Michigan State Takes On Third-Ranked Ohio State Saturday in Spartan Stadium

Saturday, October 8

East Lansing, MI

4 PM ET

Michigan State University

#3 Ohio State

Michigan State Takes On Third-Ranked Ohio State Saturday in Spartan Stadium

10/4/2022 3:06:00 PM | Football

MSU Game Notes Ohio State Game Notes MSU Game Day Website Parking Information Traffic/Construction Update

Game 6: Michigan State (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 3/3 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 8
Kickoff: 4:06 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: ABC
Mobile: WatchESPN
Announcers: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sidelines)

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: OSU leads, 35-15
Series in East Lansing: OSU leads, 18-5
Last Meeting: OSU 56, MSU 7 (2021)
Current Series Streak: 6 by OSU (2016-21)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 15-10 (third year)
Overall Record: 20-17 (fourth year)
Record vs. Ohio State: 0-2

Ohio State Head Coach: Ryan Day
Ohio State Record: 39-4 (fourth year)
Overall Record: 39-4 (fourth year)
Record vs. MSU: 3-0

►FIRST-AND-10
• Michigan State takes on No. 3/3 Ohio State in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call. The Spartans are 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten after falling at Maryland last Saturday, 27-13, while the Buckeyes improved to 5-0 and 2-0 in league play with a 49-10 victory over Rutgers in Ohio Stadium.

• Saturday's game will be the 51st meeting between Michigan State and Ohio State. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series, 35-15, including an 18-5 record in East Lansing. MSU is looking for its first win over Ohio State since 2015, when the Spartans beat the No. 2 Buckeyes, 17-14, at Ohio Stadium en route to winning the Big Ten Championship and earning a berth in the College Football Playoff.

• The Spartans have defeated the Buckeyes three times since 2011, the most of any team in the Big Ten. Michael Geiger hit a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give No. 9 Michigan State a 17-14 victory over No. 2 Ohio State in 2015 in Columbus to snap the Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak. The Spartans held the Buckeyes to 132 yards of total offense in that game. In the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game, No. 10 MSU snapped No. 2 Ohio State's school-record 24-game winning streak with a 34-24 win as the Spartans clinched their first Rose Bowl berth in 26 years. MSU also beat the Buckeyes in 2011, 10-7, in Ohio Stadium.

• The Spartans have toppled Ohio State 10 times when the Buckeyes entered the game ranked in the AP Top 25, including five times when the Buckeyes were ranked in the top five (No. 5 in 1972, No. 1 in 1974, No. 1 in 1998, No. 2 in 2013, No. 2 in 2015) and seven in the top 10 (previous five games listed plus No. 7 in 1951 and No. 9 in 1971).

• Spartan head coach Mel Tucker is 7-5 overall against AP Top 25 opponents, including a 5-3 mark at MSU. During his first season in East Lansing, Tucker and the Spartans beat No. 13 Michigan and No. 11 Northwestern in 2020. Last year during MSU's 11-2 campaign, the Spartans defeated No. 24 Miami, No. 6 Michigan and No. 13 Pittsburgh.

• Sixth-year graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer, a Ray Guy Award candidate, leads the FBS with a 53.3-yard average (18 punts for 959 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. Eleven of Baringer's 18 punts this season have been for 50-plus yards, including four of 60-plus yards.

• Senior defensive lineman/linebacker Jacoby Windmon leads the FBS in forced fumbles (5), is tied for sixth in sacks (5.5), and is tied for 11th in tackles for loss (8.0). 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 just five games, Michigan State has forced nine fumbles, which is tied for second most in the FBS. The Spartans have recovered seven of those fumbles, which is tied for third 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 47 tackles, which ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten and 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. 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.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne needs just 64 passing yards to become the 11th quarterback in school history to throw for 5,000 career yards. Thorne currently ranks 11th at MSU with 4,936 passing yards in 22 career games, including 19 consecutive starts. He has completed 61 percent of his career passes (386-of-635) for 38 touchdowns. Through five games this season, Thorne is 104-of-162 passing (.642) for 1,121 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten with eight passing touchdowns. Five of Thorne's eight TD are for 25-plus yards, and four of those were thrown downfield for 20-plus yards, which is tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for 24th in the FBS.

