No. 15/14 Michigan State Hosts Western Michigan in Season Opener Friday Night at Spartan Stadium

Game 1: No. 15/14 Michigan State (0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-0)

Date: Friday, Sept. 2
Kickoff: 7 p.m. EDT
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass
Tickets: msuspartans.com
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Live Stats
Promotions/Events: Stripe the Stadium (even sections wear green, odd sections wear white)
Game Day Information (Parking/Tickets/Tailgating): msuspartans.com/gameday

TV: ESPN2
Mobile: WatchESPN/ESPN app
Announcers: Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (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. 83), SiriusXM app (Ch. 83)
Pre-game Show: Begins at 6:30 p.m.

All-Time Series: MSU leads, 14-2
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 13-2
Last Meeting: MSU 51, WMU 17 (2019)
Current Series Streak: 12 by MSU (1921-)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 13-7 (third year)
Overall Record: 18-14 (fourth year)
Record vs. WMU: 0-0

Western Michigan Head Coach: Tim Lester
WMU Record: 32-25 (sixth year)
Overall Record: 62-48 (12th year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-2

FIRST-AND-10 –
• No. 15/14 Michigan State kicks off its 126th season of football and begins its third season under head coach Mel Tucker on Friday, Sept. 2 against Western Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2 with Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sidelines) on the call.

• MSU is looking to build off the momentum from last season's school-record turnaround, as the Spartans posted a nine-game improvement from 2020 (two wins) to 2021 (11 wins), won a New Year's Six bowl game over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and finished No. 8 in the AFCA/USA TODAY Coaches Poll and No. 9 in The Associated Press Poll.

• Friday's game marks the 17th meeting between Michigan State and Western Michigan. The Spartans lead the overall series, 14-2, including a 12-game winning streak that dates back to 1921. In the last matchup in 2019, MSU defeated WMU, 51-17.

• Michigan State is 7-0 in home Friday night games since 2011 and 9-0 overall in Friday night games during that same time span. All of those games were in season openers for the Spartans.

• MSU is 13-2 against WMU in East Lansing, including a 10-0 record in Spartan Stadium. The series dates back to 1908, as Michigan State topped Western Michigan, 35-0, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. After playing five times between 1908 and 1921, with MSU holding a 3-2 advantage in the series, the two teams didn't meet again until 1980.

• In just his second year in East Lansing in 2021, Mel 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. Tucker became 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).

• The Spartans are bringing back 44 letterwinners from last season's team, including 19 on offense, 22 on defense and three on special teams. MSU has 26 position players returning with starting experience, including 13 on offense and 13 on defense. Michigan State also added eight scholarship transfers to the 2022 roster (TE Daniel Barker-Illinois; RB Jalen Berger-Wisconsin; DE Khris Bogle-Florida; RB Jarek Broussard-Colorado; LB Aaron Brule-Mississippi State; OL Brian Greene-Washington State; CB Ameer Speed-Georgia; LB Jacoby Windmon-UNLV).

• Michigan State is 85-37-3 (.692) all-time in season openers, including a 20-3 record (.869) in its last 23 games. In addition, the Spartans are 103-22 (.824) all-time in home openers, including victories in 22 of the past 23 years.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton 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. Thorne also ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in total offense (third with 3,414 yards), passing yards (third with 3,233), passing yards per game (third with 248.7), passing efficiency (sixth with 148.1 rating), pass completions (tied for sixth with 234) and pass attempts (seventh with 389). 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. Thorne has been named to several national award watch lists entering the 2022 season (Maxwell Award, Manning Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year). Payton's father, Jeff, is in his first year as the offensive coordinator at Western Michigan after spending six seasons as the head coach at Division III North Central, where he accumulated a 65-10 record, including the program's first-ever national championship in 2019.

• Redshirt senior wide receiver Jayden Reed, who earned first-team All-America honors as an all-purpose player by the American Football Coaches Association, is back for his senior season at Michigan State in 2022. Reed led the Spartans with 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns as a redshirt 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). Named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, Reed was selected the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Offensive MVP after hauling in six passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Pitt, including the go-ahead score from 22 yards out with 2:51 left in the game. Reed began his career at Western Michigan in 2018, where he earned Freshman All-America honors for the Broncos before transferring to MSU in 2019.

►A LOOK AT THE 2022 SCHEDULE
• The 2022 season and home opener for Michigan State against Western Michigan on Friday marks the eighth time in the past 12 years that Michigan State will open the season with a Friday night game in East Lansing. It also marks the 10th time since 2011 that MSU will open on a Friday night.

• Michigan State plays host to Akron on Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. before traveling to Washington on Sept. 17. It marks just the second trip to Seattle in program history and first since 1970. The Huskies will make the return trip to Spartan Stadium on Sept. 16, 2023.

• MSU will begin conference play at home on Sept. 24 vs. Minnesota before traveling to Maryland on Oct. 1. The Spartans will host Ohio State on Oct. 8 and Wisconsin on Oct. 15 for Homecoming, then take a bye week on Oct. 22 to get ready for the Michigan game in Ann Arbor on Oct. 29.

• Michigan State opens the last month of the regular season on the road at Illinois on Nov. 5 and closes the home schedule with games in Spartan Stadium against Rutgers (Nov. 12) and Indiana (Nov. 19). The regular season concludes on Nov. 26 at Penn State.

►SIX SPARTANS NAMED TO PRESEASON AWARD WATCH LISTS

Graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer: Ray Guy Award

Graduate senior running back Jarek Broussard: Doak Walker Award

Graduate senior safety Xavier Henderson: Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy

Graduate senior wide receiver Jayden Reed: Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award

Graduate senior defensive tackle Jacob Slade: Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award

Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne: Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year

►MICHIGAN STATE BACK IN PRESEASON TOP 25
• Michigan State is ranked No. 15 in the Preseason Associated Press Poll and No. 14 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. This marks the first time MSU has been ranked in the AP Preseason Poll since 2019 (No. 18). It's also the highest MSU has been ranked in the AP Preseason Poll since entering at No. 11 in 2018. Since 1950, Michigan State has appeared in the Preseason AP Poll on 33 occasions.

