Spartans Head Back on the Road to Face Rutgers Saturday in New Jersey

Saturday, October 14

Piscataway, NJ

12 PM

Michigan State University

Rutgers

Spartans Head Back on the Road to Face Rutgers Saturday in New Jersey

10/10/2023 2:50:00 PM | Football

MSU Game Notes Rutgers Game Notes Rutgers Game Day Website Live Stats Listen

Game 6: Michigan State (2-3, 0-2) at Rutgers (4-2, 1-2)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 14
Kickoff: 12:01 p.m. ET
Location: Piscataway, New Jersey
Stadium: SHI Stadium (52,454)
Surface: FieldTurf
Live Stats: ScarletKnights.com | Live Stats
Game Day Information (Parking/Tailgating): Rutgers Game Day Central

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Cory Provus (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Elise Menaker (sidelines)

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. 137/204), SiriusXM app (Ch. 967)
Pregame Show: Begins at 10:30 a.m.

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 10-4
Series in Piscataway: MSU leads, 5-1
Last Meeting: MSU 27, Rutgers 21 (2022 in East Lansing)
Current Series Streak: 2 by MSU

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Interim Head Coach: Harlon Barnett
MSU Record: 0-3 (first year)
Overall Record: 0-3 (first year)
Record vs. Rutgers: First meeting

Rutgers Head Coach: Greg Schiano
Rutgers Record: 84-91 (15th year)
Overall Record: 84-91 (15th year)
Record vs. MSU: 2-3

►FIRST-AND-10
• After a bye week, Michigan State is back on the road for the second straight game as the Spartans take on Rutgers Saturday, Oct. 14 at noon in Piscataway, New Jersey. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and streamed on the FOX Sports app with Cory Provus (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst) and Elise Menaker (sidelines) on the call.

• MSU is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play after falling at Iowa, 26-16, on Sept. 30. Rutgers enters the contest 4-2 (1-2 Big Ten) following a 24-13 loss at Wisconsin last Saturday in Madison.

• Saturday's game marks the 15th meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The Spartans lead the overall series, 10-4, including an 8-1 mark in Big Ten play. MSU is 5-1 against Rutgers in Piscataway, including a 4-0 record in Big Ten games. Last season, Michigan State topped Rutgers, 27-21, in East Lansing.

• Secondary coach Harlon Barnett, who is in his 15th year overall on the Spartan coaching staff, was named acting head coach by MSU Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller on Sunday, Sept. 10. Barnett came back to East Lansing in 2020 after spending two seasons (2018-19) as the defensive coordinator at Florida State. He previously spent 11 seasons (2007-17) as the secondary coach at Michigan State, including three seasons as the co-defensive coordinator (2015-17) and one as the associate head coach (2017), before departing for FSU. Barnett has coached in four New Year's Six/BCS bowl games with the Spartans (2014 Rose, 2014 Cotton, 2015 CFP Semifinal, 2021 Peach) and has been on staff for three Big Ten Championship teams (2010, 2013, 2015).

• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter ranks second in the Big Ten and 22nd in the FBS averaging 95.4 rushing yards per game. Carter also leads the team in rushing touchdowns (4), carries (93) and all-purpose yards (532; 106.4 ypg). The UConn transfer has rushed for 100 yards in three of his first five games as a Spartan, including a season-high 113 yards on 18 carries in his debut against Central Michigan in Week 1. He had 111 yards on 19 carries vs. Richmond in Week 2 and ran for 108 yards on a season-high 20 carries at Iowa in Week 5. In his first Big Ten game, Carter rushed for 97 yards on 19 carries (5.1 avg.) against Maryland. He became the first Spartan since Jehuu Caulcrick in 2007 to score three touchdowns in a single quarter after running for three scores (2 yards, 44 yards, 6 yards) in the third quarter of the 45-14 win over Richmond in Week 2. According to PFF, Carter has rushed for 267 yards after contact.

• Haller also announced on Sept. 10 that former MSU head coach Mark Dantonio, the winningest head coach in school history, will return to the Spartan staff as an associate head coach. Dantonio will serve as an advisor to Barnett and the coaching staff on game days and throughout the week at practice and in meetings. After a storied 13 seasons as head coach of the Michigan State football program, Dantonio announced his retirement on Feb. 4, 2020. He finished his career with a record of 114-57 in East Lansing, 132-74 in 16 seasons overall. During his time at the helm of the Spartan program, Dantonio compiled an impressive list of accomplishments including three Big Ten Championships, two victories in the Big Ten Championship Game, victories in the 2014 Rose Bowl and the 2015 Cotton Bowl, and an appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff, finishing his career as the winningest football coach in Michigan State history.

• Redshirt junior linebacker Cal Haladay tied a school record with his third career defensive touchdown in MSU's last game at Iowa on Sept. 30. Haladay returned a fumble 42 yards for a scoop-and-score in the third quarter against the Hawkeyes. He had two interception returns for touchdowns in 2021 (30 yards vs. Indiana and 78 yards vs. Pitt in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl). Haladay is the fourth Spartan in school history to score three defensive touchdowns, joining RJ Williamson (2012-15), Shilique Calhoun (2012-15) and T.J. Turner (1997-2000). In addition, Haladay, who was named to preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy, ranks second on the team with 33 tackles through five games. He led the Big Ten in tackles per game (10.0 avg.; 120 total) last season. He is one tackle shy from reaching the 250-tackle milestone during his Michigan State career.

• Michigan State has started two true freshman on defense – linebacker Jordan Hall and cornerback Chance Rucker – for the first two games of the Big Ten season against Maryland and Iowa. A consensus four-star recruit and top-100 player by Rivals, Hall was the first-ever three-time captain at IMG Academy. He has 18 tackles and three tackles for loss in his first five games. Rucker has also played in the first five games of the season and has nine tackles and two pass break-ups.

• Redshirt freshman Jaron Glover leads the Big Ten in yards per catch with his 21.2-yard average (10 catches for 212 yards). Glover has a team-best five catches of 20-plus yards.

• Sophomore defensive end Zion Young leads the team and ranks tied for eighth in the Big Ten with 4.5 tackles for loss. Young also has 1.5 sacks and 17 tackles overall.