Ben VanSumeren vs Maryland — **Linebacker Ben VanSumeren collected a career-high 14 tackles last Saturday at Maryland.**

LAST TIME OUT: MARYLAND 27, MICHIGAN STATE 13

►SERIES/TEAM
• Maryland snapped Michigan State's four-game winning streak in the series with a 27-13 victory over the Spartans last Saturday in College Park . . . MSU is 10-3 all-time against Maryland, including 6-2 in Big Ten play.

►OFFENSE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne was 27-of-44 passing for 221 yards with one TD . . . Thorne's second completion of the game, coming in the first quarter on a pass to Keon Coleman, was his 361st career completion, moving up to No. 11 on MSU's career completions list, now with 386, passing Todd Schultz (1994-97) with 360 completions, and closing in on the No. 10 spot held by Bill Burke (1996-99) with 416 . . . with one TD pass, Thorne has at least one TD pass in three of the five games this season as part of eight on the season and 38th of his career.

• Redshirt senior running back Elijah Collins scored a rushing TD for the third time in the last four games and his eighth career rushing TD with the 8-yard scoring scamper in the first quarter . . . Collins finished with a team-high 36 yards on five carries.

• Fifth-year graduate senior wide receiver Jayden Reed had a season-high seven receptions, which were his most catches since eight vs. Maryland last season (11/13/21) . . . Reed has started all 24 games of his Spartan career and 36 of his 37 collegiate games overall . . . with seven catches, Reed now has at least one reception in 24 consecutive games played, which is all 24 games of his MSU career, and in 36 of his 37 collegiate games . . . the 24-game reception streak is tied for No. 21 among active FBS players . . . with his second-quarter TD Reed snared his first TD reception of the season and 22nd of his collegiate career.

• Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman snared six receptions, the second most of his career behind nine receptions at Washington (9/17/22) . . . Coleman has snared at least two receptions in all five games, including four or more catches in four of the five games.

• Sixth-year graduate senior tight end Tyler Hunt had three catches for a career-high 35 yards, bettering his previous season high of 20 yards vs. Akron (9/10/22) and his previous career best of 30 yards, done twice, last done a season ago vs. Ohio State (11/20/21).

• Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger tied his career high with three receptions for the third straight game . . . Berger added nine carries for 34 yards.

►DEFENSE
• Graduate senior linebacker Ben VanSumeren led the Spartans with a career-high 14 tackles . . . it marked his third double-digit tackle game of the season (11 each vs. Western Michigan and Minnesota).

• Sixth-year graduate senior cornerback Ameer Speed collected a career-high 12 tackles.

• Redshirt sophomore linebacker Cal Haladay posted his third double-digit tackle game with 10 stops . . . it marked the third time this season and seventh of his career with double-digit tackles in a game.

• Redshirt junior defensive tackle Maverick Hansen had a career-high seven tackles, including a half tackle for loss.

• Making his first career start, true freshman safety Jaden Mangham posted six tackles.

• Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Simeon Barrow had four stops, including a 1-yard sack and 1.5 TFLs overall.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Sixth-year graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer punted five times for a 54.0 yards per punt average . . . Baringer's long of 61 yards in the first quarter was his fourth punt of 60+ yards this season, and with his four other punts of 59, 51, 50 and 50, Baringer now has 11 punts this season over 50 yards, as well as 51 career punt of 50+ yards . . . last Saturday's season-best of five punts over 50 yards tied Baringer's career high for the most 50+ punts for the third time of his career, last doing so vs. Ohio State (11/20/21) . . . the five punts over 50 yards was also Baringer's fourth game this season with multiple 50+ yard punts . . . with the 54.0 ypp average, Baringer now has averaged over 50.0 ypp in all five games this season as part of 11 times in his career.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Jalen Berger (59 carries for 301 yards, 5.1 avg., 4 TDs, 60.2 ypg)
Passing – R-Jr. Payton Thorne (104-of-162, .642, 1,121 yards, 8 TDs, 6 INTs, 224.2 ypg)
Receiving – So. Keon Coleman (25 catches for 308 yards, 12.3 avg., 3 TDs, 61.6 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. S Kendell Brooks (47 tackles; 24 solo, 23 assists; 3 FF, 1 PBU, 0.5 TFLs)