►SPARTAN FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SINCE 2011
• Since 2011, Michigan State has played nine home openers on Friday night (9-0 record), including seven in Spartan Stadium (7-0). Here's a look at MSU's Friday night games since 2011:

Sept. 2, 2011: No. 17 Michigan State 28, Youngstown State 6 (East Lansing)
Aug. 31, 2012: No. 13 Michigan State 17, No. 24 Boise State 13 (East Lansing)
Aug. 30, 2013: Michigan State 26, Western Michigan 13 (East Lansing)
Aug. 29, 2014: No. 8 Michigan State 45, Jacksonville State 7 (East Lansing)
Sept. 4, 2015: No. 5 Michigan State 37, Western Michigan 24 (Kalamazoo)
Sept. 2, 2016: No. 12 Michigan State 28, Furman 13 (East Lansing)
Aug. 31, 2018: No. 11 Michigan State 38, Utah State 31 (East Lansing)
Aug. 30, 2019: No. 18 Michigan State 28, Tulsa 7 (East Lansing)
Sept. 3, 2021: Michigan State 38, Northwestern 21 (Evanston)

►UNDER THE LIGHTS PT. 2
• Friday marks the 26th night game in Spartan Stadium history. MSU went 2-0 during night games at Spartan Stadium last season with wins over Nebraska and Western Kentucky to improve to 18-7 in night games in East Lansing. MSU's first-ever night game in Spartan Stadium was a 27-13 win over USC to open the 1987 season.

►BACK FOR MORE
• Seven Spartan seniors – punter Bryce Baringer, guard Matt Carrick, safety Xavier Henderson, left tackle Jarrett Horst, tight end Tyler Hunt, tight end Powers Warren and cornerback Ronald Williams – are taking advantage of a rare opportunity, staying at MSU for another year thanks to a COVID-19 pandemic waiver.

• In addition, graduate transfers Daniel Barker (TE, Illinois), Brian Greene (OL, Washington State) and Ameer Speed (CB, Georgia) are also in their final year of eligibility after gaining an additional year.

►RETURNING STAT LEADERS FROM 2021
Michigan State:
Rushing – Jr. Jordon Simmons (70 carries for 278 yards, 4.0 avg., 0 TDs)
Passing – R-Jr. Payton Thorne (234-of-388, .603, 3,233 yards, 27 TDs, 10 INTs)
Receiving – Gr.-5 Jayden Reed (59 catches for 1,026 yards, 17.4 avg., 10 TDs)
Tackles – R-So. LB Cal Haladay (96 tackles)/Gr.-5 S Xavier Henderson (96 tackles)

Western Michigan:
Rushing – Jr. Sean Tyler (178 carries for 1,150 yards, 6.5 avg., 9 TDs)
Passing – R-Fr. Jack Salopek (3-of-5, .600, 20 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs)
Receiving – Jr. Corey Crooms (44 receptions for 768 yards, 17.5 avg., 6 TDs)
Tackles – Sr. LB Zaire Barnes (68 tackles, 45 solo, 23 assists, 7 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 3 FR, 1 FF)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN (0-0)
• Western Michigan is coming off an 8-5 season in 2021, ending with a 52-24 shootout win over Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl. The Broncos finished tied for fourth in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference with a 4-4 league mark.

• WMU ranked third in the MAC and 34th in the NCAA in scoring offense with 32.5 points per game, while ranking fourth in the MAC in scoring defense at 28.2 ppg.

• The Broncos' offense also ranked second in the MAC and 12th in the NCAA in total offense (466.4 ypg), as well as third in the conference and 17th in the country in rushing offense (212.8 ypg) and fourth in the league and 49th in the nation in passing offense (253.6 ypg). WMU's offensive line also led the conference and ranked sixth in the country in tackles for loss allowed (3.6 pg). Western Michigan also topped the MAC and ranked fourth in the FBS in time of possession (35:16 pg).

• Defensively, WMU topped the MAC and ranked 18th in the FBS in total defense (329.5 ypg), while ranking second in the conference and 10th in the country in passing defense (186.4 ypg) and second in the league and 50th in the nation in rushing defense (143.1 ypg). The Bronco defense also led the MAC and ranked second in the FBS in third-down conversion percentage defense (.268), and also topped the league and ranked fourth in the nation in team sacks (3.31 pg).

• Individually, WMU looks to replace quarterback Kaleb Eleby, who threw for 3,277 yards and 23 TDs last season. Redshirt freshman Jack Salopek played in two games, going 3-for-5 for 20 yards, while fellow redshirt freshman Mareyohn Hrabowski appeared in four games, and was 0-for-1 passing. Sophomore newcomer Stone Hollenbach transferred to WMU from Alabama, but didn't play a snap for the Crimson Tide.

• The Broncos have a veteran running back corps, as WMU returns four of its top from rushing leaders from a year ago, including the top two. Leading the way is junior Sean Tyler, who led the Broncos with 1,140 yards (87.7 ypg/6.4 ypc) and nine TDs. Senior La'Darius Jefferson is in his third year at WMU after transferring from Michigan State following the 2019 season. Jefferson led WMU in rushing in 2020 with 633 rushing yards and ran for 836 yards (69.7 ypg/4.5 ypc) with a team-leading 10 TDs in 2021. Tyler was fourth in the MAC in rushing (87.7 ypg), while Jefferson was seventh (69.7 ypg). Sophomore running back Zahir Abdus-Salaam had 22 carries for 115 yards, while Hrabowski added 21 carries for 121 yards (30.3 ypg/5.8 ypc).

