Spartans Clash With Terrapins Saturday in College Park

Game 5: Michigan State (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) at Maryland (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 1
Kickoff: 3:35 p.m. ET
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: SECU Stadium (54,000)
Surface: FieldTurf
Tickets: umterps.com
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Live Stats

TV: FS1
Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines: Jehuu Caulcrick
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. 99/205), SiriusXM app (Ch. 968)
Pregame Show: Begins at 2 p.m.

All-Time Series: MSU leads, 10-2
Series in College Park: MSU leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: MSU 40, Maryland 21 (2021)
Current Series Streak: 4 by MSU (2017-21)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 15-9 (third year)
Overall Record: 20-16 (fourth year)
Record vs. Maryland: 1-0

Maryland Head Coach: Michael Locksley
Maryland Record: 16-24 (fourth year)*
Overall Record: 18-50 (seventh year)*
Record vs. MSU: 0-3*
* interim UMD coach in 2015

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Michigan State heads back on the road for the second time in three weeks to face Maryland on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 3:30 p.m. in SECU Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FS1, with Noah Eagle and Mark Helfrich on the call. MSU fell at home to Minnesota last week in the Big Ten opener, 34-7, while the Terrapins lost at No. 4/4 Michigan, 34-27.

• Saturday's game marks the 13th meeting between Michigan State and Maryland. The Spartans lead the overall series, 10-2, including a 3-1 record in College Park.

• The Spartans are 6-1 against the Terrapins since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, including a four-game winning streak. The two teams did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns within the Terrapin program.

• After winning the first two Big Ten games against Maryland in 2014 (37-15) and 2015 (24-7), the Spartans fell to the Terrapins in College Park in 2016, 28-17. MSU topped Maryland in 2017 in Spartan Stadium, 17-7, and won 24-3 in College Park in 2018. The Spartans beat the Terrapins in East Lansing on the final game of the 2019 regular season, 19-16, to become bowl eligible. MSU topped Maryland in Spartan Stadium last year on Nov. 13, 40-21.

• Senior defensive lineman/linebacker Jacoby Windmon leads the FBS in forced fumbles (5), is tied for first in sacks (5.5), and is tied for sixth in tackles for loss (8.0). He is the first Spartan player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks (vs. Western Michigan and Akron). In Week 2 against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, the most by a Spartan since Joe Bachie against Maryland in 2018. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards) and 1.5 sacks (14 yards), broke up a pass, and recovered a fumble while collecting five stops overall. In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan in Week 1, Windmon had four sacks, tied for the second most in school history. A transfer from UNLV, Windmon posted 169 career tackles in three seasons (2019-21) for the Runnin' Rebels, adding 18.5 TFLs (100 yards), 12 sacks (85 yards), four pass break-ups and three forced fumbles in 30 career games.

• Sixth-year graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer, a Ray Guy Award candidate, is averaging 53.0 yards per punt; that average would lead the FBS, but with only 13 punts, Baringer does not yet qualify for the national stat rankings (minimum 3.6 punts per game; Baringer is at 3.3). Baringer led the Big Ten and set an MSU single-season record with his 48.4-yard punting average in 2021.

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

• Senior safety Kendell Brooks leads the team with 38 tackles, which ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten and 21st in the FBS. The Division II transfer from North Greenville, who joined the Spartans in 2021, collected a career-high 18 stops vs. Minnesota, the most by a Spartan since Eric Smith recorded 19 vs. Notre Dame in 2004. The Swansea, South Carolina, product also ranks tied for second in the FBS with three forced fumbles. Brooks replaced Xavier Henderson in the starting lineup in Week 2 following Henderson's injury in the season opener vs. Western Michigan; Henderson had started the previous 34 consecutive games at safety.

• After missing the Washington game in Week 3 due to an injury, fifth-year graduate senior wide receiver Jayden Reed returned to the starting lineup vs. Minnesota. Reed had four catches for 21 yards against the Gophers and ranks tied for second on the team with 12 receptions for 128 yards this season. Reed, who earned first-team All-America honors last season as an all-purpose player by the American Football Coaches Association, had 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2021. He also ranked first in the Big Ten in punt returns (19.8 avg.; 12 returns for 238 yards) and tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). His 10 TD grabs were sixth most in an MSU single-season and his 1,026 receiving yards ranked ninth most.

