No. 11/9 Spartans Head to Seattle For Prime-Time Matchup at Washington

Game 3: No. 11/9 Michigan State (2-0) at Washington (2-0)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 17
Kickoff: 7:44 p.m. ET/4:44 p.m. PT
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Stadium: Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium (70,138)
Surface: FieldTurf
Tickets: gohuskies.com
Live Stats: msuspartans.com

TV: ABC
Mobile: WatchESPN
Announcers: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst), Quint Kessenich (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. 84), SiriusXM app (Ch. 84)
Pregame Show: Begins at 6 p.m.

All-Time Series: UW leads, 2-1
Series in Seattle: UW leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: UW 51, MSU 23 (1997 Aloha Bowl)
Current Series Streak: 2 by UW (1970-)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 15-7 (third year)
Overall Record: 20-14 (fourth year)
Record vs. UW: 1-0

Washington Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer
UW Record: 2-0 (first year)
Overall Record: 81-9 (eighth year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0

FIRST-AND-10 –
• No. 11/9 Michigan State heads to Seattle to face Washington on Saturday, Sept. 17 in a nonconference matchup of undefeated teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:44 p.m. ET/4:44 p.m. PT on ABC with Mark Jones (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sidelines) on the call. The Spartans are 2-0 after shutting out Akron, 52-0, last Saturday in Spartan Stadium, while the Huskies also improved to 2-0 with a 52-6 victory over Portland State. Following the Week 2 win, MSU moved up to No. 11 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 9 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.

• Saturday's game marks the first meeting between the two schools since 1997 and just the fourth overall in series history. Washington leads the series, 2-1. The Spartans' only previous trip to Seattle came during the first week of the 1970 season, a 42-16 loss to the Huskies. MSU beat Washington, 27-11, in the first meeting at Spartan Stadium on Sept. 20, 1969. In the last matchup, the Huskies topped the Spartans in the 1997 Aloha Bowl.

• Senior defensive lineman/linebacker Jacoby Windmon is the first Spartan player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks. 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 two games, Windmon leads the FBS in sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (4) and is tied for first in tackles for loss (6.5). In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan in Week 1, Windmon had four sacks, tied for the second most in school history. Windmon enters Week 3 as the highest-graded defender in the FBS (91.8 rating), according to Pro Football Focus.

• Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger, a Wisconsin transfer, is off to a strong start in his first season as a Spartan. 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 tied for second in the Big Ten and third in the FBS in rushing TDs (4) and is fifth in the conference and 11th in the FBS in rushing (113.5 ypg).

• In just two games, Michigan State has forced seven fumbles and has recovered six of those fumbles, figures which both tie for first in the FBS. The Spartans converted four Akron fumbles into 28 points in the 52-0 shutout over the Zips. Jacoby Windmon leads the nation with four forced fumbles.

• 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. Dating back to last season, the Spartans have won 13 of their last 15 games.

• Michigan State led the Big Ten in sacks in 2021 and is right back at it to start the 2022 season, leading the FBS with 12 sacks through two games. The Spartans are also first in the Big Ten and tied for sixth in the nation with 20 tackles for loss. MSU had seven sacks in the season opener vs. Western Michigan, led by Jacoby Windmon, who had a career-high four sacks against the Bronocs. The Spartans tacked on five more sacks vs. Akron in Week 2. Windmon continues to lead the FBS with 5.5 sacks.

• Michigan State is looking for its first regular-season win over a Pac-12 opponent since defeating No. 7 Oregon in Spartan Stadium on Sept. 12, 2015. MSU is also out to win its first road game over a Pac-12 team since beating Cal, 19-0, on Oct. 5, 1957.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton 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), Keon Coleman (41 yards) and Tre Mosley (43 yards). Thorne and Connor Cook are the only two Spartans to throw four TDs in a single game four times in a career. Thorne is 30-of-52 passing for 445 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions through two games.

• 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). Tucker is 15-7 as head coach of the Spartans, including wins in 13 of his last 15 games.

