Spartans Look to Reclaim Old Brass Spittoon from Indiana Saturday in Bloomington

Game 11: Michigan State (3-7, 1-6) at Indiana (3-7, 1-6)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 18
Kickoff: 12:01 p.m. ET
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (52,6756)
Surface: FieldTurf

►GAME DAY INFORMATION
Indiana Game Day Website (Timeline, Parking, Tailgating)

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), Meghan McKeown (sidelines)
Live Stats: iuhoosiers.com | Live Stats

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. 380), SiriusXM app (Ch. 970)
Pregame Show: Begins at 10:30 a.m.

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 49-18-2
Series in Bloomington: MSU leads, 23-10-1
Series in Big Ten Games: MSU leads, 46-15-1
Last Meeting: IU 39, MSU 31 (2OT) (2022 in East Lansing)
Current Series Streak: 1 by IU

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Interim Head Coach: Harlon Barnett
MSU Record: 1-7 (first year)
Overall Record: 1-7 (first year)
Record vs. Indiana: First meeting

Indiana Head Coach: Tom Allen
Indiana Record: 33-47 (seventh year)
Overall Record: 33-47 (seventh year)
Record vs. MSU: 2-4

►FIRST-AND-10
• Michigan State will be looking for its third straight win at Memorial Stadium when the Spartans travel to Bloomington to face Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 12 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and streamed live on the FOX Sports app with Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) and Meghan McKeown (sidelines) on the call.

• The Spartans (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) fell at No. 1 Ohio State last Saturday night in Columbus, 38-3, while the Hoosiers (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) lost in overtime at Illinois, 48-45.

• Saturday's game marks the 70th meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 49-18-2, including a 23-10-1 record in Bloomington. MSU has won five out of the last six matchups at Memorial Stadium.

• Since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon. The brass spittoon came from one of Michigan's earliest trading posts and is widely believed to be more than 200 years old. Legend has it that the spittoon was around when both institutions were founded – Indiana in 1820 and MAC in 1855. The trophy was initiated by the junior and senior classes and student council at Michigan
State, and soon accepted by the Indiana Student Senate. Since 1950, Michigan State leads the series, 49-15-1.

• Michigan State's schedule currently ranks the most difficult in the FBS, according to the NCAA (opponents with a .722 winning percentage; 65-25 record). The Spartans have played three AP Top-10 teams (No. 2 Michigan, No. 5 Washington, No. 3 Ohio State) and all 10 opponents are either .500 (Central Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska) or have winning records (Richmond, Washington, Maryland, Iowa, Rutgers, Michigan, Ohio State).

• 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 and has since been appointed interim head coach. 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). Barnett recorded his first victory as head coach of the Spartans with a 20-17 win over Nebraska on Nov. 4 in East Lansing.

• Sophomore safety Jaden Mangham ranks tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for ninth in the FBS with four interceptions. Mangham recorded a pick in back-to-back games (at Minnesota, vs. Nebraska), and also had interceptions against Washington and Rutgers. In addition, he has three pass break-ups and ranks tied for sixth on the team with 45 tackles.

• Graduate senior J.D. Duplain, a native of Strongsville, Ohio, has started 40 consecutive games at left guard, the second-longest streak by an offensive lineman in school history (Shane Hannah with 44 from 1991-94). Duplain's 45 starts overall are also second most in MSU history by an offensive lineman (record: Joel Foreman with 49 from 2008-11). The four-year letterwinner has played in a total of 51 career games for the Spartans from 2019-23; he started five games as a true freshman in 2019, then five more during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Duplain started all 13 games in 2021 and all 12 in 2022. He has earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades the past two seasons. Duplain's starting streak dates back to Nov. 7, 2020, at Iowa.

• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter ranks tied for fifth in the Big Ten rushing, averaging 71.1 yards per game (711 total). He also ranks second in the conference in carries (167) and 11th in all-purpose yards (809; 80.9 ypg), and leads the team with four rushing touchdowns. According to PFF, Carter has rushed for 442 yards after contact (62 percent), which ranks fourth most in the Big Ten. Carter has rushed for 1,694 yards on 357 carries in his 26-game collegiate career (16 at UConn from 2021-22; 10 at MSU in 2023), including seven rushing touchdowns.