• 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 15-9 as head coach of the Spartans, including wins in 13 of his last 17 games.

Defense vs Minnesota

LAST TIME OUT: MINNESOTA 34, MICHIGAN STATE 7

►SERIES/TEAM
• Last Saturday's loss snapped MSU's five-game win streak in the series vs. Minnesota, as it was the Gophers' first win in the series since 2009 . . . the Spartans still lead the all-time series, 30-18, including 17-7 in East Lansing.

►OFFENSE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne was 17-of-24 for 132 yards and two interceptions . . . Thorne now has exactly 900 yards on the season, on 77-of-118 passing.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Kim was 6-of-7 passing for 70 yards on the last drive of the game, including a 27-yard TD pass to Germie Bernard . . . Kim is now 8-of-9 passing for 92 yards on the season with two TD passes.

• After missing the Washington game with an injury, graduate senior wide receiver Jayden Reed returned to action with four receptions . . . Reed has started all 23 games he has played in his Spartan career and 35 of his 36 collegiate games played . . . Reed also has had at least one reception in 23 consecutive games played, which is all 23 games of his MSU career and 36 of his 37 career collegiate games.

• Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman had four receptions, marking the third time in the four games this season that he has had four or more receptions.

• Freshman wide receiver Germie Bernard snared his second TD catch of the season with the 27-yard scoring reception . . . Bernard now has four catches with two TDs on the season.

►DEFENSE
• Senior safety Kendell Brooks led the Spartan defense with a career-high 18 tackles (eight solo, 10 assists) . . . it marked the most tackles by a Spartan since Eric Smith had 19 against Notre Dame on Sept. 18, 2004.

• Redshirt sophomore linebacker Cal Haladay recorded a career-high 12 stops (five solo, seven assists), marking the sixth time in his career he has posted double-digit tackles in a game.

• Junior safety Angelo Grose tied his season high with 11 tackles; he also had 11 stops in the season opener vs. Western Michigan.

• Graduate senior linebacker Ben VanSumeren also tied his season high with 11 stops (11 vs. WMU on Sept. 2).

• Senior defensive end/linebacker Jacoby Windmon, who entered the game leading the FBS with four forced fumbles, caused his fifth fumble of the season on a play in the second quarter . . . Windmon also had 1.5 tackles for loss to increase his season total to 8.0 for the season . . . the five forced fumbles already rank tied for third most in an MSU single season.

• Redshirt junior Justin White earned his first career start at nickelback for the Spartans and recorded four tackles.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer punted four times for a 50.8 yards per punt average, with a long of 55 yards . . . with the 50.8 ypp average vs. Minnesota, Baringer has averaged over 50.0 ypp in each of the four games this season and his 10th career game averaging over 50.0 ypp . . . Baringer has had at least one punt of 50+ yards in all four games, and last Saturday's two punts over 50 yards was the third game this season with multiple 50+ yard punts, as he now has seven punts this season over 50 yards and 47 for his career.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Jalen Berger (50 carries for 267 yards, 5.3 avg., 4 TDs, 66.8 ypg)
Passing – R-Jr. Payton Thorne (77-of-118, .653, 900 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs, 225.0 ypg)
Receiving – So. Keon Coleman (19 catches for 261 yards, 13.7 avg., 3 TDs, 65.3 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. S Kendell Brooks (38 tackles; 20 solo, 18 assists; 3 FF, 1 PBU, 0.5 TFLs)

Maryland:
Rushing – R-Fr. Roman Hemby (48 carries for 342 yards, 7.1 avg., 3 TDs, 85.5 ypg)
Passing – R-Jr. Taulia Tagovailoa (88-of-118, .746, 1,102 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs, 275.5 ypg)
Receiving – Jr. Rakim Jarrett (15 receptions for 208 yards, 13.9 avg., 1 TD, 52.0 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. DB Beau Brade (32 tackles, 16 solo, 16 assists; 1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBUs, 1 FF)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT MARYLAND (3-1, 0-1 BIG TEN)
• The Terrapins are 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play after opening up league action with a hard-fought 34-27 loss at No. 4/4 Michigan last Saturday. Maryland kicked off the season with a 31-10 win over Buffalo (Sept. 3), a 56-21 win at Charlotte (Sept. 10) and a 34-27 win over SMU (Sept. 17), before Saturday's road loss in the Big Ten opener.