• WMU returns just three of the 11 total players that caught a pass in 2021, with just 61 of 233 receptions (26. percent), 920 of 3,297 yards (27.9 percent) and only eight of the 23 TDs (34.8 percent) returning.

• Junior wide receiver Corey Crooms is the leading returner with 44 catches for 768 (59.1 ypg/17.5 ypc) with three TDs, which ranked second on the team in both receiving yards and TDs, and third in catches. Running back Tyler is the only other Bronco with double-digit receptions and a TD catch from last season, with 14 catches for 114 yards (8.8 ypg/8.1 ypc) with two TDs.

• The Bronco defense returns its top three returning tacklers, led by senior linebacker duo of Zaire Barnes and Corvin Moment with 68 tackles apiece. Barnes also led WMU with three fumble recoveries, adding 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Moment is the leading returning Bronco defender in tackles for loss with 10.0 tackles for loss, adding 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Junior linebacker Ryan Selig logged 63 stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one pass break-up.

• On special teams, WMU returns senior punter/placekicker Nick Mihalic, who ranked fourth in the MAC last season with a 41.9 yards per punt average. Mihalic had a long of 58 yards, one of nine punts of 50+ yards, along with pinning 14 punts inside the 20.

• Mihalic also handled a majority of the WMU placekicking duties, going 9-of-11 with a lone of 30 yards, having two blocked. He also was 11-of-14 on PATs. Additionally, Mihalic handled most of the Broncos' kickoffs, with 75 kickoffs for an average of 54.3 ypk with 15 touchbacks.

• WMU head coach Tim Lester is in his sixth season at the reins of the Broncos, posting a 32-25 record in leading his alma mater. Overall, Lester is in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, logging a 62-48 ledger.

• Western Michigan offensive coordinator Jeff Thorne is the father of Michigan State junior quarterback Payton Thorne. Coach Thorne is in his first season with the Broncos after six seasons as the head coach of North Central College, where he led the Cardinals to a 2019 Division III National Championship, their first in program history, and 2021 national championship appearance.

►MSU/WESTERN MICHIGAN SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 17th meeting between Michigan State and Western Michigan. The Spartans lead the overall series, 14-2, including a 12-game winning streak that dates back to 1921. In the last matchup in 2019, MSU defeated WMU, 51-17.

• MSU is 13-2 against WMU in East Lansing, including a 10-0 record in Spartan Stadium. The series dates back to 1908, as Michigan State topped Western Michigan, 35-0, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. After playing five times between 1908 and 1921, with MSU holding a 3-2 advantage in the series, the two teams didn't meet again until 1980.

►A LOOK AT THE 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 162 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker's teams have collected a 119-43 (.735) 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 18 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-).

**Payton Thorne threw a school-record 27 touchdown passes as a redshirt sophomore during the 2021 season.**

►OFFENSIVE PREVIEW

►QUARTERBACKS
Players returning (3):
• #14 Noah Kim (R-So., 6-2, 185, Centreville, Va./Westfield)
• #18 Andrew Schorfhaar (R-So., 6-2, 195, DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt)
• #10 Payton Thorne (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(13 games/13 starts, 234-of-388 passing (.603), 3,233 yards, 27 TDs, 10 INTs, 181 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs)

Incoming freshman (1):
• #12 Katin Houser (Fr., 6-3, 213, Anaheim, Calif./St. John Bosco)^

Letterwinners lost (1):
• Anthony Russo (1L, 2 games, 7-of-9 passing (.778), 43 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs)

^ Enrolled in January 2022

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.

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. Thorne also ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in total offense (third with 3,414 yards), passing yards (third with 3,233), passing yards per game (third with 248.7), passing efficiency (sixth with 148.1 rating), pass completions (tied for sixth with 234) and pass attempts (seventh with 388). 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.

In addition, Thorne showed he can be productive on the ground – without sacks, he gained 362 yards on 61 carries (5.9 avg.), including 20 for first downs and four TDs. 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.

Redshirt sophomore Noah Kim will look to continue on building his experience with the offense in preseason camp, while redshirt sophomore Andrew Schorfhaar provides depth at the position.

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.

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

►RUNNING BACKS
Players returning (3):
• #24 Elijah Collins (3L, R-Sr., 6-1, 215, Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit)
(7 games, 18 carries, 102 yards, 5.7 avg.)

• #2 Harold Joiner (1L, R-Sr., 6-4, 220, Birmingham, Ala./Auburn)
(13 games, 13 carries, 43 yards, 3.3 avg.)

• #22 Jordon Simmons (2L, Jr., 5-11, 195, Marietta, Ga./McEachern)
(13 games/1 start, 70 carries, 278 yards, 4.0 avg.)

Transfers (2):
• #8 Jalen Berger (R-So., 6-1, 215, Newark, N.J./Wisconsin)
(3 games, 24 carries, 88 yards, 3.7 avg., 1 TD) * ^

• #3 Jarek Broussard (Gr.-5, 5-9, 195, Dallas, Texas/Colorado)
(11 games/10 starts, 142 carries, 661 yards, 4.7 avg., 2 TDs) %

Incoming freshman (1):
• #38 Christian Banks (Fr., 6-1, 210, Orlando, Fla./Olympia)

Letterwinners lost (2):
• Donovan Eaglin (1L, 13 games, 6 carries, 33 yards, 5.5 avg.)
• Kenneth Walker III (1L, 13 games/13 starts, 263 carries, 1,636 yards, 6.2 avg., 18 TDs)

* at Wisconsin in 2021 | % at Colorado in 2021 | ^ Enrolled in January 2022

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.