Maliq Carr during a NCAA football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Maliq Carr during a NCAA football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

LAST TIME OUT: IOWA 26, MSU 16

►SUMMARY
• Michigan State fell at Iowa, 26-16, under the lights at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30. The Spartans led 16-13 after three quarters, but the Hawkeyes responded with 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to earn the comeback vicory.

• MSU outgained Iowa, 349-222, and held advantages in first downs (20-15), rushing yards (156-61) and passing yards (193-161), but turned the ball over four times.

►OFFENSE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim was 25-of-44 passing for 193 yards . . . the 44 attempts set or tied a new career high for the third straight week . . . Kim also rushed six times for a career-high 35 yards, with the six attempts matching his career best and the 35 yards tops his previous high of 21 yards, both vs. Richmond (9/9/23).

• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter posted his third 100-yard game in his five games as a Spartan with 108 yards on a season-high 20 carries . . . Carter's 108 yards was his third-highest of the season behind 113 in the season-opener vs. Central Michigan (9/1/23) and 111 vs. Richmond . . . Carter now has seven career 100-yard rushing outings, with four at UConn and three at MSU.

• Senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. had career highs for catches and yards for the second straight week, finishing with eight catches for 79 yards, bettering his six catches for 67 yards vs. Maryland . . . Foster has 14 catches for 146 yards in the last two games after five receptions for 80 yards through the first three games of the season.

• Redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr topped his career high with six catches in the first quarter alone for 43 yards, before suffering an injury and not returning the rest of the game. Carr had a then-career high five catches in Week 4 vs. Maryland.

• Graduate senior wide receiver Tre Mosley had four catches for 35 yards . . . Mosley has snared at least one catch in 22 consecutive games and in 39 of 41 career games played.

►DEFENSE
• Junior linebacker Cal Haladay's 42-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery for a TD was his third career defensive TD, with his first fumble recovery, joining two interception returns in 2021 (vs. Indiana and Pitt) . . . the three defensive TDs ties a school record, joining RJ Williamson (2012-15), Shilique Calhoun (2012-15) and T.J. Turner (1997-2000).

• Haladay's scoop-and-score was MSU's first fumble recovery for a touchdown since Kalon Gervin recovered a fumble in the end zone vs. Northwestern (11/28/20).

• Haladay ended the night sharing the team-lead with eight tackles . . . he has five or more tackles in four of the five games.

• Senior defensive back Angelo Grose snared an interception for the second straight week after one oskie vs. Maryland (9/23/23) . . . it was Grose's third career interception, also snaring an INT at Miami (9/18/21).

• The interception was also the MSU defense's third game in a row with a pick, as sophomore defensive back Jaden Mangham had an interception vs. Washington (9/16/23).

• Sophomore defensive back Malik Spencer has tallied seven or more stops in four of the five games with his team-lead sharing eight tackles against Iowa, one shy of his career best . . . Spencer's seven solo stops marked a new career high.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Graduate senior placekicker Jonathan Kim made a 58-yard field goal as time expired in the first half for the longest field goal in the Big Ten and third-longest in the FBS this season.

• The 58-yarder is the fourth-longest in program history, behind No. 1 Morten Andersen (1981) with a 63-yarder, No. 2 Ralf Mojsiejenko (1982) with a 61-yarder and No. 3 Ralf Mojsiejenko (1983) with a 59-yarder, bettering a 57-yarder by Andersen (1980).

• Additionally, Jonathan Kim's 58-yarder was a new Kinnick Stadium record, topping the previous mark of 57 yards, done twice, with a 57-yarder by Iowa's Marshall Koehn vs. Pittsburgh (9/19/15), and a 57-yarder by Arizona's Lee Pistor (9/24/77).

• Jonathan Kim finished the night a career-high 3-for-4 on field goals, adding a 31-yarder in the first quarter and a 32-yarder in the second before having a 50-yard attempt in the third quarter hit the right upright, and is now 6-of-8 on the season.

• Redshirt freshman punter Ryan Eckley boomed a then career-long 61-yard punt in the first quarter, pinning Iowa at the 3-yard line, and then added a 67-yarder in the fourth quarter . . . Eckley's previous career-long punt was 52 yards vs. Washington (9/16/23), and he had three at that distance or further vs. Iowa, adding a 52-yarder in the third quarter . . . the 67-yarder was MSU's longest punt since a 72-yarder by Bryce Baringer in the 2022 season-finale at Penn State (11/26/22).

• Eckley pinned Iowa at the 10 or less three times . . . Eckley entered the game with just one 50-yard punt and one inside the 10, and had three 50-plus yard punts and three at or inside the 10 Saturday.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Nathan Carter (93 carries for 477 yards, 5.1 avg., 95.4 ypg, 4 TDs)
Passing – R-Jr. Noah Kim (91-of-160, .569, 1,090 yards, 218.0 ypg, 6 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving – Sr. Montorie Foster Jr. (19 catches for 226 yards, 11.9 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – So. DB Malik Spencer (34 tackles, 1.0 TFLs, 3 PBUs)

Rutgers:
Rushing – Jr. Kyle Monangai (96 carries for 487 yards, 5.1 avg., 81.2 ypg, 6 TDs)
Passing – Jr. Gavin Wimsatt (73-of-141, .518, 914 yards, 152.3 ypg, 6 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving – Sr. JaQuae Jackson (15 catches for 253 yards, 16.9 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – Jr. LB Tyreem Powell (47 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FF)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT RUTGERS (4-2, 1-2 BIG TEN)
• The Scarlet Knights are 4-2 overall and 1-2 in Big Ten Conference play following a hard-fought 24-13 loss at Wisconsin last Saturday. Down 17-0 at halftime, Rutgers outscored Wisconsin, 13-7, in the second half, including scoring with 4:07 to go, but the Badgers recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. After starting the season 3-0, Rutgers has been on a loss-win-loss pattern in its last three games.

• In the loss at Wisconsin, the Scarlet Knights had 275 yards of total offense, with 211 passing and were limited to just 64 yards rushing. The Badgers had 358 total offense yards, gaining 213 on the ground and 145 through the air.