• In Saturday's battle with the Wolverines, Maryland took a 13-10 lead in the second quarter, dealing Michigan its first deficit of the season, before UM scored a TD just before intermission to take a 17-13 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, the teams erupted for 31 total points, as the Wolverines took a 34-19 lead with 3:31 left, but the Terps battled back with a TD with 45 seconds and two-point conversion to close within 34-17; however, UM recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

• UMD had 397 yards of total offense, with 269 yards passing and 128 yards rushing, while yielding 463 yards of total offense to UM, with 243 on the ground and 220 through the air.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa was 20-of-30 for 207 yards with one TD and two INTs, adding four rushes for 20 yards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. was 5-for-9 for 62 yards, with the late TD, but was sacked three times.

• Junior wide receiver Jacob Copeland led 10 different Terps with a reception, snaring four catches for 52 yards, while fellow junior wide receiver Rakim Jarrett also had four receptions for 12 yards. Redshirt sophomore tight end Corey Dyches had three catches for 60 yards, while sophomore tight end CJ Dippre had three receptions for 49 yards and a TD.

• Maryland is fifth in the Big Ten and 37th in the FBS in scoring offense (37.0 ppg), while ranking 10th in the league and 58th in the nation in scoring defense (23.0 ppg).
• The Terps are fourth in the conference and 32nd in the country in total offense (473.5 ypg), ranking fourth in the Big Ten and 23rd in the FBS in passing offense (299.8 ypg), along with ninth in the league and 58th in the nation in rushing offense (173.8 ypg).

• UMD's defense is 12th in the Big Ten and 98th in the FBS in total defense (409.8 ypg), ranking 10th in the conference and 98th in the country in passing defense (260.2 ypg) and 11th in the league and 77th in the nation in rushing defense (149.5 ypg).

• Individually, Tagovailoa is 88-for-118 passing, ranking third in the Big Ten and sixth in the FBS in completion percentage (.746), as well as ranking fifth in the league and 24th in the nation in passing efficiency (165.8). He is also fifth in the Big Ten and 27th in the FBS in passing yards (275.5 ypg), as well as fifth in the league and 54th in the nation in passing TDs (7), and Tagovailoa has thrown four INTs.

• Roman Hemby has 48 carries for 342 yards (7.1 ypc/85.5 ypg) with three TDs, while Littleton has 20 rushes for 147 yards (7.4 ypc/36.8 ypg) with five TDs, to rank fourth in the B1G and 19th in the FBS in rushing TDs, while Hemby is 10th in the league. Antwain Littleton II is fourth in the conference in yards per carry (7.4), while Hemby is seventh (7.1).

• Dyches and Jarrett share the team lead with 15 receptions apiece, to also tie for 19th in the B1G in receptions per game (3.8). Jarrett is 16th in the conference in receiving yards (52.0 ypg) on 208 yards, while Dyches adds 40.5 ypg on 162 yards, and both Dyches and Jarrett have one TD catch each. Redshirt senior wide receiver Jeshaun Jones is 21st in the league in receiving yards (48.2 ypg), on 13 receptions for 193 yards with two TDs.

• Junior defensive back Beau Brade leads the Terp defense with 32 tackles (16 solo, 16 assists), with 1.0 TFL, along with one of the two UMD interceptions, to go with three pass break-ups and one forced fumble.

• Barham adds 24 tackles (12 solo, 12 assists), with 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack, adding one pass break-up.

• Sophomore defensive back Dante Trader Jr. adds 17 stops, to go with the other INT and one pass break-up.