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 14/11 MSU 52, AKRON 0

►SERIES/TEAM
• Michigan State shut out Akron, 52-0, last Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium, marking MSU's first shutout since a 27-0 win at Rutgers on Nov. 23, 2019 . . . it was MSU's first shutout win at Spartan Stadium since a 49-0 victory over Rutgers on Nov. 16, 2016 . . . the 52-0 margin was the largest shutout victory for the Spartans since a 54-0 win over Indiana on Sept. 28, 1957.

• The Spartans are now 3-0 against Akron in the all-time series.

• Michigan State extended its home winning streak to eight games, dating back to last season.

►OFFENSE
• Michigan State scored 52 points, the most for the Spartans under Mel Tucker and the most by MSU since scoring 56 against Wyoming on Sept. 27, 2014.

• Michigan State's 52-point margin of victory was the largest for the Spartans since defeating Eastern Michigan, 73-14, on Sept. 20, 2014.

• MSU's six rushing touchdowns Saturday were the most by the Spartans since seven rushing TDs in a 73-14 win over Eastern Michigan on Sept. 20, 2014.

• Spartan redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger rushed for a career-high three rushing TDs, nearly matching his previous career total of four, as he had one each in four previous games, including three during his time at Wisconsin, and most recently in his MSU debut last week vs. Western Michigan (9/2/22).

• Berger's three rushing TDs were the most by a Spartan running back since Kenneth Walker III's five TDs last season vs. Michigan (10/30/21) . . . Berger rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries, for his second consecutive 100-yard outing after 120 yards, and a new career-high for rushing attempts for the second week in a row after 16 carries last week vs. WMU.

• Graduate senior running back Jarek Broussard scored two rushing touchdowns, for his first multiple rushing TD outing of his Spartan career, and third of his collegiate career after two multi-TD games during his 2020 season at Colorado . . . Broussard finished with 81 yards on 15 carries, both new game-bests for his Spartan career, bettering his 10 rushes for 54 yards vs. Western Michigan last week.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne was 18-for-28 for 212 yards, for his 11th career game with 200+ yards passing.

• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Noah Kim completed his first official pass, finishing 2-for-2 for 22 yards and his first TD pass of his Spartan career with a 16-yard pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Tre Mosley . . . Kim played one play last week in place of Thorne, and threw a pass to draw a pass interference penalty and Thorne returned the next play.

• Freshman quarterback Katin Houser also made his official Spartan debut, going 1-for-2 passing and had one rush for 13 yards.

• Graduate senior receiver Jayden Reed had six catches for 76 yards, adding an 86-yard punt return that was nullified by a penalty on the play . . . Reed now has at least one reception in 22-consecutive games, which is all 22 games of his MSU career and 35 of his 36 career collegiate games . . . Reed's 22-game reception streak is tied for No. 21 among active FBS players.

• Mosley snared his second TD of the season after one last week vs. WMU, and his sixth career TD reception.

• A total of 11 different receivers caught at least one catch Saturday, including freshman wide receiver Jaron Glover snared the first receptions of his career . . . redshirt senior running back Harold Joiner, junior wide receiver Montorie Foster and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick all caught their first receptions of the season.

►DEFENSE
• Senior defensive end/linebacker Jacoby Windmon caused three forced fumbles, the most by a Spartan since Joe Bachie had three vs. Maryland in 2018 . . . he also recorded 1.5 sacks (14 yards) and 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards) in addition to a fumble recovery and five tackles overall . . . Windmon now has 5.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in just two games this season.
• Sixth-year senior cornerback Ameer Speed recorded a career-high nine tackles.

• Making his first career start, senior safety Kendell Brooks posted a career-high seven tackles and a pass break-up . . . he also forced a fumble for the second straight game . . . Brooks started in place of Xavier Henderson, who had his streak of 34 consecutive starts snapped after missing the game with an injury.