• Rutgers' offense was just 2-of-12 on third-down conversions, but the Scarlet Knight defense had two fumble recoveries, along with two sacks as part of four total tackles for loss.

• Junior quarterback Gavin Wimsatt was 16-for-35 passing for 181 yards with one TD and one INT, getting sacked once. Wimsatt also led RU's rushing attack with nine carries for 43 yards.

• Freshman wide receiver Ian Strong had a team-high four catches for 45 yards and an 11-yard TD. The senior wide receiver duo of Isaiah Washington and JaQuae Jackson had three receptions each, with Washington tallying 53 yards, while Jackson had 46 yards.

• Junior linebacker Tyreem Powell led the RU defense with a game-high tying nine tackles, while junior defensive back Shaquan Loyal and senior linebacker Mohame Toure had eight stops apiece. Junior defensive lineman Wesley Bailey had both of Rutgers' 2.0 sacks for a loss of 10 yards.

• Sophomore punter Flynn Appleby had eight punts for a 36.9 ypp average with a long of 50 yards and three inside the 20.

• For the season, Rutgers is fourth in the Big Ten and 13th in the FBS in scoring defense (14.7 ppg), while ranking sixth in the conference and 75th in the country in scoring offense (27.8 ppg).
• The Scarlet Knights are 10th in the Big Ten in total offense (334.5 ypg), ranking sixth in the league in rushing offense (173.3 ypg), and 11th in passing offense (161.2 ypg).

• RU's defense is fourth in the Big Ten and 14th in the FBS in total defense (282.7 ypg), also ranking fourth in the conference and 10th in the country in passing yards allowed (165.2 ypg) and eighth in the league and 40th in the nation in rushing defense (117.5 ypg).

• Individually, Wimsatt is fifth in the Big Ten in passing TDs (6) on 73-of-141 passing for 914 yards (152.3 ypg), with the six TDs and two INTs, for a 117.4 rating, adding 50 rushing attempts for 230 yards (4.6 ypc/38.3 ypg) with four rushing TDs. Wimsatt is fifth in the league in passing yards per completion (12.5) and 11th in passing yards/game (152.3), along with fourth in points responsible for (10.0).

• Junior running back Kyle Monangai is tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for 24th in the FBS in rushing TDs (6), also fourth in the league and 39th in the nation in rushing yards/game (81.2), in addition to seventh in the conference in rushing yards per carry (5.07). Monangai is also third in the conference and 29th in the country in total rushin yards (487), on 96 carries.

• Jackson leads the RU receiving unit with 253 yards receiving on 15 catches (16.9 ypc/42.2 ypg), ranking seventh in the conference in yards/reception.

• Senior wide receiver Christian Dremel shares the team-lead with Jackson for receptions (15), going for 200 yards (13.3 ypc/33.3 ypg), and has a team-best three receiving TDs, ranking tied for eighth in the Big Ten.

• Powell spearheads the Scarlet Knight defense with 47 tackles, adding 2.0 TFL, both coming on sacks, with one pass break-up, one forced fumble and two QB hurries.

• Senior linebacker Deion Jennings adds 40 stops, with 0.5 TFL, and team-best tying four pass break-ups.

• Junior defensive lineman Aaron Lewis tops RU with 4.0 tackles for loss, with 3.0 sacks, adding 23 tackles.

• Appleby is seventh in the Big Ten with a 41.1 ypp average on 26 punts, with a long of 75 yards, one of three of 50+ yards, pinning 11 inside the 20.

• Sophomore placekicker Jai Patel is eighth in the league on field goal percentage (.714), making 5-of-7 with a long of 51 yards, adding 20-of-21 PATs.

• Sophomore wide receiver/returner Rashad Rochelle has RU's lone kick return, going 88 yards, adding three punt returns for a 2.7 ypr average.

• Senior placekicker Jude McAtamney has 31 kickoffs for a 60.7 ypk average with 21 touchbacks.

• Head coach Greg Schiano is in his fourth season back as Rutgers head coach and his 15th overall season leading the Scarlet Knights, previously coaching at RU from 2001-11. Schiano has an overall record of 84-91.

►MSU/RUTGERS SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 15th meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The Spartans lead the overall series, 10-4, including an 8-1 mark in Big Ten play.

• MSU is 5-1 against Rutgers in Piscataway, including a 4-0 record in Big Ten games.

• Last season, Michigan State topped Rutgers, 27-21, in East Lansing.

A LOOK AT THE SPARTAN OFFENSE

►QUARTERBACKS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #12 Katin Houser (R-Fr., 6-3, 215, Anaheim, Calif./St. John Bosco)
(4 games, 9-of-16 passing [.563], 158 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT)

• #10 Noah Kim (1L, R-Jr., 6-2, 185, Centreville, Va./Westfield)
(5 games/5 starts, 91-of-160 passing [.569], 1,090 yards [218.0 ypg], 6 TDs, 6 INTs)

• #4 Sam Leavitt (Fr., 6-2, 200, West Linn, Ore./West Linn)
(1 game, 2-of-2 passing [1.000], 9 yards [9.0 ypg], 0 TDs, 0 INTs)

• Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim has started the first five games for the Spartans. Kim ranks among the Big Ten leaders in touchdown passes (tied for fifth with six) and passing (sixth with 218.0 ypg). Overall, Kim is 91-for-160 passing (.569) with six TDs and six interceptions.

• Kim was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following his performance in the win over Richmond in Week 2. Kim was 18-of-22 passing for a career-high 292 yards and three touchdowns against the Spiders, and completed a school-record 15 straight passes to close the game.

• Making his first career start at quarterback, Kim was 18-of-31 passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns against Central Michigan in Week 1. After a slow start in the first quarter, Kim was 9-of-16 passing for 147 yards in the second quarter, and was 8-of-10 for 134 yards and two TDs in the second half. After redshirting in 2020 and not seeing game action in 2021, Kim was 14-of-19 passing for 174 yards and three TDs last season.

• In four games of action off the bench last season, Kim was very efficient, completing 74 percent of his passes (14-of-19) for 174 yards and three touchdowns. During his two Big Ten games, Kim was 6-of-7 passing for 70 yards against Minnesota, including a 27-yard touchdown, and was 6-of-10 for 82 yards and a 25-yard TD vs. Ohio State. He has also shown the ability to move the chains with his legs, bringing an added dimension to the Spartan offense.