Three returning letterwinners – Elijah Collins (R-Sr.), Harold Joiner (R-Sr.) and Jordon Simmons (Jr.) – along with two Power 5 transfers (Jarek Broussard, Colorado; Jalen Berger, Wisconsin) will compete in the backfield during preseason camp.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

**Jayden Reed is back for the Spartans after catching 10 touchdown passes in 2021, including this game-winner in the fourth quarter of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.**

►WIDE RECEIVERS
Players returning (12):
• #13 Sebastian Brown (R-So., 6-3, 196, Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech)

• #0 Keon Coleman (So., 6-4, 215, Opelousas, La./Opelousas Catholic)
(10 games, 7 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD)

• #86 Aubrey Dawkins (R-So., 5-10, 185, Verona, Wis./Verona)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (R-So., 6-4, 218, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(11 games, 2 catches, 3 yards)

• #83 Montorie Foster (2L, Jr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(13 games/3 starts, 12 catches, 164 yards, 1 TD)

• #80 Zach Gillespie (R-So., 6-2, 205, East Lansing, Mich./Lansing Catholic) *

• #82 Nick Hunter (R-Jr., 5-10, 190, Grayling, Mich./Grayling)

• #3 Terry Lockett Jr. (2L, So., 6-0, 180, Minneapolis, Minn./Minnehaha Academy)
(9 games, 3 catches, 17 yards)

• #25 Joseph Martinez (R-So., 5-9, 200, Holt, Mich./Holt)

• #85 Cade McDonald (2L, R-Jr., 5-11, 195, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central, 8 games)

• #17 Tre Mosley (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 198, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(13 games/9 starts, 35 catches, 530 yards, 3 TDs)

• #1 Jayden Reed (2L, Gr.-5, 6-0, 190, Naperville, Ill./Western Michigan)
(13 games/13 starts, 59 catches, 1,026 yards, 17.4 avg., 10 TDs)

Incoming freshmen (6):
• #4 Germie Bernard (Fr., 6-0, 200, Henderson, Nev./Liberty) ^
• #7 Antonio Gates Jr. (Fr., 6-2, 190, Detroit, Mich./Fordson)
• #15 Jaron Glover (Fr., 6-1, 205, Sarasota, Fla./Riverview)
• #11 Tyrell Henry (Fr., 6-0, 175, Roseville, Mich./Roseville)
• #84 Tyler Vroman (Fr., 6-3, 185, Rockford, Mich./Rockford)
• #89 Alex Watters (Fr., 6-0, 185, East Lansing, Mich./Lansing Catholic)

Letterwinners lost (3):
• Jalen Nailor (3L, 9 games/9 starts, 37 catches, 695 yards, 6 TDs)
• Ian Stewart (1L, 3 games, 1 catch, 8 yards)
• Jahz Watts (2L)

^ Enrolled in January 2022 | * Played QB last season

Wide receiver Jayden Reed, who earned first-team All-America honors as an all-purpose player by the American Football Coaches Association, is back for his senior season at Michigan State. 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.

Reed's playmaking ability was on full display in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, as he was named the game's Offensive MVP after hauling in six passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the win over No. 12 Pitt, including the go-ahead score from 22 yards out with 2:51 left in the game.

Although the Spartans lost three-year letterwinner Jalen Nailor, who had a career-high 37 catches for 695 yards and five TDs last year and was drafted in the sixth round by the Vikings, MSU brings back experienced starter Tre Mosley (R-Jr.) alongside Reed. Mosley has been steady for the Spartans during his career, recording 63 receptions for 817 yards in 23 games from 2019-21, including 13 starts. He recorded career highs in catches (35), receiving yards (530) and TD receptions (3) last season while earning nine starting assignments.

Junior Montorie Foster also has starting experience after filling in for the injured Nailor during the last month of the regular season. He hauled in 12 catches for 164 yards, including a 52-yard TD reception in the win over Maryland, during his second season with the Spartans in 2021.

Sophomore Keon Coleman showed flashes of his athleticism as a true freshman with seven receptions for 50 yards, one of which came on a touchdown grab at Ohio State. He spent the winter with the basketball team, playing in six games, but also participated in spring practice as he continues to compete for a starting role.

Returning letterwinners Christian Fitzpatrick (R-So.) and Terry Lockett (Jr.) are promising young receivers who will look to increase their production after spending another year in the offense, while walk-ons Sebastian Brown (R-So.), Aubrey Dawkins (R-So.), Nick Hunter (R-Jr.), Joseph Martinez (R-So.) and Cade McDonald (R-Jr.) provide depth for the Spartans. Zach Gillespie (R-So.) spent his first two seasons as a quarterback but made the transition to wide receiver during spring practice.

The Spartans are bringing in four scholarship freshmen in 2022, including four-star prospect Germie Bernard, who was an early enrollee and competed in spring practice. Antonio Gates Jr., Jaron Glover and Tyrell Henry all signed National Letters of Intent with MSU and joined the program in the summer.

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

►OFFENSIVE LINE
Players returning (10):
• #53 OT Brandon Baldwin (R-So., 6-7, 315, Detroit, Mich./Independence CC)
• #58 OT Spencer Brown (1L, R-Jr., 6-6, 315, Commerce Township, Mich, Walled Lake Western, 8 games/1 start at RT)
• #77 OT Ethan Boyd (R-Fr., 6-7, 325, East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing)
• #56 RG Matt Carrick (4L, Gr.-6, 6-5, 320, Minerva, Ohio/Perry, 7 games)
• #67 LG J.D. Duplain (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 13 games/13 starts at LG)
• #72 C Dallas Fincher (R-So., 6-4, 300, East Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood)
• #79 LT Jarrett Horst (Sr.-5, 6-6, 300, Milddleton, Wis./Arkansas State, 8 games/8 starts at LT)
• #59 C Nick Samac (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 13 games)
• #74 OL Geno VanDeMark (R-Fr., 6-6, 325, Lodi, N.J./St. Joseph)
• #61 OL Kevin Wigenton (R-Fr., 6-5, 315, Colts Neck, N.J./The Hun School)

Transfers (1):
• #50 Brian Greene (Gr.-6, 6-3, 300, Yakima, Wash./Washington State)
(8 games/6 starts at C) *