• Redshirt sophomore linebacker Cal Haladay had a 10-yard sack and forced fumble in the third quarter that led to a Spartan touchdown . . . he recovered a fumble in the first quarter and returned it 21 yards, leading to the first MSU score of the day.

• Sophomore cornerback Charles Brantley had a career-high three pass break-ups.

• Michigan State held Akron to 22 yards rushing, the fewest by an opponent in the Mel Tucker era at MSU . . . it's the fewest rushing yards by a Spartan opponent since Michigan State held Tulsa to a school-record low minus-73 yards rushing in 2019.

• Akron's 225 yards of total offense were the fewest by an opponent under Mel Tucker and the fewest against MSU since Rutgers had 140 on Sept. 23, 2019.

• Michigan State forced four turnovers, tying for the most in the Mel Tucker era at Michigan State (vs. Northwestern in 2020; vs. Miami in 2021) . . . MSU converted those four turnovers for 28 points against Akron.

• The Spartans had five sacks against Akron . . . MSU has 12 sacks in the first two games of the season.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Ray Guy Award candidate Bryce Baringer punted three times for a 52.0 ypp average with a long of 66 yards, for Baringer's second punt of 60+ yards this season and 13th of his career . . . Baringer's 52.0 ypp average was his second-straight game this season of over 50 yards after a 50.5 ypp average last week vs. WMU, and his eighth career game with an average over 50.0 ypp.

• Freshman placekicker Jack Stone split the uprights on his first field goal of his Spartan career with a 43-yarder in the second quarter . . . Stone also had seven PATs, as he now has 12 PATs in two games (12-of-12) . . . Additionally, Stone had nine kickoffs for a 60.8 ypk average with three touchbacks.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Jalen Berger (33 carries for 227 yards, 6.9 avg., 4 TDs)
Passing – R-Jr. Payton Thorne (30-of-52, .577, 445 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs)
Receiving – Gr.-5 Jayden Reed (8 catches for 107 yards, 13.4 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – Jr. S Angelo Grose (18 tackles; 6 solo, 12 assists; 2 PBUs, 0.5 TFL)

Washington:
Rushing – Gr. Wayne Taulapapa (23 carries for 151 yards, 6.6 avg., 2 TDs)
Passing – R-Sr. Michael Penix Jr. (44-of-66, .697, 682 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – R-So. Jalen McMillan (9 receptions for 214 yards, 23.8 avg., 3 TDs)
Tackles – R-Jr. DL Alphonzo Tuputala (12 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT WASHINGTON (2-0)
• Washington brings a 2-0 ledger into Saturday's showdown with the Spartans, which marks the Huskies' third straight home game to open the season. UW is coming off a 52-6 win over FCS opponent Portland State, after opening the year with a 45-20 win over Kent State.

• In Saturday's win over Portland State, Washington jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the Vikings got on the board and the Huskies had a 31-3 halftime advantage and coasted to the win. UW amassed 617 yards of total offense, with 376 passing and 241 rushing. The Washington defense held PSU to just 131 yards of total offense with 81 yards rushing and 50 yards passing, despite not having a turnover, holding the Vikings to just 2-of-13 on third-down conversions and forcing seven punts.

• In two games, Washington is averaging 48.5 points per game, while holding the opposition to 13.0 points per game, ranking 10th in FBS in scoring offense and 27th in scoring defense. The Huskies rank third in the FBS in total offense (571.0 ypg), while ranking sixth in the country in passing offense (384.5 ypg) and 48th in the nation in rushing offense (186.5 ypg).

• UW's defense is 12th in the FBS in total defense (235.5 ypg), while ranking seventh in the county in passing yards allowed (121.5 ypg) and 51st in rushing defense (114.0 ypg).

• Individually, redshirt junior transfer quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is ninth in the country in total offense (354.5 ypg), ranking seventh in passing (341.0 ypg), while adding 13.5 rpg on the ground. Penix is 46-of-66 on the season, ranking 26th in the country in completion percentage (.697), for 682 yards, ranking 10th in the nation in passing TDs (6), while throwing just one INT.