• Redshirt freshman Katin Houser, a highly touted four-star quarterback and Elite 11 finalist who enrolled early in January 2022, has also impressed the coaching staff with his arm talent over the past year. He took reps with the offense during practices last season, but still preserved his redshirt season after making just one appearance in Week 2 in his collegiate debut vs. Akron.

• Houser has appeared in four games. In the Big Ten opener against Maryland in the fourth quarter, Houser was 6-of-10 passing for 75 yards and led the Spartans into the red zone, but was intercepted to end the drive. Houser scored his first career TD on a 4-yard run against No. 8 Washington in Week 3 to cap an 11-play, 99-yard drive for the Spartans in the fourth quarter.

• The Spartans also welcomed in four-star quarterback Sam Leavitt, the 2022 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year, to the program this summer after he signed a National Letter of Intent in December. Leavitt threw 82 career touchdown passes in high school and closed his prep career by passing for 36 TDs and 3,065 yards in addition to rushing for 693 yards and eight scores as a senior. He made his collegiate debut on the last drive of the Maryland game in the fourth quarter and was 2-of-2 passing for 9 yards while rushing twice for 7 yards.

• Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson is in his fourth season with the Spartans.

Nathan Carter vs Richmond

►RUNNING BACKS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #3 Jaelon Barbarin (Fr., 5-9, 185, Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley)
(1 game, 1 carry, 1 yard, 1.0 avg.)

• #8 Jalen Berger (1L, R-Jr., 6-1, 215, Newark, N.J./Wisconsin)
(3 games, 13 carries, 41 yards, 3.2 avg., 13.7 ypg, 1 TD; 4 receptions, 30 yards, 7.5 avg.)

• #5 Nathan Carter (R-So., 5-10, 200, Rochester, N.Y./Connecticut)
(5 games/5 starts, 93 carries, 477 yards, 5.1 avg., 95.4 ypg, 4 TDs; 10 receptions, 55 yards, 5.5 avg.)

• #24 Davion Primm (R-So., 6-0, 205, Detroit, Mich./Oak Park)
(4 games, 4 carries, 17 yards, 4.3 avg., 4.3 ypg)

• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter ranks second in the Big Ten and 22nd in the FBS averaging 95.4 rushing yards per game. Carter also leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (106.4 ypg) and has a team-leading four rushing TDs and 93 carries on the ground.

• The UConn transfer has rushed for 100 yards in three of his first five games as a Spartan, including a season-high 113 yards on 18 carries in his debut against Central Michigan in Week 1. He had 111 yards on 19 carries vs. Richmond in Week 2 and ran for 108 yards on a season-high 20 carries at Iowa in Week 5. In his first Big Ten game, Carter rushed for 97 yards on 19 carries (5.1 avg.) against Maryland.

• Carter became the first Spartan since Jehuu Caulcrick in 2007 to score three touchdowns in a single quarter after running for three scores (2 yards, 44 yards, 6 yards) in the third quarter of the 45-14 win over Richmond in Week 2.

• Making his Spartan debut, Carter rushed 18 times for 113 yards and one touchdown vs. Central Michigan. A transfer from UConn, Carter took his first carry as a Spartan on the first play from scrimmage and raced 31 yards for the longest rush of the game by any player. He scored his first TD in the Green and White on a 2-yard run late in the second quarter. Carter became the third consecutive Spartan transfer to start in the season opener and rush for more than 100 yards (Kenneth Walker III, 264 vs. Northwestern in 2021; Jalen Berger, 120 vs. Western Michigan in 2022).

• Carter still has three seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in only four games last season for the Huskies before suffering a season-ending injury. He rushed for 983 yards on 190 carries with three TDs in two seasons (2021-22) at UConn, including a team-leading 578 yards as a freshman in 2021. He was averaging more than 100 yards rushing a game last year (101.3 ypg), highlighted by a career-high 190 yards in the season opener vs. Utah State, before his injury in Week 4.

• Carter has rushed for 1,460 yards on 283 carries in his 21-game collegiate career (16 at UConn from 2021-22; five at MSU in 2023), including seven rushing touchdowns.

• Jalen Berger (R-Jr.), who posted career highs in rushing yards (683), carries (148) and rushing TDs (6) while starting 11 of 12 games last season after transferring from Wisconsin, ranks second among Spartan RBs with 13 carries for 41 yards. He missed two games (Washington, Maryland) before returning in a limited role at Iowa in Week 5. Berger rushed for more than 100 yards in his first two games wearing the Green and White in 2022 (career-high 120 vs. Western Michigan; 107 vs. Akron) and also had a Big Ten-best 119 yards vs. Indiana; in addition, he caught 19 passes out of the backfield for 128 yards.

• Jaren Mangham (Gr.-5), who joined the team in January and competed during spring practice, has not played in the first five games of the season due to an injury. Mangham, brother of current Spartan sophomore defensive back Jaden Mangham, played two years at Colorado (2019-20) and two at USF (2021-22) prior to arriving in East Lansing as a graduate transfer. He has collected 1,251 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 32 collegiate games (16 at Colorado; 16 at USF). Mangham had a career-high 671 yards and 15 rushing TDs as a junior at USF in 2021 to lead the Bulls.

• Effrem Reed is in his second season as the running backs coach for MSU.