Incoming freshmen (7):
• #68 OG Gavin Broscious (Fr., 6-4, 315, Surprise, Ariz./Desert Edge)
• #76 OT Andy Hartman (Fr., 6-6, 265, Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc)
• #66 OT Ashton Lepo (Fr., 6-7, 310, Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven)
• #69 OL Jacob Merritt (Fr., 6-6, 270, Northville, Mich./Northville)
• #64 OT Braden Miller (Fr., 6-6, 297, Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest)
• #75 OT Ben Nelson (Fr., 6-7, 305, Holland, Mich./Holland Christian)
• #71 OG Kristian Phillips (Fr., 6-4, 347, Conyers, Ga./Salem)

Letterwinners lost (8):
• C Matt Allen (4L, 13 games/13 starts at C)
• OT AJ Arcuri (4L, 13 games/8 starts at RT, 5 starts at LT)
• OG Blake Bueter (4L, 13 games/5 starts at RG)
• OL Luke Campbell (4L, 12 games)
• OG Jacob Isaia (3L, 13 games)
• OL Kevin Jarvis (4L, 12 games/8 starts at RG, 4 starts at RT)
• OG James Ohonba (2L, 13 games)
• OT Dan VanOpstall (2L, 13 games)

* at Washington State in 2021

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 has earned 10 starting assignments throughout his career. Samac has played more than 1,000 snaps in 27 collegiate games his first three seasons at center (2019-21).

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.

At right guard, sixth-year graduate senior Matt Carrick brings 18 career starts and 38 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 started all seven games at the position in 2020 and 11 times in 2019.

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.

Another experienced transfer joins the Spartans in 2022, as Brian Greene heads to East Lansing from Washington State. A sixth-year graduate senior, Greene has played in 30 career games, including 10 starts at center (four in 2020, six in 2021).

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 played 155 snaps in eight games overall last year and will look to increase his time in the rotation this season.

The Spartans are also returning five players who did not see playing time on the line last season, but gained valuable experience during spring practice: OT Brandon Baldwin (R-So.), OT Ethan Boyd (R-Fr.), C Dallas Fincher (R-So.), OL Geno VanDeMark (R-Fr.) and OL Kevin Wigenton (R-Fr.).

Michigan State signed four offensive linemen to National Letters of Intent in the Class of 2022 (OG Gavin Brocious, OT Ashton Lepo, OT Braden Miller and OG Kristian Phillips), and three more walk-ons joined the team in the summer (Andy Hartman, Jacob Merritt, Ben Nelson).

►TIGHT ENDS
Players returning (5):
• #6 Maliq Carr (1L, R-So., 6-5, 255, Inkster, Mich./Purdue)
(12 games/1 start, 8 catches, 135 yards)

• #97 Tyler Hunt (4L, Gr.-6, 6-3, 248, Gobles, Mich./Gobles)
(11 games/4 starts, 14 catches, 136 yards, 1 TD)

• #92 Evan Morris (1L, R-Jr., 6-5, 245, Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie, 1 game)

• #47 Jackson Morse (R-Jr., 6-3, 240, East Lansing, Mich./Davenport)

• #40 Powers Warren (1L, Gr.-6, 6-4, 240, Minnetonka, Minn./Mississippi State, 2 games)

Transfers (1):
• #9 Daniel Barker (Gr.-5, 6-4, 250, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Illinois)
(12 games/5 starts, 18 catches, 202 yards, 11.2 avg., 4 TDs) *

Incoming freshmen (2):
• #81 Michael Masunas (Fr., 6-4, 250, Tucson, Ariz./Hamilton)
• #87 Jack Nickel (Fr., 6-4, 245, Milton, Ga./Milton) ^

Letterwinners lost (4):
• Adam Berghorst (3L, 6 games)
• Trenton Gillison (3L, 9 games, 1 catch, 5 yards)
• Parks Gissinger (2L, 4 games)
• Connor Heyward (4L, 13 games/13 starts, 35 catches, 326 yards, 2 TDs)

^ Enrolled in January 2022 | * at Illinois in 2021

Although the Spartans are losing starter 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, returns for a 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.

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 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. The former Purdue transfer joined the Spartan basketball team in January, along with wide receiver Keon Coleman.

The program welcomed transfer Daniel Barker (Sr.-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.

Powers Warren (Gr.-6) played in two games last fall for the Spartans, while Evan Morris (R-Jr.) and Jackson Morse (R-Jr.) provide depth at the position.

The Spartans signed two tight ends to National Letters of Intent in the Class of 2022: Michael Masunas and Jack Nickel. Nickel enrolled in January and participated in spring practice.

►DEFENSIVE PREVIEW

►DEFENSIVE ENDS
Players returning (5):
• #19 Itayvion Brown (1L, R-So., 6-4, 247, St. Louis, Mo./Minnesota)
(6 games, 4 tackles)

• #98 Avery Dunn (R-So., 6-4, 245, Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights, 1 game)

• #5 Michael Fletcher (2L, R-Jr., 6-6, 260, Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth)
(7 games, 6 tackles)

• #47 Jeff Pietrowski (2L, Jr., 6-2, 250, Medina, Ohio/St. Edward)
(13 games/3 starts, 33 tackles, 7 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR)

• #26 Brandon Wright (3L, Sr., 6-2, 250, Euclid, Ohio/Euclid)
(11 games, 7 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF)

Transfers (1):
• #2 Khris Bogle (Sr., 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Florida)
(11 games/3 starts, 23 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks) * ^

Incoming freshmen (4):
• #17 Chase Carter (Fr., 6-6, 235, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) ^
• #56 Jay Coyne (Fr., 6-1, 225, New York, N.Y./IMG Academy)
• #32 James Schott (Fr., 6-4, 225, Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove)
• #18 Zion Young (Fr., 6-6, 260, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)

Letterwinners lost (5):
• Drew Beesley (4L, 9 games/9 starts, 29 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR)
• Jack Camper (4L, 3 games, 1 tackle)
• Drew Jordan (1L, 12 games/1 start, 18 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks)
• Jacub Panasiuk (5L, 13 games/13 starts, 37 tackles, 11 TFLs, 7 sacks, 3 PBUs, 2 FR, 1 FF)
• Zach Slade (1L, 2 games)

* at Florida in 2021 | ^ Enrolled in January 2022

Michigan State lost both of its primary starters at defensive end to graduation in Drew Beesley and Jacub Panasiuk, but the Spartans have four letterwinners returning, added an impact transfer in Khris Bogle from Florida, and signed three players at the position to National Letters of Intent for the Class of 2022.