• Redshirt junior transfer quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who came to UW from Indiana, was 20-of-27 for 337 yards passing with two TDs and one INT.

• Junior wide receiver Giles Jackson, who transferred to UW from Michigan (2019-20), had a game-high six receptions for 105 yards against Portland State, while sophomore wide receiver Jalen McMillan had a game-best 127 yards receiving on four catches, highlighted by an 84-yard TD pass from Penix in the second quarter. McMillan is 15th in the FBS in yards per reception (23.8) and 19th in the country in receiving yards/game (107.0), as well as ninth in the nation in receiving TDs (3), with nine catches for 214 yards. Jackson adds eight catches for 126 yards (15.8 ypc/63.0 ypg).

• Graduate senior running back Wayne Taulapapa, a transfer from Virginia, gained 94 rushing yards on 12 carries and one TD, while sophomore running back Cameron Davis had 70 yards on 10 carries and two TDs. Taulapapa has 23 rushes for 151 yards (6.6 ypc/75.5 ypg) with two TDs. Davis adds 18 carries for 88 yards (4.9 ypc/44.0 ypg) with three rushing TDs, which ranks tied for 19th in the country.

• Defensively, Alphonzo Tuputala leads UW with 12 tackles, adding 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. Trice has 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, ranking 12th in the country in sacks per game, with eight total tackles.

• Junior safety Asa Turner is tied for second in the country with two interceptions, adding eight stops.

• UW head coach Kalen DeBoer is in his first season at the leash of the Huskies, becoming head coach at Washington after two seasons at Fresno State. In 2020, DeBoer led Fresno State to a 3-3 mark, then posted a 9-3 regular-season mark last season, before heading to Seattle. DeBoer has an 81-9 overall head coach record, including a 67-3 mark in five season at NAIA-level Sioux Falls (2005-09), guiding his alma mater to three NAIA National Championships in five seasons as head coach, winning the title in 2006, 2008 and 2009. DeBoer was also the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Indiana in 2018-19, coaching Penix as a redshirt-freshman in 2019 for the Hoosiers, and helping IU to an 8-5 record and a berth in the Gator Bowl in 2019.

►MICHIGAN STATE-WASHINGTON SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the first meeting between the two schools since 1997 and just the fourth overall in series history. Washington leads the series, 2-1.

• The Spartans' only previous trip to Seattle came during the first week of the 1970 season, a 42-16 loss to the Huskies.

• MSU beat Washington, 27-11, in the first meeting at Spartan Stadium on Sept. 20, 1969.

• In the last matchup, the Huskies topped the Spartans in the 1997 Aloha Bowl.

►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 164 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker's teams have collected a 121-43 (.738) 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-).

OFFENSE

►QUARTERBACKS
• #14 Noah Kim (R-So., 6-2, 185, Centreville, Va./Westfield)
(2 game, 2-for-2 passing (1.000), 22 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs)

• #10 Payton Thorne (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(2 games/2 starts, 30-of-52 passing (.577), 445 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs, 7 carries for 22 yards)

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.

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), Keon Coleman (41 yards) and Tre Mosley (43 yards). Thorne joins Connor Cook as the only Spartans to throw four TDs in a single game four times in a career.

Thorne was 18-of-28 passing for 212 yards vs. Akron, but did throw two interceptions. Overall on the season, he is 30-of-52 (.577) with four TDs and three picks.

Redshirt sophomore Noah Kim serves as the back-up quarterback and was 2-for-2 passing for 22 yards against Akron in Week 2. On his first official passing attempt of his career, 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.