►WIDE RECEIVERS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #0 Alante Brown (Sr., 5-11, 190, Chicago, Ill./Nebraska)
(4 games/1 start, 0 catches, 0 yards, 0.0 avg)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 220, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(5 games, 8 catches, 169 yards, 21.1 avg., 33.8 ypg)

• #83 Montorie Foster Jr. (2L, Sr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(5 games/5 starts, 19 catches, 226 yards, 11.9 avg., 45.2 ypg)

• #7 Antonio Gates Jr. (R-Fr., 6-2, 195, Detroit, Mich./Fordson)
(5 games, 3 catches, 77 yards, 25.7 avg., 15.4 ypg, 1 TD)

• #15 Jaron Glover (R-Fr., 6-1, 205, Sarasota, Fla./Riverview)
(5 games/2 starts, 10 catches, 212 yards, 21.2 avg., 42.4 ypg)

• #2 Tyrell Henry (So., 6-0, 175, Roseville, Mich./Roseville)
(5 games, 8 catches, 88 yards, 11.0 avg., 17.6 ypg, 2 TDs)

• #17 Tre Mosley (3L, Gr.-5, 6-2, 200, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(5 games/4 starts, 17 catches, 192 yards, 11.3 avg., 1 TD)

• Michigan State has a group of talented young wide receivers that will look to have increased roles in the offense in 2023, but the unit will be led by fifth-year graduate senior Tre Mosley, who has played in 41 career games, including 25 starting assignments, over the past five seasons (2019-23). Mosley has given the Spartans steady production over the course of his time in East Lansing with 115 career receptions for 1,368 yards and nine touchdowns in his career. Last season, he matched his career high with 35 receptions for 359 yards and had a career-best four touchdown catches.

• In addition to his play on the field, Mosley's leadership will be counted on to mentor the wide receiver room. He is also nominated for the AFCA Good Works Team for his work in the community.

• Mosley currently ranks second on the Spartans with 17 catches for 192 yards and one TD through five games.

• Senior Montorie Foster Jr. already has career highs in catches (19) and receiving yards (226) through the first five games of the season. Foster has 14 catches for 146 yards in the last two games, including six receptions for 67 yards vs. Maryland and a career-high eight receptions for 79 yards at Iowa. A three-year letterwinner, Foster has played in 35 career games and has 36 receptions for 466 yards and two TDs.

• Two-year letterwinner Christian Fitzpatrick (R-Jr.), who missed the final seven games of last season due to an injury, is back this season for MSU. After playing in a reserve role the past two seasons, Fitzpatrick, a former Louisville transfer, has contributed more to the offense in his third season at MSU. Fitzpatrick already has a career-high eight catches for 169 yards (21.1 avg.), including a 72-yarder in the season opener vs. Central Michigan and a 61-yarder in Week 3 vs. Washington.

• Sophomore Tyrell Henry, who earned a letter as a true freshman returning kicks in 2022, will have an expanded role in the offense this fall, along with redshirt freshmen Antonio Gates Jr. and Jaron Glover. The young trio all showed promising signs during spring practice and continued to work on their development in preseason camp heading into the season.

• Henry has eight catches for 88 yards and a team-leading two touchdowns, including a leaping one-handed TD grab vs. Central Michigan in Week 1 that was named the No. 3 play of the day on ESPN's SportsCenter. He also has 10 punt returns for 82 yards (8.2 avg.) and seven kick returns for 129 yards (18.4 avg.). He ranks second on the team in all-purpose yards (59.8 ypg).

• Glover is averaging a Big Ten-best 21.2 yards per catch with 10 receptions for 212 yards. He leads MSU with five catches of 20-plus yards.

• Gates caught his first collegiate pass for a 45-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against Richmond. For the season, he has three catches for 77 yards (25.7 avg.).

• The Spartans also added transfer Alante Brown from Nebraska over the summer. Brown played three seasons (2020-22) with the Huskers, collecting 22 receptions for 262 yards in 30 games. He posted career highs in catches (16) and yards (191) last season while playing in all 12 games, including 10 starts. His speed and versatility will give the Spartans another option in the passing game in 2023.

• Former Spartan Courtney Hawkins is in his fourth year on the offensive staff as the wide receivers coach.

►OFFENSIVE LINE

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #53 Brandon Baldwin (1L, R-Jr., 6-7, 315, Detroit, Mich./Independence CC, 5 games/5 starts at LT)

• #54 Keyshawn Blackstock Sr. (Jr., 6-5, 310, Covington, Ga./Coffeyville CC, 4 games)

• #77 Ethan Boyd (1L, R-So., 6-7, 320, East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing, 5 games)

• #58 Spencer Brown (2L, Gr.-5, 6-6, 315, Canton, Mich./Walled Lake Western, 5 games/5 starts at RT)

• #67 J.D. Duplain (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 5 games/5 starts at LG)

• #72 Dallas Fincher (1L, R-Jr., 6-4, 305, Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood, 5 games/1 start at C)

• #59 Nick Samac (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 5 games/4 starts at C)

• #74 Geno VanDeMark (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Lodi, N.J./St. Joseph, 3 games/3 starts at RG)

• #70 Kevin Wigenton II (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Colts Neck, N.J./The Hun School, 5 games/2 starts at RG)

• Michigan State returns five players with starting experience on the offensive line, led by multi-year fifth-year senior starters J.D. Duplain and Nick Samac, who are both using their extra year of eligibility in 2023.

• Duplain has been an anchor at left guard for the Spartans, starting 35 consecutive games at the position, and the four-year letterwinner has a started a total of 40 games in his career while playing in 47 overall. He has earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades the past two seasons and returns for another year as a leader on the offensive line in 2023.

• Samac, who was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, started all 12 games at center last fall and has 26 starts overall in his career while playing in a total 43 games the past five seasons (2019-23). He played a career-high 803 snaps in 2022, most on the Spartan offense, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. He has started the last four games after splitting time with Dallas Fincher in the season opener vs. Central Michigan.

• Graduate fifth-year senior Spencer Brown also started all 12 games last season at right tackle and has a streak of 18 consecutive starts at the position.

• Redshirt junior Brandon Baldwin took over the starting role at left tackle the final four games of the 2022 season and gained valuable experience while playing a total of 405 offensive snaps. It was Baldwin's first season playing at the FBS level after redshirting in 2021 following two years at Independence Community College. He has started at left tackle in the first five games to run his streak to nine straight starts at the position.

• Redshirt sophomore Geno VanDeMark earned starting assignments at right guard the last two games of the season and will look to have an increased role on the offensive line heading into his third season in East Lansing. He started the three games at right guard this season before missing the last two games with an injury.

• Redshirt sophomores Ethan Boyd and Kevin Wigenton II also earned their first letters as Spartans last year and will see time in the playing rotation. Wigenton has earned starts in back-to-back games at right guard with VanDeMark sidelined, and Boyd has seen his snap count increase at right tackle throughout the season.