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.

Junior Jeff 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.

Senior Brandon Wright, who made the transition from running back to defensive end during spring practice in 2021, made his presence known in the last two games of the 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.

Former four-star linebacker Itavyion Brown (R-So.) also made the position change to defensive end last season during preseason camp but was limited to six games after suffering an injury early in the year. He returned to the lineup for the last five games and played primarily on third-down situations. Redshirt junior and two-year letterwinner Michael Fletcher has appeared in 15 career games, while redshirt sophomore Avery Dunn is also back for the Spartans.

MSU signed three players to NLIs at defensive end, including Chase Carter, who enrolled in January and competed in spring practice. James Schott and Zion Young joined the program over the summer.

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

►DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Players returning (8):
• #8 Simeon Barrow (1L, R-So., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(10 games/10 starts, 34 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FF)

• #57 Evan Brunning (R-Jr., 6-5, 300, Oxford, Mich./Oxford)

• #97 Maverick Hansen (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 300, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison)
(13 games/3 starts, 26 tackles, 6 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 PBU)

• #41 Derrick Harmon (R-Fr., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola, 4 games, 1 tackle)

• #99 Jalen Hunt (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 320, Belleville, Mich./Belleville)
(11 games/1 start, 5 tackles)

• #63 Jacob LaFave (1L, R-So., 6-4, 285, Brighton, Mich./Brighton) *

• #94 Dashaun Mallory (2L, Gr.-5, 6-2, 280, Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook)
(13 games, 12 tackles, 0.5 TFL)

• #64 Jacob Slade (3L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy)
(13 games/12 starts, 40 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 FR)

Incoming freshmen (1):
• #91 Alex VanSumeren (Fr., 6-3, 300, Bay City, Mich./Garber) ^

Letterwinners lost (1):
• Kyle King (1L, 8 games, 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 PBUs)

^ Enrolled in January 2022
* LaFave lettered in 2020 playing special teams and on the defensive line. He redshirted in 2019 as an offensive lineman. He was not on the roster in 2021 but returned to the roster for spring practice on the offensive line; he switched back to defense in preseason camp.

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 enters 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.

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. Redshirt junior Maverick Hansen filled in for Barrow in the starting lineup for three games 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.

Jalen Hunt (R-Jr.) has battled injuries the past two seasons but has still played in 16 games with two starts, while redshirt senior Dashaun Mallory is also an experienced veteran and has appeared in all 20 games the past two seasons. Promising redshirt freshman Derrick Harmon played in four games last fall to preserve his redshirt season.

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.

**Cal Haladay (#27) and Darius Snow (#23) return for the Spartans in 2022.**

►LINEBACKERS
Players returning (7):
• #42 Carson Casteel (R-Fr., 6-2, 222, Florence, Ala./Florence)

• #35 Sam Edwards (R-So., 6-1, 217, Williamston, Mich./Lansing Catholic)

• #10 Ma'a Gaoteote (So., 6-1, 230, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman)
(9 games, 7 tackles, 1 FF, 1 PBU)

• #27 Cal Haladay (1L, R-So., 6-1, 230, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(13 games/12 starts, 96 tackles, 5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 2 FF)

• #31 Kobe Myers (R-So., 6-1, 220, Pontiac, Mich./Blair Academy)

• #23 Darius Snow (2L, Jr., 6-1, 230, Frisco, Texas/Hebron) %
(13 games/9 starts, 87 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3 PBUs, 1 INT, 1 FR)

• #13 Ben VanSumeren (Gr.-5, 6-3, 235, Bay City, Mich./Michigan)
(13 games, 12 tackles)

Transfers (2):
• #7 Aaron Brule (Gr.-5, 6-2, 242, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(12 games/8 starts, 52 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks) * ^

• #4 Jacoby Windmon (Sr., 6-2, 250, New Orleans, La./UNLV)
(12 games/12 starts, 118 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 PBU) # ^

Incoming freshmen (1):
• #11 Quavian Carter (Fr., 6-3, 190, Camilla, Ga./Lee County)

Letterwinners lost (2):
• Quavaris Crouch (1L, 10 games/9 starts, 75 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 PBUs)
• Noah Harvey (4L, 11 games/4 starts, 32 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PBUs)

& Snow moved to linebacker during spring practice after playing nickelback/safety last season | * At Mississippi State in 2021 | # At UNLV in 2021 | ^ Enrolled in January 2022

The linebackers, coached by Secchia Family Defensive Coordinator Scottie Hazelton, feature a strong position room with returning starter Cal Haladay (R-So.) and two impact transfers (Aaron Brule from Mississippi State, Jacoby Windmon from UNLV). In addition, junior Darius Snow, who started nine games last season primarily as a nickelback, made the move to linebacker during spring practice. The Spartans utilize two linebackers in their 4-2-5 defensive scheme, led by Hazelton.

Haladay won the middle linebacker job as a redshirt freshman 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.

Snow earned a starting spot at nickelback in Week 5 and went on to close the year with nine consecutive starts. He moved back to safety in the bowl win over No. 12 Pittsburgh. Snow finished with 87 tackles, good for third on the team and 18th in the Big Ten, including 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass break-ups and one interception. His versatility provides numerous options for the Spartans on defense.