• Ryland is 5-for-5 on field goals, tied for the B1G lead in field goal percentage, one of three kickers in the league still perfect, with a long of 53 yards, one of four over 40 yards. He also is 17-for-17 on PATs and has 27 kickoffs with a 64.6 ypk average with 22 touchbacks.

• Senior Colton Spangler has 13 punts for a 48.8 ypp average with a long of 63 yards, one of five of 50+ yards with two touchbacks.

• Maryland head coach Michael Locksley is in fourth full year as head coach at Maryland, after serving as the interim head coach for six games in 2015, logging a 16-24 record coaching the Terps. Locksley is in his 14th year total at Maryland, over three separate stints. Overall, Locksley is 18-50 as a collegiate head coach, coaching three seasons at New Mexico.

►MICHIGAN STATE-MARYLAND SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 13th meeting between Michigan State and Maryland. The Spartans lead the overall series, 10-2, including a 3-1 record in College Park.

• The Spartans are 6-1 against the Terrapins since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, including a four-game winning streak. The two teams did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns within the Terrapin program.

• After winning the first two Big Ten games against Maryland in 2014 (37-15) and 2015 (24-7), the Spartans fell to the Terrapins in College Park in 2016, 28-17. MSU topped Maryland in 2017 in Spartan Stadium, 17-7, and won 24-3 in College Park in 2018. The Spartans beat the Terrapins in East Lansing on the final game of the 2019 regular season, 19-16, to become bowl eligible. MSU topped Maryland in Spartan Stadium last year on Nov. 13, 40-21.

►2022 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 166 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker's teams have collected a 121-45 (.729) 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-).

Payton Thorne vs Minnesota

OFFENSE

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

• #14 Noah Kim (R-So., 6-2, 185, Centreville, Va./Westfield)
(3 games, 8-for-9 passing (.889), 92 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs)

• #10 Payton Thorne (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(4 games/4 starts, 77-of-118 passing (.653), 900 yards, 225.0 ypg, 7 TDs, 6 INTs; 20 carries for 31 yards)

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

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

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

• Through four games, Thorne is 77-of-118 passing (.653) for 900 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He ranks tied for fifth in the Big Ten with seven passing touchdowns. Five of Thorne's seven TD are for 25-plus yards, and four of those were thrown downfield for 20-plus yards, which is tied for first in the Big Ten and tied for 14th in the FBS.

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

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

►NOAH KIM, KATIN HOUSER BACKING UP THORNE
• Redshirt sophomore Noah Kim serves as the back-up quarterback and is 8-of-9 passing (.889) for 92 yards and two touchdowns in three games. He and was 2-for-2 passing for 22 yards against Akron in Week 2 and was 6-of-7 for 70 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard, vs. Minnesota. On his first official passing attempt of his career against the Zips he threw a 16-yard touchdown to Tre Mosley.

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

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

►RUNNING BACKS
• #8 Jalen Berger (R-So., 6-1, 215, Newark, N.J./Wisconsin)
(4 games/3 starts, 50 carries, 267 yards. 5.3 avg., 4 TDs, 66.8 ypg)

• #3 Jarek Broussard (Gr.-5, 5-9, 195, Dallas, Texas/Colorado)
(4 games/1 start, 35 carries, 161 yards, 4.6 avg., 2 TDs, 40.3 ypg)

• #24 Elijah Collins (3L, R-Sr., 6-1, 215, Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit)
(4 games, 9 carries, 58 yards, 6.4 avg., 2 TDs, 14.5 ypg)

• #2 Harold Joiner (1L, R-Sr., 6-4, 220, Birmingham, Ala./Auburn)
(4 games, 1 carry, 1 yard, 1.0 avg., 0 TDs, 0.3 ypg)

• #22 Jordon Simmons (2L, Jr., 5-11, 195, Marietta, Ga./McEachern)
(4 games, 2 carries, 3 yards, 1.5 avg., 0 TDs, 0.8 ypg)

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

• Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger, a Wisconsin transfer, 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 13th in the Big Ten in rushing (267 yards; 66.8 ypg) and tied for fifth in the conference and in rushing TDs (four).