• Keyshawn Blackstock Sr., who was ranked the top junior college interior offensive lineman in the nation, arrived to campus in January and will also see time in the rotation at left tackle.

• Assistant head coach Chris Kapilovic is in his fourth season as MSU's offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Kapilovic's unit in 2021 was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the nation's best offensive line.

►TIGHT ENDS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #6 Maliq Carr (2L, R-Jr., 6-6, 260, Inkster, Mich./Purdue)
(5 games/5 starts, 16 catches, 156 yards, 9.8 avg., 31.2 ypg, 1 TD)

• #92 Evan Morris (2L, R-Jr., 6-5, 245, Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie)
(5 games/3 starts, 1 catch, 4 yards, 4.0 avg.)

• #19 Jaylan Franklin (Gr.-6, 6-5, 240, Brownstown Township, Mich./Wisconsin)
(5 games, 4 catches, 24 yards, 6.0 avg.)

• Redshirt junior Maliq Carr leads the tight ends with 16 catches – which already ties a career high – for 156 yards. Carr had a career-high six receptions for 43 yards in the first quarter alone at Iowa before leaving the game with an injury. He also had five catches for 53 yards in the Big Ten opener vs. Maryland. After playing basketball during the winter of 2021-22, Carr had a full offseason with the team heading into this fall.

• Graduate transfer Jaylan Franklin (Wisconsin) joined the team in January and has four catches for 24 yards. Fellow graduate transfer Tyneil Hopper (Boise State) had two catches for 24 yards and one TD but suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 vs. Washington.

• In addition, redshirt senior Evan Morris will be relied upon his blocking skills, and he earned a start in the season opener against the Chippewas while also recording his first career reception (4 yards). Morris also started against Washington and Maryland and has played in all four games.

• Ted Gilmore is in his fourth year at Michigan State as the tight ends coach.

**Zion Young leads Michigan State with 4.5 tackles for loss.**

A LOOK AT THE SPARTAN DEFENSE

►DEFENSIVE LINE

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #52 Tunmise Adeleye (R-So., 6-4, 290, Katy, Texas/Texas A&M)
(4 games/1 start at DE, 7 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 7 yards, 1 sack for 4 yards)

• #8 Simeon Barrow Jr. (2L, R-Jr., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(5 games/4 starts at DT, 12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs for 11 yards, 1.5 sacks for 10 yards)

• #2 Khris Bogle (1L, R-Sr., 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Florida)
(4 games/3 starts at DE, 6 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 2 yards, 0.5 sacks for 1 yard)

• #45 Dre Butler (Gr.-5, 6-5, 300, Covington, Ga./Liberty)
(3 games, 9 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 1 yard)

• #98 Avery Dunn (1L, R-So., 6-4, 250, Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights)
(5 games/1 start at DE, 4 tackles)

• #97 Maverick Hansen (3L, R-Sr., 6-4, 300, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison)
(5 games/2 starts at DT, 8 tackles, 1 PBU)

• #41 Derrick Harmon (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(5 games/4 starts at DT, 12 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 3 yards, 1 sack for 3 yards)

• #99 Jalen Sami (Gr.-6, 6-7, 330, Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado)
(3 games, 1 tackle)

• #32 James Schott (R-Fr., 6-4, 235, Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove)
(4 games, 1 tackle)

• #44 Ken Talley (R-Fr., 6-3, 245, Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast)
(3 games, 1 tackle)

• #55 Jalen Thompson (Fr., 6-3, 260, Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech)
(2 games, 2 tackles)

• #26 Brandon Wright (4L, R-Sr., 6-2, 250, Euclid, Ohio/Euclid)
(5 games/1 start at DE, 8 tackles, 1 TFL for 5 yards, 1 sack for 5 yards)

• #9 Zion Young (1L, So., 6-6, 265, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(5 games/4 starts at DE, 17 tackles, 4.5 TFLs for 20 yards, 1.5 sacks for 5 yards)

• Michigan State returns plenty of depth and experience along the defensive line this season, in addition to welcoming in four highly touted transfers (Tunmise Adeleye from Texas A&M, Dre Butler from Liberty, Jarrett Jackson from Florida State and Jalen Sami from Colorado) and three top-200 recruits (Andrew Depaepe, Bai Jobe, Jalen Thompson).

• Diron Reynolds, who was named the program's defensive line coach in January, got his first on-field look at the position group during spring practice. Reynolds has more than 25 years of coaching experience both at the NFL and Power 5 levels and previously spent the past seven seasons (2016-22) as the defensive line coach at Stanford. He has coached on multiple championship teams, including winning a Super Bowl ring with the Colts, and has worked with numerous All-Americans, NFL Draft picks and All-Pro players.

• Sophomore defensive end Zion Young leads the Spartans with 4.5 tackles for loss (20 yards) and ranks tied for first with 1.5 sacks (5 yards). According to Pro Football Focus, Young leads the Spartans with 13 total QB pressures on the season.

• The Spartans have started a total of five defensive ends, including Young, seniors Khris Bogle, Avery Dunn and Brandon Wright, and redshirt sophomore Tunmise Adeleye, a transfer from Texas A&M.

• Bogle, a Florida transfer and former top-100 recruit, only played in the first four games last season after suffering a season-ending injury vs. Minnesota in Week 4. He started the first three games of the 2023 season but missed the Maryland game with an injury. He has six tackles, one TFL and a half sack.

• Dunn saw his playing time increase toward the end of last season with starts against Rutgers and Indiana, and he recorded career highs in tackles (28), tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3.0) to earn his first letter. He earned his first start of the season in Week 4 vs. Maryland and has four tackles this season.

• In his second full season at defensive end after spending time as a running back his first two years in East Lansing, Wright played in eight games with two starts, including a career-high 14 tackles. He has eight tackles and one sack (5 yards) this season in five games, including one start.

• Tunmise Adeleye, a top-40 recruit in the Class of 2021 out of Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas, enrolled in January after spending two seasons at Texas A&M and will look to make an immediate impact on the Spartan pass rush. Adeleye was named the No. 53 player in the transfer portal by The Athletic heading into the 2023 season. He has seven tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one sack in four games.