Windmon 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. 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.

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. Both Windmon and Brule enrolled in January and learned the defense under Hazelton at spring practice.

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, along with redshirt senior Ben VanSumeren, who played in all 13 games in 2021. Redshirt freshman Carson Casteel, who was injured in 2021, also returns for the Spartans.

Sam Edwards (R-So.) and Kobe Myers (R-So.) add depth to the position.

MSU signed one linebacker in the Class of 2022, Quavian Carter, from Camilla, Georgia.

**Senior safety Xavier Henderson has started 33 consecutive games for the Spartans.**

►SECONDARY
Players returning (15):
• #0 CB Charles Brantley (1L, So., 6-0, 170, Sarasota, Fla./Venice)
(8 games/1 start, 18 tackles, 4 PBUs, 1 INT)

• #33 S Kendell Brooks (1L, Sr.-5, 6-0, 215, Swansea, S.C./North Greenville)
(13 games, 9 tackles)

• #14 CB Khary Crump (R-So., 6-0, 180, Los Angeles, Calif./Arizona, 2 games)

• #15 S Angelo Grose (2L, Jr., 5-10, 185, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Senior)
(13 games/13 starts, 83 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 6 PBUs, 1 FF)

• #5 S Hamp Fay (R-Fr., 6-5, 220, Hudson Oaks, Texas/All Saints Episcopal) %

• #28 S Tate Hallock (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 210, Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central, 8 games)

• #25 S Isaiah Henderson (Fr., 6-3, 175, Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Pickerington Central)

• #3 S Xavier Henderson (4L, Gr.-5, 6-1, 210, Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Pickerington Central)
(13 games/13 starts, 96 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 INT, 1 FF)

• #12 NB/CB Chester Kimbrough (1L, Sr., 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La., Florida)
(12 games/11 starts, 40 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 3 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT)

• #40 S A.J. Kirk (R-Fr., 6-1, 210, Columbus, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban)

• #29 CB Marqui Lowery (1L, R-So., 6-0, 180, Charlotte, N.C./Louisville)
(7 games/2 starts, 22 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 PBU)

• #34 S Khalil Majeed (R-Fr., 5-11, 190, Moorestown, N.J./Suffield Academy)

• #21 CB Davion Primm (R-Fr., 6-0, 205, Detroit, Mich./Oak Park) @

• #30 CB Justin White (1L, R-Jr., 5-9, 180, Agoura Hills, Calif./Colorado Mesa)
(13 games, 11 tackles)

• #9 CB Ronald Williams (1L, Sr.-6, 6-2, 195, Ferriday, La., Alabama)
(13 games/9 starts, 40 tackles, 8 PBUs, 1 INT, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 FF)

Transfers (1):
• #6 CB Ameer Speed (Gr.-6, 6-3, 215, Jacksonville, Fla./Georgia)
(13 games/3 starts, 13 tackles) * ^

* At Georgia in 2021 | ^ Enrolled in January 2022
% Fay made the switch from quarterback to safety in preseason camp
@ Primm made the switch from running back to cornerback in preseason camp

Incoming freshmen (7):
• #37 CB Caleb Coley (Fr., 6-0, 180, Warner Robins, Ga./Houston County) ^
• #24 CB Malcolm Jones (Fr., 6-1, 200, Leesburg, Ga./Lee County)
• #1 S Jaden Mangham (Fr., 6-2, 175, Bingham Farms, Mich./Wylie E. Groves) ^
• #39 DB Joey Silveri (Fr., 6-1, 200, Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central)
• #43 S Malik Spencer (Fr., 6-1, 195, Buford, Ga./Buford)
• #21 CB Dillon Tatum (Fr., 5-11, 200, Farmington Hills, Mich./West Bloomfield) ^
• #20 CB Ade Willie (Fr., 6-1, 188, Sarasota, Fla./IMG Academy) ^

Letterwinners lost (4)
• NB Michael Dowell (3L, 12 games/4 starts, 40 tackles, 2 TFLs, 3 PBUs)
• DB Emmanuel Flowers (3L, 12 games, 3 tackles)
• S CJ Hayes (3L, 7 games)
• S Spencer Rowland (1L, 6 games, 1 tackle)

^ Enrolled in January 2022

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.

The Spartans have a mix of returning starters, transfers and six freshmen signees in the secondary.

At cornerback, four players are back who started at least one game last year, including primary starters Chester Kimbrough (11 starts) and Ronald Williams (nine starts). Kimbrough (Florida) and Williams (Alabama) both transferred to MSU last summer and played the most snaps at cornerback for the Spartans in 2021 during their first season wearing the Green and White. Kimbrough also saw time at nickelback during spring practice.

Fellow Louisville transfer Marqui Lowery battled injuries in his first year in East Lansing, but still earned two starting assignments while playing in seven games overall. Sophomore Charles Brantley played in eight games 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.

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.

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, including a season-high 43 snaps in the regular-season finale against Penn State. Khary Crump (R-So.), an Arizona transfer, played in two games last fall on special teams. Davion Primm (R-Fr.), who was a running back last season and in spring practice, made the move to cornerback during preseason camp.

Both freshmen corners enrolled early and competed in spring practice: Caleb Coley (Warner Robins, Ga.) and Ade Willie (Sarasota, Fla.).

The Spartans will be strong in the back end as starters Angelo Grose (Jr.) and Xavier Henderson (Sr.-5) return at safety for MSU in 2022.

A 2021 team captain, Henderson has started 33 consecutive games at safety and will continue to be the vocal leader of the Spartan defense as he comes back for his fifth season with the program. He 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 started all 12 games of the regular season at safety, but returned to nickelback in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a position where he earned four starting assignments as a true freshman in 2020. He 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).

Returning letterwinners Kendell Brooks (Sr.-5) and Tate Hallock (R-Jr.) are back for the Spartans, along with A.J. Kirk (R-Fr.) and Khalil Majeed (R-So.), who will provide depth in the secondary.