Ohio State:
Rushing – R-So. Miyan Williams (64 carries for 497 yards, 7.8 avg., 8 TDs, 99.4 ypg)
Passing – R-So. C.J. Stroud (92-of-134, .687, 1,376 yards, 18 TDs, 2 INTs, 275.2 ypg)
Receiving – So. Emeka Egbuka (30 receptions for 512 yards, 17.1 avg., 5 TDs, 102.4 ypg)
Tackles – R-Jr. LB Tommy Eichenberg (42 tackles, 23 solo, 19 assists; 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT NO. 3/3 OHIO STATE (5-0, 2-0 BIG TEN)
• The No. 3/3 Buckeyes tote an unbeaten 5-0 overall record and 2-0 Big Ten ledger into Saturday's matchup in Spartan Stadium, which is Ohio State's first road game of the season.

• OSU opened the season with a 21-10 win over No. 5 Notre Dame on Sept. 3, then beat Arkansas State, 45-12, on Sept. 10 and Toledo, 77-21, on Sept. 17 to close out nonconference action. The Buckeyes opened Big Ten play with a 52-21 win over Wisconsin on Sept. 24, before routing Rutgers, 49-10, last Saturday.

• The OSU defense was spearheaded by junior linebacker Steele Chambers with 11 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and one INT with a 12-yard return. Senior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg added nine stops with 0.5 TFL.

• Ohio State leads the Big Ten and FBS in scoring offense at 48.8 ppg. The Buckeyes also lead the conference and rank third in the country in total offense (529.6 ypg), including topping the league and ranking 11th in the nation in rushing offense (226.2 ypg) and first in the B1G and 18th in the FBS in passing offense (303.4 ypg).

• Defensively, OSU ranks fifth in the conference and 14th in the country in scoring defense at 14.4 ppg. Ohio State is fifth in the league and 10th in the nation in total defense (263.8 ypg), including second in the B1G and seventh in the FBS in passing yards allowed (153.4 ypg), along with eighth in the conference and 33rd in the country in rushing defense (110.4 ypg).

• C.J. Stroud tops the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the FBS in passing yards per completion (14.96), as well as leading the league and ranking eighth in the nation in points responsible for per game (21.6), including topping the conference and ranking third in the country in passing TDs (18). The Buckeyes' signal-caller is also first in the league and second in the nation in passing efficiency (196.3). Stroud is 92-of-134 passing for 1,376 yards (275.2 ypg) with 18 TDs and two INTs, while also rushing nine times for 8 yards.

• Four Buckeye receivers are in the top 10 in the Big Ten in receiving TDs, led by sophomore Marvin Harrison Jr., who is second in the league and sixth in the nation (6), while sophomore wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is third in the conference and 13th in the country (5), while Julian Fleming is fourth in the conference (4) and senior tight end Cade Stover is 10th (2).

• Egbuka is also third in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS in receiving yards per game (102.4), while Harrison is fifth in the league and 43rd in the nation (81.0). Egbuka has 30 receptions for 512 yards (17.1 ypc/102.4 ypg) with five TDs, while Harrison has 24 catches for 405 yards (16.9 ypc/81.0 ypg) with six scores. Stover has 13 catches for 200 yards (15.4 ypc/40.0 ypg) with two TDs, and Julian Fleming has 11 catches for 141 yards (12.8 ypc/47.0 ypg) with four TDs.

• Junior running back Miyan Williams is first in the Big Ten and second in the FBS in rushing yards per carry (7.77), while TreVeyon Henderson is sixth in the league and 21st in the country (6.36). Williams is second in the conference and fourth in the country in rushing TDs (8), including tying a school record with five vs. Rutgers, while Henderson is 13th in the league (3). Additionally, Williams is sixth in the B1G and 21st in the FBS in rushing yards per game (99.4), while Henderson is ninth in the league and 46th in the nation (79.5). On the season, Williams has 64 carries for 497 yards, while Henderson has 50 rushes for 318 yards.

• Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg leads the Buckeye defense with 42 total tackles (23 solo, 19 assists), ranking ninth in the B1G and 53rd in the FBS in total tackles per game (8.4), adding 5.5 tackles for loss, with 2.0 sacks.

• Senior placekicker Noah Ruggles leads the league and nation with 34 PATs, on a perfect 34-of-34, and is 2-of-3 on field goals, to rank eighth in the conference in scoring (8.0 ppg).

• Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is in his fourth year leading the Buckeyes, and has a 39-4 overall record, with two Big Ten titles and two appearances in the College Football Playoff.

►MSU/OHIO STATE SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game will be the 51st meeting between Michigan State and Ohio State. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series, 35-15, including an 18-5 record in East Lansing. MSU is looking for its first win over Ohio State since 2015, when the Spartans beat the No. 2 Buckeyes, 17-14, at Ohio Stadium en route to winning the Big Ten Championship and earning a berth in the College Football Playoff. In a matchup of AP Top 10 teams last season in Columbus, No. 5 OSU defeated the No. 7 Spartans, 56-7, on Nov. 21.

• The Spartans have toppled Ohio State 10 times when the Buckeyes entered the game ranked in the AP Top 25, including five times when the Buckeyes were ranked in the top five (No. 5 in 1972, No. 1 in 1974, No. 1 in 1998, No. 2 in 2013, No. 2 in 2015) and seven in the top 10 (previous five games listed plus No. 7 in 1951 and No. 9 in 1971).

• Mel Tucker was a graduate assistant on Nick Saban's staff during MSU's win at No. 1 Ohio State in 1998.

►SPARTANS FROM THE BUCKEYE STATE
• Michigan State's 2022 roster features 12 players from Ohio (OG Matt Carrick, DE Avery Dunn, OG J.D. Duplain, WR Montorie Foster, S Angelo Grose, CB Isaiah Henderson, S Xavier Henderson, S A.J. Kirk, LB Jeff Pietrowski, C Nick Samac, DT Jacob Slade, DE Brandon Wright), the most of any state outside of Michigan.

►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 167 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker's teams have collected a 121-46 (.725) 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 7-5 overall against AP Top 25 opponents (2-2 at Colorado; 5-3 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-).

►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)
(3 games, 8-for-9 passing (.889), 92 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs)

• #10 Payton Thorne (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(5 games/5 starts, 104-of-162 passing (.642), 1,121 yards, 224.2 ypg, 8 TDs, 6 INTs; 25 carries for 45 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 19 consecutive games (13-6 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, 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 five games.

• Through five games, Thorne is 104-of-162 passing (.642) for 1,121 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten with eight passing touchdowns. Five of Thorne's eight TD are for 25-plus yards, and four of those were thrown downfield for 20-plus yards, which is tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for 24th in the FBS.

• 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 8-of-9 passing (.889) for 92 yards and two touchdowns in three 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.

• 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)
(5 games/4 starts, 59 carries, 301 yards. 5.1 avg., 4 TDs, 60.2 ypg)

• #3 Jarek Broussard (Gr.-5, 5-9, 195, Dallas, Texas/Colorado)
(5 games/1 start, 38 carries, 177 yards, 4.7 avg., 2 TDs, 35.4 ypg)

• #24 Elijah Collins (3L, R-Sr., 6-1, 215, Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit)
(5 games, 14 carries, 94 yards, 6.7 avg., 3 TDs, 18.8 ypg)

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

• #22 Jordon Simmons (2L, Jr., 5-11, 195, Marietta, Ga./McEachern)
(5 games, 2 carries, 3 yards, 1.5 avg., 0 TDs, 0.6 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 (59), rushing yards (301) 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. Berger is 15th in the Big Ten in rushing (301 yards; 60.2 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 38 carries for 177 yards and two TDs. He scored his first two touchdowns as a Spartan in the 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 94 rushing yards on 14 carries (6.7 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.