**Jalen Berger rushed for a career-high three touchdowns in the win over Akron.**

►RUNNING BACKS
• #8 Jalen Berger (R-So., 6-1, 215, Newark, N.J./Wisconsin)
(2 games/2 starts, 33 carries, 227 yards. 6.9 avg., 4 TDs)

• #3 Jarek Broussard (Gr.-5, 5-9, 195, Dallas, Texas/Colorado)
(2 games, 25 carries, 135 yards, 5.4 avg., 2 TDs)

• #24 Elijah Collins (3L, R-Sr., 6-1, 215, Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit)
(2 games, 8 carries, 57 yards, 7.1 avg., 1 TD)

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

• #22 Jordon Simmons (2L, Jr., 5-11, 195, Marietta, Ga./McEachern)
(2 games, 2 carries, 3 yards, 1.5 avg., 0 TDs)

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, is off to a strong start in his first season as a Spartan. 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 tied for second in the Big Ten and third in the FBS in rushing TDs (4) and is fifth in the conference and 11th in the FBS in rushing (113.5 ypg).

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 25 carries for 135 yards. 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 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)
(2 games, 3 catches, 73 yards, 24.3 avg., 1 TD, 36.5 ypg)

• #0 Keon Coleman (So., 6-4, 215, Opelousas, La./Opelousas Catholic)
(2 games/2 starts, 6 catches, 120 yards, 20.0 avg., 1 TD, 60.0 ypg)

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

• #83 Montorie Foster (2L, Jr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(1 game, 1 catch, 6 yards, 6.0 avg., 0 TDs, 6.0 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)
(2 games, 0 catches)

• #17 Tre Mosley (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 198, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(2 games/2 starts, 4 catches, 77 yards, 19.3 avg., 2 TDs, 38.5 ypg)

• #1 Jayden Reed (2L, Gr.-5, 6-0, 190, Naperville, Ill./Western Michigan)
(2 games/2 starts, 8 catches, 107 yards, 13.4 avg., 0 TDs, 53.5 ypg)

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.

Through two games this season, Reed leads the Spartans with eight catches for 107 yards.

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 throughout his career and recorded career highs in catches (35), receiving yards (530) and TD receptions (3) last season while earning nine starting assignments. He caught a 43-yard touchdown pass in the season opener vs. Western Michigan and has four catches overall for 77 yards and two TDs through two games.

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. After missing Week 1 with an injury, Foster returned to action in Week 2 vs. Akron and had a 6-yard catch.

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 and has earned a starting role the first two games. In Week 1, Coleman led MSU had four catches for 84 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown in the second quarter, in his first career start. He has six receptions for a team-best 120 yards.

True freshman Germie Bernard 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. Bernard joined the Spartans in January and competed in spring practice. He has three catches for 73 yards (24.3 avg.) in his first two games.

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, 2 games, 1 start at LT)

• #58 OT Spencer Brown (1L, R-Jr., 6-6, 315, Commerce Twp., Mich, Walled Lake Western, 2 games/2 starts at RT)

• #77 OT Ethan Boyd (R-Fr., 6-7, 325, East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing, 2 games)

• #56 RG Matt Carrick (4L, Gr.-6, 6-5, 320, Minerva, Ohio/Perry, 2 games/2 starts at RG)

• #67 LG J.D. Duplain (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 2 games/2 starts at LG)

• #72 C Dallas Fincher (R-So., 6-4, 300, East Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood, 2 games)

• #50 OG/C Brian Greene (Gr.-6, 6-3, 300, Yakima, Wash./Washington State, 2 games)

• #79 LT Jarrett Horst (Sr.-5, 6-6, 300, Milddleton, Wis./Arkansas State, 2 games, 1 start at LT)

• #59 C Nick Samac (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 2 games/2 starts at C)

• #74 OL Geno VanDeMark (R-Fr., 6-6, 325, Lodi, N.J./St. Joseph, 2 games)

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 12 career starts under his belt and has played in 29 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 20 consecutive games for the Spartans at left guard.

At right guard, sixth-year graduate senior Matt Carrick brings 20 career starts and 40 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 two games of the season at right tackle.

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.

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.
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 32 career games overall, including 10 starts at center for the Cougars (four in 2020, six in 2021).

