WITH 57 TACKLES
• Former Spartan All-American and NFL veteran Harlon Barnett is in 14th year overall on the defensive coaching staff at Michigan State, his third under head coach Mel Tucker. Barnett was the cornerbacks coach in 2020 before returning to coaching the entire secondary in 2021. Ross Els, who is also the special teams coordinator, will coach the nickelbacks this season, while Tucker will also assist with the cornerbacks.

• At cornerback, the Spartans brought in another transfer this season that will bolster the cornerback position as Ameer Speed enrolled in January after spending his first five years at Georgia (2017-21). Speed started in three games for the National Champion Bulldogs in 2021 and played in 13 games overall, playing a total of 181 snaps with 13 tackles. He recorded six tackles in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan and had a career-high 11 stops vs. Maryland in Week 5. Speed is tied for fourth on the team with 41 tackles through six games.

• Opposite of Speed, sophomore Charles Brantley has started the first six games of the season and leads the team with four pass break-ups, including a career-high three vs. Akron in Week 2. He intercepted a C.J. Stroud pass and raced 32 yards into the end zone for a touchdown against the Buckeyes in Week 6. Brantley played in eight games in 2021 and earned a start at Purdue on Nov. 6, but he suffered a season-ending injury in the game and had his freshman season cut short by a month. Brantley sealed the win over No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 30 with a one-handed interception in the final minute of the game.

• Sixth-year graduate senior Ronald Williams started nine games at cornerback in 2021 and is back for the Spartans this fall, while redshirt sophomore Marqui Lowery started twice last season.

• Senior Chester Kimbrough, who transferred from Florida last season, started the first three games at nickelback. He moved to nickelback in spring practice after starting 11 games at cornerback for the Spartans in 2021. Kimbrough has 12 tackles, including two sacks for 13 yards, and three pass break-ups.

• Justin White (R-Jr.), a Division II transfer from Colorado Mesa who sat out the 2020 season, saw his playing time increase toward the end of last year and earned his first career start as a Spartan vs. Minnesota at nickelback. He played safety against Ohio State in a reserve role and collected 11 tackles.

• The Spartans returned both starting safeties from last season – Angelo Grose (Jr.) and Xavier Henderson (Gr.-5) – but multiple injuries have shuffled the lineup this fall.

• A 2021 team captain, Henderson had started 34 consecutive games at safety before missing Week 2 against Akron. He left the season opener against Western Michigan in the second quarter and has missed the last five games with an injury. Henderson recorded career highs in tackles (96) and tackles for loss (10) last year to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors by the media.

• Grose has started 23 consecutive games, the longest streak on the defense and the second longest on the team. In Week 5 against Maryland, Grose returned to nickelback, where he started four games as a true freshman in 2020. He moved to safety in 2021 and started all 12 regular-season games there before moving back to nickelback in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Grose started the first four games this season at safety before switching to nickelback in Week 5 against the Terrapins.

• Last season, Grose led the team with more than 1,000 snaps on defense while collecting 83 tackles and seven passes defended (one interception, six pass break-ups). In six starts this season, Grose is tied for fourth on the team with 41 tackles and tied for second with three pass break-ups.

• Following Henderson's exit from the game in Week 1, Kendell Brooks (Sr.-5) stepped up against Western Michigan and posted five tackles, including a forced fumble. Since then, he has gone on to lead the Spartans in tackles and ranks second in the Big Ten with 57 stops.

• In his first career start against Akron in Week 2, Brooks caused another fumble and had seven tackles. He posted eight stops at Washington and forced a fumble in his third straight game; he ranks second in the FBS with three forced fumbles, trailing only his teammate Jacoby Windmon, who has five. Brooks then had a career-high 18 stops vs. Minnesota, the most by a Spartan since Eric Smith had 19 vs. Notre Dame in 2004. Brooks transferred from Division II North Greenville in 2021.

• True freshman Jaden Mangham, a four-star prospect, earned his first career start at safety in Week 5 at Maryland and collected six tackles. He played 38 total snaps at safety before playing 73 snaps against the Terrapins. Mangham started against in Week 6 vs. Ohio State but left the game with an injury.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter: Bryce Baringer is using his extra season of eligibility in 2022 and returns as the starting punter after a record-breaking season in which he set the MSU single-season record with his 48.4-yard punting average, a mark that also led the Big Ten and ranked No. 5 in the FBS. Baringer became the first Spartan punter to lead the Big Ten in punting since the late Mike Sadler in 2012. In addition, Baringer's 48.4-yard average was also the second-best average in Big Ten history, second only to Iowa's Reggie Roby in 1981 (49.8 avg.). Baringer also ranked second in the conference in punts of 50-plus yards (26), including 10 of 60-plus yards, to earn second-team all-league honors.