• Redshirt freshman punter Ryan Eckley ranks third in the Big Ten and 22nd in the FBS in punting, averaging 44.9 yards per punt. Eckley also ranks third in the conference with 15 punts of 50-plus yards and 18 punts inside the 20.

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 1 OHIO STATE 38, MSU 3

►SUMMARY
• Michigan State fell at No. 1 Ohio State, 38-3, before a crowd of 105,137 at Ohio Stadium last Saturday night. The Buckeyes outgained the Spartans, 530-182.

►OFFENSE
• Graduate offensive lineman J.D. Duplain made his 40th consecutive start and played in his 45th overall start as part of playing in his 52nd career game.

• Duplain's 40th straight start not only leads all active Spartans, but moved him up to tie for No. 5 on MSU's career consecutive starts list, done most recently by Max Bullough and Denicos Allen in 2010-13 seasons . . . Duplain has the second-most consecutive starts by an offensive player in program history, behind school record co-holder Shane Hannah (1991-94) with 44.

• The 45 overall career starts also moves Duplain up to No. 2 on MSU's most starts by an offensive lineman list, taking over sole possession after a tie with Hannah and Trony Mandarich (1985-88), and trailing Joel Foreman (2008-11) with 49 total starts.

• Redshirt freshman Katin Houser made his fifth straight start, finishing 12-of-24 passing for 92 yards with a long of 20 yards, adding seven rushes for 6 yards.

• Redshirt sophomore running back Nate Carter rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries . . . Carter had a 27-yard run in the first quarter, which was his longest rush in a Big Ten game and longest since a 44-yarder in the Richmond game in Week 2 (9/9) . . . Carter's 52 yards marked his sixth game this season with 50 or more rushing yards, as well as having double-digit carries in all 10 games this season.

• Graduate running back Jaren Mangham had a season-high nine rushes for 35 yards, which are the most of his MSU career after transferring from USF.

• With a team-high three catches, sophomore wide receiver Tyrell Henry now has three or more receptions in the last three games as part of four total times this season . . . Henry has 10 catches for 85 yards in his last three games with three catches for 20 yards and a TD at Minnesota (10/28), four receptions for 54 yards vs. Nebraska (11/4) and three catches for 11 yards at Ohio State (11/11).

• Senior tight end Evan Morris doubled his season receptions with a career-high two catches.

• Freshman tight end Brennan Parachek also tied his career high with two receptions, and he has at least one catch in the last four games.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Andrew Schorfhaar made his Spartan debut, with a completion on his first pass attempt for the Green & White.

►DEFENSE
• Redshirt junior linebacker Cal Haladay posted a team and game-high nine tackles . . . it was Haladay's seventh game this season with seven or more stops, including five in the last six.

• Graduate linebacker Aaron Brule matched his jersey number with seven stops, including 1.0 tackle for loss, marking the second straight game and third in the last four contests that Brule has posted at least 1.0 TFL . . . Brule now has at least 0.5 tackle for loss in six of the 10 games this season as part of 10 of his last 14 games and 13 of his 22 games as a Spartan . . . he now leads the MSU defense with 7.5 tackles for loss on the season.

• Sophomore defensive back Malik Spencer registered a pass break-up to go with five tackles . . . Spencer posted his second game in a row with a PBU as part of six in the 10 games.

• Fellow sophomore defensive back Jaden Mangham logged five tackles, logging his five or more stops in four of the last five games as part of six total times in his nine games played this season, missing the Iowa game due to injury.

• Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Ken Talley tallied his first tackle for loss, finishing with a career-high three tackles.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Graduate senior placekicker Jonathan Kim connected on a 53-yard field goal in the second quarter, his second-longest field goal of the season behind his career-long 58-yarder at Iowa (9/30) . . . Kim now has four 50-yard field goals on the season (4-of-8) and is 12-of-17 overall.