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

►TIGHT ENDS
• #9 Daniel Barker (Gr.-5, 6-4, 250, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Illinois)
(2 games, 1 catch, 13 yards, 13.0 avg., 1 TD, 6.5 ypg, 2 carries, 1 yard)

• #6 Maliq Carr (1L, R-So., 6-5, 255, Inkster, Mich./Purdue)
(2 games, 2 catches, 29 yards, 14.5 avg., 0 TDs, 14.5 ypg)

• #97 Tyler Hunt (4L, Gr.-6, 6-3, 248, Gobles, Mich./Gobles)
(2 games/2 starts, 3 catches, 24 yards, 8.0 avg., 0 TDs, 12.0 ypg)

• #92 Evan Morris (1L, R-Jr., 6-5, 245, Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie, 2 games)

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, 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. Hunt has started the first two games and has three receptions for 24 yards this season.

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 two catches for 29 yards through two games.

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. 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.

DEFENSE

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

• #98 Avery Dunn (R-So., 6-4, 245, Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights)
(1 game, 0 tackles)

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

• #4 Jacoby Windmon (Sr., 6-2, 250, New Orleans, La./UNLV)
(2 games/2 starts, 12 tackles, 6.5 TFLs for 34 yards, 5.5 sacks for 31 yards, 4 FF, 1 FR, 1 PBU)

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

• #18 Zion Young (Fr., 6-6, 260, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(2 game, 2 tackles, 1 sack for 7 yards)

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 through the first two weeks of the season. 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 two games, Windmon leads the FBS in sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (4) and is tied for first in tackles for loss (6.5). Windmon enters Week 3 as the highest-graded defender in the FBS (91.8 rating), according to Pro Football Focus. He is the first Spartan player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks.

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.

**Jacoby Windmon leads the nation in sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (4) through the first two games of the season.**

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 has started the first two games at defensive end on the opposite side of Windmon. He has six tackles, including a half tackle for loss, through two games. 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.

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. He has three tackles (0.5 TFL) in the first two games of 2022.

True freshman Zion Young made an impact in preseason camp and recorded his first career sack in Week 2 vs. Akron.

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
• #8 Simeon Barrow (1L, R-So., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(2 games/1 start, 2 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 1 yard, 1 FR)

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

• #41 Derrick Harmon (R-Fr., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(2 games/1 start, 1 tackle, 0.5 TFL for 4 yards, 1 FR)

• #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)
(2 games, 2 tackles)

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.

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 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.

Promising redshirt freshman Derrick Harmon played in four games last fall to preserve his redshirt season. He earned his first career start in Week 2 vs. Akron.

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.

►LINEBACKERS
• #7 Aaron Brule (Gr.-5, 6-2, 242, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(2 games, 3 tackles, 1 sack for 5 yards)

• #10 Ma'a Gaoteote (So., 6-1, 230, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman)
(1 game, 2 tackles, 1 TFL for 9 yards)

• #27 Cal Haladay (1L, R-So., 6-1, 230, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(2 games/1 start, 13 tackles, 1 sack for 10 yards, 1 FR for 21 yards, 1 FF)

• #13 Ben VanSumeren (Gr.-5, 6-3, 235, Bay City, Mich./Michigan)
(2 games/2 starts, 12 tackles, 1 TFL for 8 yards, 1 PBU)

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 was back at it with 10 tackles in Week 1 against Western Michigan. In Week 2 vs. Akron, Haladay returned a fumble 21 yards and also forced a fumble on a sack in the third quarter.

Graduate senior Ben VanSumeren earned the start for the Spartans in the season opener and he responded with a career-high 11 tackles against the Broncos.

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.

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 had two tackles, including a 9-yard TFL, against Akron in Week 2.