• Along the interior, three Spartans return with starting experience, led by redshirt junior Simeon Barrow Jr. Barrow has started in 24 games over the past two-plus seasons (2021-23) and has 12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs (11 yards) and 1.5 sacks (10 yards) in five games this season.

• Redshirt senior Maverick Hansen has played in 36 career games, including six starting assignments. He has eight tackles thus far in 2023. Hansen, who owns a 3.77 grade-point average as a hospitality business major, was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is the top scholar-athlete award in college football. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipient.

• Redshirt sophomore Derrick Harmon has started four games this season and has 12 tackles, including one sack. Harmon started five times last season.

• Incoming graduate transfers Dre Butler (Liberty), Jarrett Jackson (Florida State) and Jalen Sami (Colorado) will bolster the Spartan interior with 90 combined games at the FBS level. Butler, who originally enrolled at Independence Community College out of high school, played two seasons at Auburn (2020-21) and one at Liberty (2022) before graduating and attending MSU in January. Jackson is also a graduate transfer who joined the program in January after playing one season at Louisville (2018) and three at Florida State (2020-22). Sami arrived at MSU in the summer after playing in 40 career games for the Buffaloes, including 32 starting assignments at defensive tackle, the past four seasons (2019-22).

• The Spartans also signed three highly ranked players at defensive end as part of their 2023 recruiting class. Bai Jobe, the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma, played in the All-American Bowl and was ranked the No. 54 overall player in the nation according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Andrew Depaepe, a consensus top-150 recruit from Bettendorf, Iowa, also enrolled in January for the Spartans. Jalen Thompson, a four-star prospect from Detroit Cass Tech and the consensus No. 1 defensive end in the state of Michigan, joined the Spartans over the summer.

►LINEBACKERS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #33 Aaron Alexander (R-Fr., 6-1, 225, Belleville, Mich./Massachusetts)
(5 games, 3 tackles)

• #7 Aaron Brule (1L, Gr.-6, 6-2, 240, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(5 games/2 starts, 18 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 9 yards, 2 sacks for 6 yards)

• #27 Cal Haladay (2L, R-Jr., 6-1, 235, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(5 games/5 starts, 33 tackles, 3.0 TFLs for 3 yards, 1 INT for 2 yards, 1 FR for 42 yards)

• #5 Jordan Hall (Fr., 6-3, 235, Fredericksburg, Va./IMG Academy)
(5 games/2 starts, 18 tackles, 3.0 TFLs for 7 yards)

• #23 Darius Snow (2L, R-Jr., 6-1, 230, Frisco, Texas/Hebron)
(3 games, 5 tackles)

• The linebackers, coached by fourth-year Secchia Family Defensive Coordinator Scottie Hazelton, feature two experienced starters in sixth-year graduate senior Aaron Brule and redshirt junior Cal Haladay, along with talented freshman Jordan Hall. Fifth-year senior Jacoby Windmon started the first three games of the season but has since suffered a season-ending injury. In addition, redshirt junior Darius Snow is rounding into form after missing nearly the entire 2022 season with an injury.

• Haladay, who led the Big Ten in tackles per game last season (10.0 pg; 120 total), ranks second on the team with 33 tackles through five games (6.6 pg). Haladay has collected 249 tackles in his 34-game career, including 28 starting assignments. He was named to preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy. In the season opener against Central Michigan, Haladay led MSU with 10 tackles, including a 1-yard loss, and recorded the third interception of his career.

• Haladay tied a school record with his third career defensive touchdown on a 42-yard fumble recovery for a scoop-and-score at Iowa on Sept. 30. He had two interception returns for touchdowns in 2021 (30 yards vs. Indiana and 78 yards vs. Pitt in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl). Haladay is the fourth Spartan in school history to score three defensive touchdowns, joining RJ Williamson (2012-15), Shilique Calhoun (2012-15) and T.J. Turner (1997-2000).

• Windmon, who transferred to MSU from UNLV in 2022, burst onto the scene last season with four sacks in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan to earn Big Ten and National Defensive Player of the Week honors. He became the first Spartan and just the sixth Big Ten player to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades three times in one season (vs. Western Michigan, Akron and Wisconsin), and he was also named the National Defensive Player of the Week in his first start at linebacker vs. Wisconsin in Week 7 after starting the first six games at defensive end. The New Orleans native, who led the team in TFLs (10.5) and sacks (5.5) and ranked first in the nation with six forced fumbles, returned to his natural position of linebacker in the spring and earned the start in Week 1 vs. Central Michigan. He had 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in the first three games of the season before being declared out for the year due to an injury.

• Brule, a graduate transfer from Mississippi State who also arrived on campus last year with Windmon, saw his playing time increase as the 2022 season progressed and he ended up ranking second on the team in sacks (4.0 for 32 yards) and third in tackles for loss (6.5 for 41 yards). He registered 30 tackles while playing all 12 games, including two starting assignments. Brule has 18 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs and a team-leading two sacks through five games this season.

• True freshman Jordan Hall, the only three-time captain in IMG Academy history, enrolled in January and made an early impact during spring practice for the Spartans. The consensus four-star recruit has 18 tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss through the first five games of the season. Hall earned the first start of his collegiate career in his first Big Ten game against Maryland in Week 4.

• Redshirt junior Darius Snow, who began last season at linebacker after playing in the secondary his first two seasons, unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury vs. Western Michigan in the first game of the 2022 season. He returned to action for the first time in Week 3 vs. Washington in a reserve role and had three tackles while playing a season-high 20 snaps at Iowa on Sept. 30. Snow ranked third on the team and 18th in the Big Ten with 87 tackles as a sophomore in 2021.