• 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)
(5 games/1 start, 4 catches, 100 yards, 25.0 avg., 2 TDs, 20.0 ypg)

• #0 Keon Coleman (So., 6-4, 215, Opelousas, La./Opelousas Catholic)
(5 games/5 starts, 25 catches, 308 yards, 12.3 avg., 3 TDs, 61.6 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)
(3 games, 3 catches, 28 yards, 9.3 avg., 0 TDs, 9.3 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)
(4 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)
(5 games/3 starts, 15 catches, 181 yards, 12.1 avg., 3 TDs, 36.2 ypg)

• #1 Jayden Reed (2L, Gr.-5, 6-0, 190, Naperville, Ill./Western Michigan)
(4 games/4 starts, 19 catches, 189 yards, 9.9 avg., 1 TD, 47.3 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 four games this season, Reed has 19 catches for 189 yards (9.9 avg.; 47.3 ypg); he missed the Washington game in Week 3 due to an injury he suffered in the second quarter vs. Akron.

• Reed has started all 24 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 five games and has 15 catches for 181 yards overall. He has 78 catches for 998 yards and seven TDs in his 29-game collegiate career, including 16 starts. Mosley needs just two more receiving yards to cross the 1,000-yard receiving milestone in his career.

• 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 25 receptions for 308 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 25.0-yards per catch (four receptions for 100 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, 3 games/1 start at LT)

• #58 OT Spencer Brown (1L, R-Jr., 6-6, 315, Commerce Twp., Mich, Walled Lake Western, 5 games/5 starts at RT)

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

• #67 LG J.D. Duplain (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 5 games/5 starts at LG)

• #50 OG/C Brian Greene (Gr.-6, 6-3, 300, Yakima, Wash./Washington State, 5 games)

• #79 LT Jarrett Horst (Sr.-5, 6-6, 300, Milddleton, Wis./Arkansas State, 5 games/4 starts at LT)

• #59 C Nick Samac (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 5 games/5 starts at C)

►SPARTANS FEATURE 115 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 15 career starts under his belt and has played in 32 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 23 consecutive games for the Spartans at left guard and has 28 career starts overall.

• At right guard, sixth-year graduate senior Matt Carrick brings 23 career starts and 43 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 five 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 the 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 four starts this season and 32 for his career (20 at Arkansas State, 12 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 34 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 Indepedence Community College but did not see game action last season.

Daniel Barker at Washington — **Daniel Barker leads the Spartan tight ends with 11 catches for 122 yards.**

►TIGHT ENDS
• #9 Daniel Barker (Gr.-5, 6-4, 250, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Illinois)
(5 games/2 starts, 11 catches, 122 yards, 11.1 avg., 1 TD, 24.4 ypg)

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

• #97 Tyler Hunt (4L, Gr.-6, 6-3, 248, Gobles, Mich./Gobles)
(5 games/5 starts, 11 catches, 87 yards, 7.9 avg., 0 TDs, 17.4 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 five 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.

►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)
(3 games, 7 tackles)

• #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)
(5 games/5 starts, 23 tackles, 8.0 TFLs for 39 yards, 5.5 sacks for 31 yards, 5 FF, 1 FR, 2 PBUs)

• #26 Brandon Wright (3L, Sr., 6-2, 250, Euclid, Ohio/Euclid)
(5 games/1 start, 8 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 2 yards)

• #18 Zion Young (Fr., 6-6, 260, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(5 games, 6 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.

• 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.

• Through five games, he leads the FBS in forced fumbles (5), is tied for sixth in sacks (5.5), and is tied for 11th in tackles for loss (8.0). All of those marks also lead the Big Ten Conference. His five forced fumbles already rank tied for third most in an MSU season.

• 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).