• Redshirt freshman punter Ryan Eckley punted six times with a long of 58 yards, one of two of 50+, adding a 50-yarder in the second quarter . . . he now has at least one punt of 50+ yards in each of the last four games as part of in six total games out of 10 . . . Eckley also had a career-best four inside the 20, including tying a career-high with three inside the 10, highlighted by one being downed at the OSU 2 in the second quarter, along with one being downed at the OSU 8 in the third quarter and a fair catch at the OSU 8 in the fourth quarter . . . he has had multiple punts inside the 10 in each of the last three games as part of in four total games.

MICHIGAN STATE-INDIANA SERIES NOTES AND STATISTICS

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Nathan Carter (167 carries for 711 yards, 4.3 avg., 71.1 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. (34 catches for 447 yards, 13.1 avg., 44.7 ypg, 2 TDs)
Tackles – R-Jr. Cal Haladay (74 tackles, 5.0 TFLs for 15 yards, 1 sack for 11 yards, 1 INT, 2 FR)

Indiana:
Rushing – So. Jaylin Lucas (65 carries for 265 yards, 4.1 avg., 26.5 ypg, 2 TDs)
Passing – R-Fr. Brendan Sorsby (99-of-172, .576, 1,164 yards, 145.5 ypg, 10 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving – Jr. Donaven McCulley (40 catches for 524 yards, 13.1 avg., 52.4 ypg, 5 TDs)
Tackles – R-Sr. Aaron Casey (86 tackles, 14.5 TFLs for 63 yards, 5.5 sacks for 39 yards, 3 PBUs, 2 FF)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT INDIANA (3-7, 1-6 BIG TEN)
• The Hoosiers have a 3-7 overall and 1-6 Big Ten Conference ledger after a high scoring back-and-forth battle at Illinois last Saturday before falling 48-45 in OT.

• IU had a 27-12 lead in the second quarter, but Illinois stormed back to take a 39-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Illini took a 42-34 lead with 5:04 left, but the Hoosiers scored a TD with 28 seconds left on a 26-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Brendan Sorsby to senior wide receiver Dequece Carter and then Sorsby connected with senior wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. for the 2-point conversion to tie it up and send the game to overtime. Indiana had the ball first and redshirt junior placekicker Chris Freeman made a 41-yard field goal, but Illinois scored a 21-yard TD pass for the 48-45 OT win.

• Indiana had 451 yards of total offense with 289 yards passing and three TDs, along with 162 yards rushing, also with three TDs. Illinois amassed 662 yards of total offense, with 507 yards through the air with four scores, and 155 yards on the ground with two TDs.

• Indiana is 10th in the Big Ten in scoring offense (21.4 ppg) and 13th in scoring defense (30.0 ppg). The Hoosiers are eighth in the conference in total offense (324.3 ypg), ranking sixth in passing offense (213.0 ypg) and 12th in rushing offense (111.3 ypg). The IU defense is 14th in total defense (391.1 ypg), ranking 11th in passing yards allowed (230.2 ypg) and 14th in rushing defense (160.9 ypg).

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Brendan Sorsby is sixth in the Big Ten in both passing yards/completion (11.76) and passing efficiency (131.3), while ranking eighth in both passing yards/game (145.5) and passing TDs (10). He is also ranked tied for 10th in the conference in rushing TDs (4) and tied for 14th in rushing yards per carry (2.24), to rank seventh in the league in points responsible for per game (10.8). Sorsby is 99-of-172 passing for 1,164 yards (145.5 ypg), with 10 TDs and two INTs, along with 84 rushing attempts for 188 yards (2.2 ypc/23.5 ypg) with four TDs.

• Junior wide receiver Donaven McCulley is seventh in the Big Ten in receiving TDs (5), eighth in the league in receptions/game (4.0), along with 12th in receiving yards/game (52.4). He has 40 catches for 524 yards (13.1 ypc/52.4 ypg) with five TDs, with a long of 69 yards. He had 11 catches on 13 targets, for 137 yards and two TDs, last Saturday at Illinois.