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

• Fellow running back transfer Jarek Broussard (Colorado) ranks second on the team with 29 carries for 138 yards and two TDs. He scored his first two touchdowns as a Spartan in the win over Akron and had 15 carries overall for 81 yards against the Zips. Broussard, who joined the program in May from Colorado, rushed for 1,556 yards and seven TDs the past two seasons (2020-21) in just 17 games for the Buffaloes. He was named the 2020 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 895 rushing yards and five touchdowns in six games during the pandemic-shortened season, and followed up with 661 yards and two TDs last fall.

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

• Collins is looking to regain the form he showed during his redshirt freshman season in 2019, when he nearly rushed for 1,000 yards (222 carries for 988 yards) in 13 games, including 12 starts. He had 41 carries for 90 yards in 2020 and 18 carries for 102 yards in seven games last season while battling an ankle injury. Collins rushed for 57 yards on eight carries (7.1 avg.), including a 1-yard touchdown, in the win over Akron. He has 58 yards rushing for two TDs overall this season.

• 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.

Tre Mosley vs Minnesota

►WIDE RECEIVERS
• #5 Germie Bernard (Fr., 6-0, 200, Henderson, Nev./Liberty)
(4 games/1 start, 4 catches, 100 yards, 25.0 avg., 2 TDs, 25.0 ypg)

• #0 Keon Coleman (So., 6-4, 215, Opelousas, La./Opelousas Catholic)
(4 games/4 starts, 19 catches, 261 yards, 13.7 avg., 3 TDs, 65.3 ypg)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (R-So., 6-4, 218, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(4 games, 2 catches, 17 yards, 8.5 avg., 0 TDs, 4.3 ypg)

• #83 Montorie Foster (2L, Jr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(2 games, 3 catches, 28 yards, 9.3 avg., 0 TDs, 14.0 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)
(3 games, 3 catches, 31 yards, 10.3 avg., 0 TDs, 7.8 ypg)

• #17 Tre Mosley (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 198, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(4 games/3 starts, 12 catches, 169 yards, 14.1 avg., 3 TDs, 42.3 ypg)

• #1 Jayden Reed (2L, Gr.-5, 6-0, 190, Naperville, Ill./Western Michigan)
(3 games/3 starts, 12 catches, 128 yards, 10.7 avg., 0 TDs, 42.7 ypg)

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

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

• In three games this season, Reed has 12 catches for 128 yards (10.7 avg.; 42.7 ypg); he missed the Washington game in Week 3 due to an injury he suffered in the second quarter vs. Akron.

• Reed has started all 23 Michigan State games he has played in since 2020. He started 12 games as a freshman at Western Michigan in 2018 and earned Freshman All-America honors for the Broncos before sitting out the entire 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

• Redshirt junior Tre Mosley (R-Jr.) has been consistently productive for the Spartans throughout his career and recorded career highs in catches (35), receiving yards (530) and TD receptions (3) last season while earning nine starting assignments. Mosley is tied for the team lead with three touchdowns in the first four games and has 12 catches for 169 yards overall. He has 75 catches for 986 yards and seven TDs in his 28-game collegiate career, including 16 starts.

• Sophomore Keon Coleman showed flashes of his athleticism as a true freshman and is now a full-time starter for the Spartans. He leads the team with 19 receptions for 261 yards and is tied for first with three TDs. The 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound Coleman recorded career highs with nine catches for 116 yards and two TDs in Week 3 at Washington, and he also caught two two-point conversion passes. He spent last winter with the basketball team, playing in six games, to earn letters in both football and basketball as a true freshman in 2021-22.

• True freshman Germie Bernard leads the Spartans with 25.0-yards per catch (four receptions for 100 yards). He made an immediate impact in his first game as a Spartan, catching his first pass and racing 44 yards to the end zone in the first quarter against Western Michigan. He also caught a 27-yard TD pass vs. Minnesota from Noah Kim. Bernard joined the Spartans in January and competed in spring practice.