Michigan State – Big Ten Player of the Week in Back-to-Back Weeks
*The Big Ten began naming conference players of the week in 1987

K Paul Edinger, 1998, Special Teams
Oct. 31 vs. Northwestern; Nov. 7 vs. Ohio State

QB Drew Stanton, 2005, Offense
Sept. 17 vs. Notre Dame; Sept. 24 vs. Illinois

RB Javon Ringer, 2008, Offense
Sept. 6 vs. Eastern Michigan; Sept. 13 vs. Florida Atlantic; Sept. 20 vs. Notre Dame

K Brett Swenson, 2008, Special Teams
Oct. 4 vs. Iowa; Oct. 11 vs. Northwestern

DE/LB Jacoby Windmon, 2022, Defense
Sept. 2 vs. Western Michigan; Sept. 10 vs. Akron

• Junior Jeff Pietrowski started the first three games at defensive end on the opposite side of Windmon before missing the last two 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 Maryland game 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 five 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 six tackles overall and 1.5 TFLs (9 yards) in five 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)
(5 games/4 starts, 15 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)
(5 games/1 start, 20 tackles, 0.5 TFL fr 1 yard, 1 FR)

• #41 Derrick Harmon (R-Fr., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(5 games/3 starts, 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 4 yards, 0.5 sacks for 4 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)
(2 games, 2 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.

• 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 three 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 15 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 20 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 three starting assignments (Akron, Washington, Maryland) and has 13 tackles overall in five games.

• 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 two 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)
(5 games, 8 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)
(4 games, 4 tackles, 1 TFL for 9 yards)

• #27 Cal Haladay (1L, R-So., 6-1, 230, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(5 games/4 starts, 43 tackles, 2 TFLs for 13 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)
(5 games/5 starts, 43 tackles, 1 TFL for 8 yards, 1 PBU)

►HALADAY, VANSUMEREN PACE LINEBACKERS WITH 43 TACKLES APIECE
• 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 tied for second on the team with 43 tackles and has posted double-digit tackles in three of the five games, including a career-high 12 vs. Minnesota.

• Graduate senior Ben VanSumeren has started all five games for the Spartans and ranks tied for second on the team with 43 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 eight 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 four tackles and one TFL (9 yards) in four games this season.

►SECONDARY
• #0 CB Charles Brantley (1L, So., 6-0, 170, Sarasota, Fla./Venice)
(5 games/5 starts, 22 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 3 yards, 4 PBUs)

• #33 S Kendell Brooks (1L, Sr.-5, 6-0, 215, Swansea, S.C./North Greenville)
(5 games/4 starts, 47 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)
(5 games/5 starts, 35 tackles, 1.5 TFLs for 5 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)
(5 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)
(4 games/1 start, 7 tackles)

• #6 CB Ameer Speed (Gr.-6, 6-3, 215, Jacksonville, Fla./Georgia)
(5 games/5 starts, 34 tackles, 1 TFL for 2 yards)

• #30 NB Justin White (1L, R-Jr., 5-9, 180, Agoura Hills, Calif./Colorado Mesa)
(5 games, 8 tackles)

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

►SAFETY KENDELL BROOKS LEADS SPARTANS WITH 47 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 fifth on the team with 34 tackles through five games.

• Opposite of Speed, sophomore Charles Brantley has started the first five games of the season and leads the team with four pass break-ups, including a career-high three vs. Akron in Week 2. 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.

• Nickelback 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.

• The Spartans returned both starting safeties from last season – Angelo Grose (Jr.) and Xavier Henderson (Gr.-5) – but 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 with an injury. He left the season opener against Western Michigan in the second quarter and has missed the last four 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 22 consecutive games, the longest streak on the defense and the second longest on the team. Last week 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 five starts this season, Grose is fourth on the team with 35 tackles and 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 tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 47 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.

►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 leads the FBS with a 53.3-yard average (18 punts for 959 yards). Eleven of Baringer's 18 punts this season have been for 50-plus yards, including four of 60-plus yards. He has placed five punts 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 13-for-13 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 60.7 yards on kickoffs with six touchbacks in 23 attempts (.261).

• 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. Redshirt freshman Michael Donovan provides backup for the Spartans at the position.

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 four punt returns for 21 yards (5.3 avg.) this season.

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