• IU's leading rusher is sophomore Jaylin Lucas with 65 carries for 265 yards (4.1 ypc/26.5 ypg) with two TDs. He also is second on the team in receiving with 33 catches for 235 yards (7.1 ypc/23.5 ypg) with two TDs. Lucas is also second in the Big Ten and 26th in the FBS in kickoff returns (22.6 ypr), on 17 returns with a long of 56 yards.

• Redshirt senior linebacker Aaron Casey spearheads the Hoosier defense to the tune of also leading the Big Ten and ranking ninth in the FBS in tackles for loss per game (1.4) with 14.5 total TFL, which also tops the league and ranks tied for 11th in the nation. He averages 8.6 tackles/game, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 37th in the FBS, also ranking fifth in the conference in total tackles with 86 stops. Casey also is tied for sixth in the league in both sacks (5.5) and sacks/game (0.55), adding three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one QB hurry. Casey was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in Week 10 for his 4.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks with nine total tackles in Indiana's win over Wisconsin.

• Senior linebacker Lanell Carr Jr. is tied for eighth in the Big Ten in sacks (5.0) and tied for 10th in the conference in tackles for loss (7.5).

• Junior punter James Evans is second in the Big Ten and 12th in the FBS in punting (45.9 ypp) on 46 punts, with a long of 70 yards, one of 18 punts of 50+ yards, with 12 inside the 20 and six touchbacks, including 14 fair catches.

• Chris Freeman is sixth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.818), making 9-of-11, with a long of 50 yards, adding 22-of-23 PATs. He also has 40 kickoffs for a 61.2 ypk average with 22 touchbacks.

• Indiana head coach Tom Allen is in his seventh year at the helm of the Hoosiers and as a collegiate head coach, posting a 33-47 record.

►MSU/INDIANA SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 70th meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 49-18-2, including a 23-10-1 record in Bloomington. MSU has won five out of the last six matchups at Memorial Stadium.

• The Hoosiers rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to win in double overtime, 39-31, last season in Spartan Stadium. MSU won the last meeting in Bloomington, 20-15, on Oct. 16, 2021.

• Since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon. The brass spittoon came from one of Michigan's earliest trading posts and is widely believed to be more than 200 years old. Legend has it that the spittoon was around when both institutions were founded – Indiana in 1820 and MAC in 1855. The trophy was initiated by the junior and senior classes and student council at Michigan
State, and soon accepted by the Indiana Student Senate. Since 1950, Michigan State leads the series, 49-15-1.

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)
(9 games/5 starts, 76-of-133 passing [.571], 766 yards [85.1 ypg], 3 TDs, 2 INTs)

• #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)
(4 games, 15-of-23 passing [.652], 139 yards [34.8 ypg], 2 TDs, 2 INTs)

►HOUSER GETS STARTING NOD LAST FIVE GAMES FOR SPARTANS
• Redshirt freshman Katin Houser has started the last five games for Michigan State against Rutgers, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio State. Houser has completed 76-of-133 passes (.571) for 766 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in nine games of action this season. In his five starts, Houser is 67-of-117 passing (.573) for 608 yards (121.6 ypg), three touchdowns and one interception.

• Houser recorded his first victory as a starting quarterback at Michigan State on Nov. 4 against Nebraska. He completed 13-of-20 passes for 165 yards, including an 11-yard TD to Christian Fitzpatrick.

• Making his first career start at quarterback at Rutgers on Oct. 14, Houser was 18-of-29 passing for 133 yards and two touchdowns against the Scarlet Knights. Houser threw his first career TD pass on MSU's opening drive with a 13-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. He also rushed for a 12-yard rushing TD in the second quarter part of eight carries for 27 yards..

• 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.

• A highly touted four-star quarterback and Elite 11 finalist who enrolled early in January 2022, Houser has 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.