►SECONDARY

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #0 Charles Brantley (2L, Jr., 6-0, 170, Sarasota, Fla./Venice)
(3 games/3 starts at CB, 10 tackles, 1 TFL for 3 yards, 1 PBU)

• #15 Angelo Grose (3L, Sr., 5-10, 185, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield)
(5 games/3 starts at NB, 1 start at S, 23 tackles, 1.5 TFLs for 7 yards, 0.5 sack for 2 yards, 3 PBUs, 2 INTs)

• #12 Chester Kimbrough (2L, R-Sr., 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La./Florida)
(5 games, 7 tackles, 1 sack for 9 yards)

• #29 Marqui Lowery Jr. (2L, R-Jr., 6-0, 175, Charlotte, N.C./Louisville)
(3 games, 4 tackles, 2 PBUs)

• #1 Jaden Mangham (1L, So., 6-2, 185, Beverly Hills, Mich./Wylie E. Groves)
(4 games/4 starts at S, 20 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU)

• #25 Chance Rucker (Fr., 6-1, 180, Denton, Texas/Ryan)
(5 games/2 starts at CB, 9 tackles, 2 PBUs)

• #43 Malik Spencer (So., 6-1, 195, Buford, Ga./Buford)
(5 games/5 starts at S, 34 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 1 yards, 3 PBUs)

• #21 Dillon Tatum (So., 5-11, 200, Farmington Hills, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(5 games/5 starts at CB, 29 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 2 yards, 3 PBUs)

• #20 Ade Willie (1L, So., 6-1, 190, Baltimore, Md./IMG Academy)
(5 games, 2 tackles)

• Former Spartan All-American and NFL veteran Harlon Barnett is in 15th year overall on the defensive coaching staff at Michigan State. He was named acting head coach on Sept. 10 and is the program's secondary coach.

• The Spartans feature a number of promising players in the secondary and also return starters with multiple years of experience in addition to bolstering their depth through the transfer portal.

• Sophomore safety Malik Spencer has started the first five games of the season and leads the team with 34 tackles. He is also tied for the team lead with three pass break-ups.

• Fellow sophomore Jaden Mangham drew starts in the first four games, but missed Week 5 at Iowa due to an injury. Mangham has 20 tackles and one interception.

• Senior Angelo Grose has started games at both safety and nickelback the past four seasons (2020-23) and has played in 33 games overall since his arrival on campus in 2020, including 29 starts. The three-year letterwinner has 182 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss, 18 pass break-ups and three interceptions during his collegiate career. Grose started at nickelback the first three games and at safety in Week 5 at Iowa; he leads the team with two interceptions and also has three pass break-ups and 23 tackles.

• At cornerback, sophomore Dillon Tatum has started all five games and ranks tied for first on the team with three pass break-ups and is third with 23 tackles. Tatum has started six consecutive games at cornerback for MSU overall, as he drew a start as a true freshman in the 2022 regular-season finale at Penn State.

• True freshman Chance Rucker earned his first collegiate start vs. Maryland in Week 4 and returned to the starting lineup in Week 5 at Iowa. Rucker has nine tackles and two pass break-ups in five games overall.

• Charles Brantley (Jr.) took over a full-time starting role at cornerback during his second season in East Lansing and led the team with six pass break-ups to go along with 48 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one interception in 11 starts. The two-year letterwinner has started in 15 of his 22 collegiate games and has 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions in his career. He has missed the last two games with an injury.

• Redshirt senior Chester Kimbrough and redshirt junior Marqui Lowery both have starting experience in the secondary for the Spartans.

• MSU also added two transfers to the secondary in 2023 – Semar Melvin, a redshirt senior from Wisconsin, and Armorion Smith, a redshirt sophomore from Cincinnati – but Melvin hasn't played in a game yet due to an injury and Smith was declared out for the season on Sept. 30 due to an injury.

• The Spartans signed four defensive backs to National Letters of Intent for the Class of 2023: Sean Brown, Philipp Davis, Eddie Pleasant III and Chance Rucker.

Jonathan Kim during a NCAA football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. — **Jonathan Kim set a Kinnick Stadium record with a 58-yard field goal as time expired in the first half at Iowa on Sept. 30.**

A LOOK AT THE SPARTAN SPECIAL TEAMS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:

Punters:
• #96 P Ryan Eckley (R-Fr., 6-2, 205, Lithia, Fla./Newsome, 1 game, 1 punt for 41 yards)
(5 games, 14 punts for 616 yards, 44.0 avg., 7 inside the 20, 1 touchback, 4 fair catches, 5 50+)

• #42 P Michael O'Shaughnessy (Gr.-5, 6-3, 210, New Albany, Ohio/Ohio State)
(4 games, 9 punts for 361 yards, 40.1 avg., 3 inside the 20, 1 touchback, 5 fair catches)

Long Snappers:
• #35 LB/LS Sam Edwards (R-Jr., 6-1, 225, Williamston, Mich./Lansing Catholic)
• #41 LS Drew Wilson (Jr., 6-2, 230, Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union)

Placekickers:
• #97 K Jonathan Kim (Gr.-5, 6-0, 225, Fredericksburg, Va./North Carolina)
(5 games, 9-for-9 PATs, 6-for-8 FGs, 20 kickoffs for 1,255 yards, 62.8 avg., 12 touchbacks)

• #98 K Stephen Rusnak (R-So., 6-1, 190, Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston)
(2 games, 3-for-3 PATs, 3 kickoffs for 195 yards, 65.0 avg.)

• Michigan State has a new look in the specialists room as the team features a new starting kicker and punter for the 2023 season.

• First-team All-American Bryce Baringer, who set a school record with his 49.0-yard average and was drafted by New England, is gone for the Spartans at punter. Redshirt freshman Ryan Eckley began the process to replace Baringer during spring practice, and he was joined by graduate transfer Michael O'Shaughnessy (Ohio State) in preseason camp. Eckley and O'Shaughnessy split time at punter the first four games, before only Eckley punted at Iowa on Sept. 30. Eckley is averaging 44.0 yards per punt, including seven inside the 20 and five of 50-plus yards.

• The Spartans, who used multiple placekickers in 2022, brought in graduate transfer Jonathan Kim from North Carolina over the summer. Redshirt sophomore Stephen Rusnak has also kicked in games this season.

• Kim is off to a 6-for-8 start on field-goal attempts, including a career-long 58-yarder at Iowa, which set a Kinnick Stadium record and was the fourth-longest in school history. He is also 9-for-9 on PATs.

• Junior college transfer Drew Wilson and redshirt junior Sam Edwards split the long-snapping duties for the Spartans.

• Ross Els in his his fourth year as the program's special teams coordinator.