The Spartans signed four safeties/nickelbacks in the Class of 2022, including four-star prospects Jaden Mangham and Dillon Tatum, who were both early enrollees and participated in spring practice, along with Malcolm Jones and Malik Spencer, who arrived on campus this summer.

►SPECIAL TEAMS PREVIEW

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. Freshman Ryan Eckley enrolled in January and adds depth at the position.

Placekicker: The Spartans will 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. 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. The Spartans also signed Jack Stone in the Class of 2022 to compete at kicker, and added graduate transfer Ben Patton from Auburn in August prior to the season opener.

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).

►SPARTANS ADD 42 NEW PLAYERS TO 2022 ROSTER, INCLUDING NINE TRANSFERS
• Michigan State has 42 new players on the 2022 roster. Nine of those 42 players are transfers, while 33 are true freshmen. Here's a breakdown of the incoming transfers by conference:

-SEC (4): DE Khris Bogle-Florida; LB Aaron Brule-Mississippi State; K Ben Patton-Auburn; CB Ameer Speed-Georgia
-Big Ten (2): TE Daniel Barker-Illinois; RB Jalen Berger-Wisconsin
-Pac-12 (2): RB Jarek Broussard-Colorado; OL Brian Greene-Washington State
-Mountain West (1): LB Jacoby Windmon-UNLV

►MICHIGAN STATE ONE OF THE WINNINGEST FBS PROGRAMS IN HISTORY
• Michigan State is one of 32 programs in the FBS to win more than 700 games. The Spartans currently rank No. 26 all-time with 721 victories (all-time record: 721-472-44, .601). Michigan State is in its 126th season of football in 2022.

►ALL IN THE FAMILY
• Michigan State has a deep family legacy on the 2022 roster, from siblings to fathers to relatives. In fact, five players and five staff members have direct family connections who played Spartan football, or are alumni of the program.

Legacy: Charles Brantley (cousin Herb Haygood); Dallas Fincher (father Mark); Tate Hallock (father Ty, brother Tanner); Darius Snow (uncle Percy), Geno VanDeMark (grandfather Allan).

Siblings: Xavier/Isaiah Henderson

Alumni: DB coach Harlon Barnett (CB from 1986-89), Director of Player Engagement Darien Harris (LB from 2012-15), WR coach Courtney Hawkins (WR from 1988-91); Director of Athletic Performance Lorenzo Guess (S from 1998-2001; Defensive analyst Kevin Vickerson (DE from 2001-04).

►SPARTANS BOAST 18 GRADUATES ON 2022 ROSTER
• Michigan State has 18 graduates on its 2022 roster:

Bryce Baringer – Bachelor's degree in advertising creative in December 2021
Daniel Barker – Bachelor's degree from Illinois in May 2022 (graduate transfer)
Jarek Broussard – Bachelor's degree in ethnic studies from Colorado in May 2022 (graduate transfer)
Spencer Brown – Bachelor's degree in advertising management in May 2022
Aaron Brule – Bachelor's degree from Mississippi State in December 2021 (graduate transfer)
Matt Carrick – Bachelor's degree in advertising in 2021
Brian Greene – Bachelor's degree from Washington State in history (2020) and social sciences (May 2022) (graduate transfer)
Xavier Henderson – Bachelor's degree in communication in December 2021
Tyler Hunt – Bachelor's degree in agribusiness in May 2021
Dashaun Mallory – Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies-health and society in 2022
Evan Morris – Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies-social science education in 2022
Ben Patton – Bachelor's degree in business administration/finance from Auburn in August 2022
Jayden Reed – Bachelor's degree in communication in December 2021
Jacob Slade – Bachelor's degree in economics in May 2022
Ameer Speed – Bachelor's degree in sociology from Georgia in December 2021 (graduate transfer)
Ben VanSumeren – Bachelor's degree in American culture in 2022
Powers Warren – Bachelor's degree from Mississippi State in May 2021 (graduate transfer)
Ronald Williams – Bachelor's degree in communication in August 2022

No. 15/14 Michigan State Hosts Western Michigan in Season Opener Friday Night at Spartan Stadium

Game 1: No. 15/14 Michigan State (0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-0)

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Players Mentioned

Matt Allen

AJ Arcuri

Brandon Baldwin

Christian Banks

Bryce Baringer

Daniel Barker

Simeon Barrow Jr.

Drew Beesley

Jalen Berger

Adam Berghorst

Germie Bernard

Khris Bogle

Ethan Boyd

Charles Brantley

Kendell Brooks

Gavin Broscious

Jarek Broussard

Itayvion Brown

Sebastian Brown

Spencer Brown

Aaron Brule

Evan Brunning

Blake Bueter

Luke Campbell

Jack Camper

Maliq Carr

Matt Carrick

Chase Carter

Quavian Carter

Carson Casteel

Matt Coghlin

Keon Coleman

Caleb Coley

Elijah Collins

Jay Coyne

Quavaris Crouch

Khary Crump

Aubrey Dawkins

Michael Donovan

Michael Dowell

Avery Dunn

J.D. Duplain

Donovan Eaglin

Ryan Eckley

Sam Edwards

Hamp Fay

Dallas Fincher

Christian Fitzpatrick

Michael Fletcher

Emmanuel Flowers

Montorie Foster Jr.

Ma'a Gaoteote

Antonio Gates Jr.

Zach Gillespie

Trenton Gillison

Parks Gissinger

Jaron Glover

Brian Greene

Angelo Grose

Cal Haladay

Tate Hallock

Maverick Hansen

Derrick Harmon

Andy Hartman

Noah Harvey

Isaiah Henderson

Xavier Henderson

Tyrell Henry

Connor Heyward

Jarrett Horst

Katin Houser

Jalen Hunt

Tyler Hunt

Nick Hunter

Jacob Isaia