►KIM STARTS FIRST FIVE GAMES FOR MICHIGAN STATE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim started the first five games for the Spartans, but has not seen game action the past five games. Kim is 91-of-160 passing (.569) for 1,090 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also rushed for 53 yards on 27 carries.

• 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.

►LEAVITT THROWS GAME-WINNING TD PASS AGAINST NEBRASKA
• 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.
• Leavitt has played in four games this season, completing 15-of-23 passes (.652) for two touchdowns and two interceptions. 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. He played 15 snaps against Michigan, completing 4-of-7 passes for 32 yards and one interception.

• Leavitt played two series in the 20-17 win over Nebraska on Nov. 4. With MSU leading 13-10 in the fourth quarter, Leavitt took over a Spartan drive at the Husker 38-yard line and directed a four-play, 38-yard scoring drive, capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass to Montorie Foster Jr. with 12:13 left in the game. Leavitt also had a 7-yard run on a third-and-4 play on the drive. He finished the game 1-of-2 passing for 25 yards.

• At Minnesota on Oct. 28, Leavitt threw the first TD pass of his Spartan career, hitting sophomore wide receiver Tyrell Henry for a 9-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Leavitt ended the game 8-of-12 passing for 73 yards with one TD and one interception. He also rushed six times for 52 yards with a long of 22 yards, MSU's longest rush of the day. On Leavitt's first series of the game in the fourth quarter, he engineered an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in just 3:30.

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

Jaren Mangham vs Ohio State — **Jaren Mangham rushed a season-high nine times for 35 yards at No. 1 Ohio State last Saturday night.**

►RUNNING BACKS
Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #5 Nathan Carter (R-So., 5-10, 200, Rochester, N.Y./Connecticut)
(10 games/10 starts, 167 carries, 711 yards, 4.3 avg., 71.1 ypg, 4 TDs; 19 receptions, 98 yards, 5.2 avg.)

• #28 Harold Joiner III (Sr.-6, 6-4, 215, Birmingham, Ala./Auburn)
(6 games, 4 carries, 7 yards, 1.8 avg., 1.4 ypg)

• #1 Jaren Mangham (Gr.-5, 6-2, 235, Detroit, Mich./USF)
(4 games, 13 carries, 42 yards, 3.2 avg., 10.5 ypg)

• #24 Davion Primm (R-So., 6-0, 205, Detroit, Mich./Oak Park)
(6 games, 4 carries, 17 yards, 4.3 avg., 2.8 ypg)

►CARTER RANKS SECOND IN BIG TEN IN CARRIES, FIFTH IN RUSHING
• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter ranks tied for fifth in the Big Ten rushing, averaging 71.1 yards per game (711 total). He also ranks second in the conference in carries (167) and 11th in all-purpose yards (809; 80.9 ypg), and leads the team with four rushing touchdowns.

• The UConn transfer has rushed for 100 yards in three games, 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.

• 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 1,694 yards on 357 carries in his 26-game collegiate career (16 at UConn from 2021-22; 10 at MSU in 2023), including seven rushing touchdowns.

►SPARTANS SUFFER INJURIES BEHIND CARTER IN BACKFIELD
• 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, is out for the season after suffering an injury in the Michigan game on Oct. 21. He previously missed two games (Washington, Maryland) with an injury but returned to play in a limited role at Iowa in Week 5 before rushing for 49 yards on 11 carries at Rutgers on Oct. 14. Berger finished the season with 25 carries for 93 yards.

• Jaren Mangham (Gr.-5), who joined the team in January and competed during spring practice, missed the first six games of the season due to an injury, but made his Spartan debut on Oct. 21 vs. Michigan and has played in the last four games. He had a season-high nine carries for 35 yards at No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 11. 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 1,293 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 36 collegiate games (16 at Colorado in 2019-20; 16 at USF in 2021-22; 4 at MSU in 2023). Mangham had a career-high 671 yards and 15 rushing TDs as a junior at USF in 2021 to lead the Bulls.