►SECONDARY
• #0 CB Charles Brantley (1L, So., 6-0, 170, Sarasota, Fla./Venice)
(2 games/2 starts, 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 3 yards, 4 PBUs)

• #33 S Kendell Brooks (1L, Sr.-5, 6-0, 215, Swansea, S.C./North Greenville)
(2 games/1 start, 12 tackles, 2 FF, 1 PBU)

• #15 S Angelo Grose (2L, Jr., 5-10, 185, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Senior)
(2 games/2 starts, 18 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 4 yards, 2 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)
(2 games/2 starts, 9 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)
(2 games, 1 tackle)

• #6 CB Ameer Speed (Gr.-6, 6-3, 215, Jacksonville, Fla./Georgia)
(2 games/2 starts, 15 tackles, 1 TFL for 2 yards)

• #30 NB/S Justin White (1L, R-Jr., 5-9, 180, Agoura Hills, Calif./Colorado Mesa)
(2 games, 2 tackles)

• #9 CB Ronald Williams (1L, Sr.-6, 6-2, 195, Ferriday, La., Alabama)
(2 games, 2 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 nine stops vs. Akron in Week 2.

Opposite of Speed, sophomore Charles Brantley has started the first two 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, has started the first two games at nickelback. He moved to nickelback in spring practice after starting 11 games at cornerback for the Spartans in 2021. Kimbrough has been extremely productive through the first two games with nine tackles, including two sacks for 13 yards, and three pass break-ups.

Justin White (R-Jr.), a Division II transfer from Colorado Mesa who sat out the 2020 season, saw his playing time increase toward the end of last year, and could be in line for more reps this fall.

The Spartans will be strong in the back end as starters Angelo Grose (Jr.) and Xavier Henderson (Gr.-5) return at safety for MSU in 2022, although Henderson exited the game with an injury in Week 1.

A 2021 team captain, Henderson had started 34 consecutive games at safety before missing Week 2 against Arkon with an injury. 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).

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. In his first career start against Akron in Week 2, Brooks caused another fumble and had a career-high seven tackles. Brooks transferred from Division II North Greenville in 2021. True freshman Jaden Mangham, a four-star prospect, also played safety in Week 1 in his collegiate debut.

►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.

Although Baringer doesn't yet meet the minimum to be ranked in the NCAA statistics with just seven punts in two games, he would be leading the FBS with his 51.1-yard average through two games (seven punts for 358 yards). Three of his punts have eclipsed 60-plus yards, including a 70-yarder in the season opener vs. Western Michigan. He has placed three 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 12-for-12 on PATs and 1-for-2 on field goals, including making a 43-yarder vs. Akron for the first field goal of his young career.

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.

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.

No. 11/9 Spartans Head to Seattle For Prime-Time Matchup at Washington

Game 3: No. 11/9 Michigan State (2-0) at Washington (2-0)

Related News

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Matt Allen

AJ Arcuri

Joe Bachie

Brandon Baldwin

Bryce Baringer

Daniel Barker

Drew Beesley

Jalen Berger

Germie Bernard

Khris Bogle

Ethan Boyd

Charles Brantley

Kendell Brooks

Jarek Broussard

Spencer Brown

Aaron Brule

Blake Bueter

Maliq Carr

Matt Carrick

Matt Coghlin

Keon Coleman

Elijah Collins

Michael Donovan

Avery Dunn

J.D. Duplain

Dallas Fincher

Christian Fitzpatrick

Ma'a Gaoteote

Jaron Glover

Brian Greene

Angelo Grose

Cal Haladay

Tate Hallock

Maverick Hansen

Derrick Harmon

Xavier Henderson

Connor Heyward

Jarrett Horst

Katin Houser

Tyler Hunt

Kevin Jarvis

Noah Kim

Chester Kimbrough

Jaden Mangham

Cade McDonald

Evan Morris

Tre Mosley

Jalen Nailor

Jacub Panasiuk

Ben Patton

Hank Pepper

Jayden Reed

Stephen Rusnak

Nick Samac

Jordon Simmons

Jacob Slade

Darius Snow

Ameer Speed

Jack Stone

Payton Thorne

Geno VanDeMark

Alex VanSumeren

Ben VanSumeren

Kenneth Walker III

Justin White

Jacoby Windmon

Brandon Wright

Zion Young

Related Videos