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

►OFFENSIVE LINE
• #53 OT Brandon Baldwin (R-So., 6-7, 315, Detroit, Mich./Independence CC, 3 games/1 start at LT)

• #58 OT Spencer Brown (1L, R-Jr., 6-6, 315, Commerce Twp., Mich, Walled Lake Western, 4 games/4 starts at RT)

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

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

• #50 OG/C Brian Greene (Gr.-6, 6-3, 300, Yakima, Wash./Washington State, 4 games)

• #79 LT Jarrett Horst (Sr.-5, 6-6, 300, Milddleton, Wis./Arkansas State, 4 games/3 starts at LT)

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

►SPARTANS FEATURE 109 COMBINED CAREER STARTS ON OFFENSIVE LINE
• The Spartans lost eight lettermen from last season's offensive line, including four starters (center Matt Allen, guard Blake Bueter, tackle AJ Arcuri, guard/tackle Kevin Jarvis), but assistant head coach/offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Kapilovic still returns plenty of experience in 2022.

• Although Allen started every game at center in 2021, senior Nick Samac split time with Allen during the season and is now the full-time starter at center. Samac has 14 career starts under his belt and has played in 31 collegiate games.

• Senior J.D. Duplain, a second-team All-Big Ten honoree by Pro Football Focus, is back for his fourth consecutive season starting games at left guard. Duplain earned five starts at left guard as a true freshman in 2019 and five more as a sophomore in 2020 before starting every game at the position last season while helping pave the way for Doak Walker Award winner and unanimous All-American Kenneth Walker III. Duplain has started a team-best 22 consecutive games for the Spartans at left guard and has 27 career starts overall.

• At right guard, sixth-year graduate senior Matt Carrick brings 22 career starts and 42 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 four games of the season at right tackle.

• Fifth-year senior Jarrett Horst, who transferred to MSU in 2021 after starting two years (2019-20) at left tackle at Arkansas State, started the first eight games of the season at left tackle during the Spartans' 8-0 start. Although he missed the last five games of the year, Horst still earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by the coaches and media in playing a total of 317 offensive snaps. Horst returned to the lineup in a reserve role at left tackle against Western Michigan in Week 1 and was back in the starting lineup for Week 2 against Akron, earning co-offensive player of the week honors for the Spartans. He has three starts this season and 31 for his career (20 at Arkansas State, 11 at MSU).

• Another experienced transfer joined the Spartans over the summer, as Brian Greene landed in East Lansing from Washington State. A sixth-year graduate senior, Greene has played in 33 career games overall, including 10 starts at center for the Cougars (four in 2020, six in 2021). He has rotated at guard for the Spartans in 2022.

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

►TIGHT ENDS
• #9 Daniel Barker (Gr.-5, 6-4, 250, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Illinois)
(4 games/1 start, 9 catches, 100 yards, 11.1 avg., 1 TD, 25.0 ypg; 2 carries, 1 yard, 0.3 ypg)

• #6 Maliq Carr (1L, R-So., 6-5, 255, Inkster, Mich./Purdue)
(4 games, 4 catches, 50 yards, 12.5 avg., 0 TDs, 12.5 ypg)

• #97 Tyler Hunt (4L, Gr.-6, 6-3, 248, Gobles, Mich./Gobles)
(4 games/4 starts, 8 catches, 52 yards, 6.5 avg., 0 TDs, 13.0 ypg)

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

• Former walk-on Tyler Hunt, who began his Spartan career as a punter, is in his sixth season in 2022. Hunt posted career highs in receptions (14) and receiving yards (136) in 11 games last season, including four starts, before missing the last two games with an injury. He made the transition from a specialist to a tight end during preseason practice in 2020. Hunt has started the first four games and has eight receptions for 52 yards this season.

• The program welcomed transfer Daniel Barker (Gr.-5) from Illinois during the summer, an experienced player who owns the Fighting Illini record for most touchdown catches by a tight end with 11. Barker racked up 64 receptions for 827 yards in 44 games at Illinois from 2018-21, including 21 starting assignments. That production has carried over to East Lansing, as he leads the Spartan tight end room with nine catches for 100 yards and one TD. In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan, Barker made a one-handed 13-yard touchdown grab in the left corner of the south end zone in the second quarter. In Week 3 at Washington, he had a career-high seven catches for 69 yards.