• A Ray Guy Award candidate, Baringer continues to lead the FBS with a 52.0-yard average (25 punts for 1,301 yards). Fourteen of Baringer's 25 punts this season have been for 50-plus yards, including four of 60-plus yards, and he has placed 10 inside the 20-yard line.

• Baringer was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week after averaging 48.9 yards per punt against Ohio State (seven punts for 342 yards) in Week 6. He also tied a career high with five punts placed inside the 20.

• In the season opener, Baringer averaged 50.5 yards per punt on four punts (202 yards) against WMU to be named one of the Ray Guy Award's top-eight punters of Week 1. He had a game-long 70-yard punt, marking the third time he has punted a ball at least 70 yards in a game; his first punt of the game was a 67-yarder that was downed at the 4-yard line.

Placekicker: The Spartans have a new starting placekicker for the first time in five years following the departure of the school's all-time leading scorer and field-goal kicker, Matt Coghlin. True freshman Jack Stone earned the job in preseason camp; he is 15-for-16 on PATs and 1-for-3 on field goals, including making a 43-yarder vs. Akron for the first field goal of his young career. Stone is averaging 61.2 yards on kickoffs with eight touchbacks in 27 attempts (.296).

• While Coghlin battled an injury at the end of last season, Stephen Rusnak stepped in the last five games to earn his first letter. Rusnak was 4-of-5 on PATs and averaged 54.3 yards on kickoffs with four touchbacks on 21 kickoffs. In addition, MSU added graduate transfer Ben Patton from Auburn in August prior to the season opener. He made his first PAT as a Spartan in Week 5 at Maryland.

Long Snapper: Hank Pepper handled every snap for the Spartans as a true freshman in 2021 and is back for his second season as the starter; however, backup redshirt freshman Michael Donovan earned the start vs. Ohio State and handled all of the snaps against the Buckeyes.

Kick Returner/Punt Returner: Redshirt senior Jayden Reed earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as an all-purpose player last season thanks to a dynamic return game, as Reed led the Big Ten in punt returns (19.8 avg.; 12 returns for 238 yards) and tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). Reed also ranked fourth in the Big Ten in kick returns (23.5 avg.) and second in the Big Ten and 23rd in the FBS in combined returns (614 yards). He was selected the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Nebraska after his 62-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter tied the game in MSU's eventual overtime victory against the Huskers.

• Reed was named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given annually to the nation's most versatile player. As a team, Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked third in the FBS in punt returns (18.2 avg.). Reed's two punt returns not only tied a school record, but he became the first Spartan to ever return touchdowns on back-to-back punts (fourth quarter vs. Nebraska; first quarter vs. Western Kentucky).

• Reed had one kickoff return for 20 yards and two punt returns for 21 yards, including an 18-yarder, against Western Michigan in Week 1. He had an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown called back due to a penalty against Akron. Overall, Reed has five punt returns for 29 yards (5.8 avg.) this season.

• Redshirt junior Cade McDonald has three punt returns for 31 yards, including a 21-yarder vs. Akron.

• Freshman Tyrell Henry has been the team's starting kick returner the past two games, and has five returns overall for 113 yards (22.6 avg.). He had four returns for 96 yards, including a season-long 30-yarder, against Ohio State in Week 6.

Game 7: Michigan State (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Wisconsin (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten)

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Players Mentioned

Matt Allen

AJ Arcuri

Joe Bachie

Brandon Baldwin

Bryce Baringer

Daniel Barker

Drew Beesley

Jalen Berger

Germie Bernard

Khris Bogle

Charles Brantley

Kendell Brooks

Jarek Broussard

Spencer Brown

Aaron Brule

Blake Bueter

Maliq Carr

Matt Carrick

Matt Coghlin

Keon Coleman

Elijah Collins

Michael Donovan

Avery Dunn

J.D. Duplain

Christian Fitzpatrick

Michael Fletcher

Ma'a Gaoteote

Jaron Glover

Brian Greene

Angelo Grose

Cal Haladay

Tate Hallock

Maverick Hansen

Derrick Harmon

Xavier Henderson

Tyrell Henry

Connor Heyward

Jarrett Horst

Katin Houser

Jalen Hunt

Tyler Hunt

Kevin Jarvis

Noah Kim

Chester Kimbrough

Dashaun Mallory

Jaden Mangham

Cade McDonald

Tre Mosley

Jalen Nailor

Jacub Panasiuk

Ben Patton

Hank Pepper

Jayden Reed

Stephen Rusnak

Nick Samac

Jordon Simmons

Jacob Slade

Darius Snow

Ameer Speed

Jack Stone

Payton Thorne

Alex VanSumeren

Ben VanSumeren

Kenneth Walker III

Justin White

Jacoby Windmon

Brandon Wright

Zion Young

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