• Redshirt sophomore Maliq Carr showed plenty of promise during his first season with the Green and White in 2021 and expects to contribute more to the offense this fall. Carr had seven receptions for 128 yards in the last six games of 2021 and had eight receptions for 135 yards overall in 12 total games, including a start in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against No. 12 Pitt. Carr has four catches for 50 yards through four games.

Defense vs Minnesota

DEFENSE

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

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

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

• #4 Jacoby Windmon (Sr., 6-2, 250, New Orleans, La./UNLV)
(4 games/4 starts, 20 tackles, 8.0 TFLs for 39 yards, 5.5 sacks for 31 yards, 5 FF, 1 FR, 1 PBU)

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

• #18 Zion Young (Fr., 6-6, 260, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(4 games, 4 tackles, 1 sack for 7 yards)

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

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

• Through four games, he leads the FBS in forced fumbles (5), is tied for first in sacks (5.5), and is tied for sixth in tackles for loss (8.0). He is the first Spartan player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks. His five forced fumbles already rank tied for third most in an MSU season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Junior Jeff Pietrowski started the first three games at defensive end on the opposite side of Windmon before missing Week 4 vs. Minnesota due to an injury. He has six tackles, including a half tackle for loss, in three games of action. Pietrowski was productive in his second season with the Spartans in 2021, ranking tied for second on the team with 5.5 sacks and third with seven tackles for loss in 13 games and three starts. He played a total of 483 snaps on defense and also ranked tied for second in the Big Ten with three forced fumbles.

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

• 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 six tackles (0.5 TFL) in the first four games of 2022.

• True freshman Zion Young made an impact in preseason camp and recorded his first career sack in Week 2 vs. Akron. He has four tackles overall in four games.

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

►DEFENSIVE TACKLES
• #8 Simeon Barrow (1L, R-So., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(4 games/3 starts, 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 1 yard, 1 FR)

• #97 Maverick Hansen (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 300, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison)
(4 games/1 start, 13 tackles, 1 FR)

• #41 Derrick Harmon (R-Fr., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(4 games/2 starts, 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 4 yards, 1 FR, 1 PBU)

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

• #94 Dashaun Mallory (R-Sr., 6-2, 280, Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook)
(1 game, 0 tackles)

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

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

►SPARTANS FEATURE DEPTH ALONG THE DEFENSIVE INTERIOR
• The Spartans are loaded with experience and talent along the interior of the defensive line with five returning letterwinners, including starters Jacob Slade and Simeon Barrow.

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

• Barrow also proved to be a solid force up the middle in his first year for the Spartans, tallying 34 tackles, four TFLs and three sacks in 10 starts. After missing the last three games of the regular season due to an injury, Barrow stormed back on the field with six tackles and a TFL in the bowl win against the Panthers. He recorded a career-high eight stops against Washington and has 11 tackles overall.

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

• Promising redshirt freshman Derrick Harmon played in four games last fall to preserve his redshirt season. He has earned two starting assignments (Akron, Washington) and has seven tackles overall in four games.

• Experienced defensive tackles Jalen Hunt (R-Jr.) and Dashaun Mallory (R-Sr.) have returned to action after missing time early in the season due to injury. Hunt came back in Week 3 and Mallory returned in Week 4.

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

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

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

• #27 Cal Haladay (1L, R-So., 6-1, 230, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(4 games/3 starts, 33 tackles, 2 TFLs for 13 yards, 1 sack for 10 yards, 1 FR for 21 yards, 1 FF)

• #13 Ben VanSumeren (Gr.-5, 6-3, 235, Bay City, Mich./Michigan)
(4 games/4 starts, 29 tackles, 1 TFL for 8 yards, 1 PBU)

►HALADAY LEADS LINEBACKERS IN TACKLES, TACKLES FOR LOSS
• 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. He ranks second on the team with 33 tacles, including two for losses (13 yards) and a 10-yard sack.

• 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. He ranks fourth on the team with 29 tackles after tying his career high with 11 stops vs. Minnesota.

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

• Sophomore Ma'a Gaoteote, a former four-star and top-100 recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School, played in nine games as a true freshman to earn his first letter and will compete for time in the rotation. He 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)
(4 games/4 starts, 17 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 3 yards, 4 PBUs)

• #33 S Kendell Brooks (1L, Sr.-5, 6-0, 215, Swansea, S.C./North Greenville)
(4 games/3 starts, 38 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 0 yards, 3 FF, 1 PBU)

• #15 S Angelo Grose (2L, Jr., 5-10, 185, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Senior)
(4 games/4 starts, 31 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 4 yards, 3 PBUs)

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

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

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

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

• #38 S Jaden Mangham (Fr., 6-2, 175, Bingham Farms, Mich./Wylie E. Groves)
(3 games, 1 tackle)

• #6 CB Ameer Speed (Gr.-6, 6-3, 215, Jacksonville, Fla./Georgia)
(4 games/4 starts, 23 tackles, 1 TFL for 2 yards)

• #30 NB Justin White (1L, R-Jr., 5-9, 180, Agoura Hills, Calif./Colorado Mesa)
(4 games, 7 tackles)

• #9 CB Ronald Williams (1L, Sr.-6, 6-2, 195, Ferriday, La., Alabama)
(4 games, 7 tackles, 1 PBU)

►SAFETY KENDELL BROOKS LEADS SPARTANS WITH 38 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. Speed is fifth on the team with 22 tackles through four games.

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

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

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

• Nickelback Justin White (R-Jr.), a Division II transfer from Colorado Mesa who sat out the 2020 season, saw his playing time increase toward the end of last year and earned his first career start as a Spartan vs. Minnesota.
• The Spartans 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 Akron with an injury. He has missed the last three games with an injury. Henderson recorded career highs in tackles (96) and tackles for loss (10) last year to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors by the media.

• Grose 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). In four starts at safety this season, Grose is third on the team with 31 tackles.

• Following Henderson's exit from the game in Week 1, Kendell Brooks (Sr.-5) stepped up against Western Michigan and posted five tackles, including a forced fumble. Since then, he has gone on to lead the Spartans in tackles and ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 38 stops.

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

• True freshman Jaden Mangham, a four-star prospect, 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 13 punts in four games, he would be leading the FBS with his 53.0-yard average (13 punts for 689 yards). Four of his punts have eclipsed 60-plus yards and seven have gone for 50-plus, including a 70-yarder in the season opener vs. Western Michigan. He has placed four punts inside the 20.

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

Placekicker: The Spartans have a new starting placekicker for the first time in five years following the departure of the school's all-time leading scorer and field-goal kicker, Matt Coghlin. True freshman Jack Stone earned the job in preseason camp; he is 13-for-13 on PATs and 1-for-2 on field goals, including making a 43-yarder vs. Akron for the first field goal of his young career. Stone is averaging 60.9 yards on kickoffs with six touchbacks in 20 attempts (.300).

• 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.

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

Game 5: Michigan State (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) at Maryland (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

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Players Mentioned

Matt Allen

AJ Arcuri

Joe Bachie

Brandon Baldwin

Bryce Baringer

Daniel Barker

Drew Beesley

Jalen Berger

Germie Bernard

Khris Bogle

Charles Brantley

Kendell Brooks

Jarek Broussard

Spencer Brown

Aaron Brule

Blake Bueter

Maliq Carr

Matt Carrick

Matt Coghlin

Keon Coleman

Elijah Collins

Michael Donovan

Avery Dunn

J.D. Duplain

Christian Fitzpatrick

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

Jalen Hunt

Tyler Hunt

Kevin Jarvis

Noah Kim

Chester Kimbrough

Dashaun Mallory

Jaden Mangham

Cade McDonald

Tre Mosley

Jalen Nailor

Jacub Panasiuk

Ben Patton

Hank Pepper

Jayden Reed

Stephen Rusnak

Nick Samac

Jordon Simmons

Jacob Slade

Darius Snow

Ameer Speed

Jack Stone

Payton Thorne

Alex VanSumeren

Ben VanSumeren

Kenneth Walker III

Justin White

Jacoby Windmon

Brandon Wright

Zion Young

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