• Sixth-year senior Harold Joiner III, who transferred from Auburn to MSU in 2021, spent two seasons at running back (2021-22) before transferring to the defense as a safety in spring practice. He moved to linebacker in preseason camp but returned to the backfield in Week 5 at Iowa to provide depth at the position for the Spartans. He has four carries for 7 yards this season.

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

Alante Brown vs Ohio State — **Alante Brown started his second game of the season at wide receiver at No. 1 Ohio State.**

►WIDE RECEIVERS
Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #0 Alante Brown (Sr., 5-11, 190, Chicago, Ill./Nebraska)
(9 games/2 starts, 3 catches, 27 yards, 9.0 avg; 3.0 ypg; 8 carries, 15 yards, 1.9 avg., 1.7 ypg)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 220, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(10 games/1 start, 14 catches, 221 yards, 15.8 avg., 22.1 ypg, 1 TD)

• #83 Montorie Foster Jr. (2L, Sr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(10 games/10 starts, 34 catches, 447 yards, 13.1 avg., 44.7 ypg, 2 TDs)

• #7 Antonio Gates Jr. (R-Fr., 6-2, 195, Detroit, Mich./Fordson)
(10 games, 5 catches, 82 yards, 16.4 avg., 8.2 ypg, 1 TD)

• #15 Jaron Glover (R-Fr., 6-1, 205, Sarasota, Fla./Riverview)
(8 games/5 starts, 14 catches, 261 yards, 18.6 avg., 32.6 ypg)

• #2 Tyrell Henry (So., 6-0, 175, Roseville, Mich./Roseville)
(10 games/2 starts, 20 catches, 180 yards, 9.0 avg., 18.0 ypg, 3 TDs)

• #17 Tre Mosley (3L, Gr.-5, 6-2, 200, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(8 games/7 starts, 28 catches, 288 yards, 10.3 avg., 36.0 ypg, 2 TDs)

►SENIORS TRE MOSLEY AND MONTORIE FOSTER LEAD YOUNG WIDE RECEIVER ROOM
• 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 is led by fifth-year graduate senior Tre Mosley, who has played in 44 career games, including 28 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 126 career receptions for 1,464 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career. He ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in catches (tied for 17th with 126), TD receptions (tied for 25th with 10) and receiving yards (28th with 1,464). Mosley had caught at least one pass in 25 consecutive games, but he has missed the last two games with an injury.

• 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 and the Wuerffel Trophy for his work in the community.

• Mosley currently ranks second on the Spartans with 28 catches for 288 yards and two TDs.
• Senior Montorie Foster Jr. has had his best year as a Spartan, posting career highs in catches (34), receiving yards (447) and TD receptions (2) through the first 10 games of the season. Foster had a career-high eight receptions for 79 yards at Iowa, and had a career-best 94 receiving yards on four receptions on Senior Day vs. Nebraska on Nov. 4. A three-year letterwinner, Foster has played in 40 career games and has 53 receptions for 709 yards and four 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 has a career-high 14 catches for 221 yards (15.8 avg.) and one TD, including a 72-yarder in the season opener vs. Central Michigan and a 61-yarder in Week 3 vs. Washington.

►TRIO OF YOUNG RECEIVERS PROVIDING PRODUCTION FOR MSU
• Sophomore Tyrell Henry, who earned a letter as a true freshman returning kicks in 2022, has had 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 20 catches for 180 yards and a team-leading three 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 12 punt returns for 88 yards (7.3 avg.) and 10 kick returns for 167 yards (16.7 avg.). He ranks third on the team in all-purpose yards (43.5 ypg; 435 yards).

• In his first career start against Nebraska on Nov. 4 with Tre Mosley out of the lineup, Henry responded with a career-high four catches for 52 yards; he had 73 all-purpose yards in the game, second most on the team (54 receiving, 11 kick return, 8 punt return).

• In his last three games, Henry has 10 catches for 85 yards.

• Glover is averaging 18.6 yards per catch with 14 receptions for 261 yards in eight games (did not play vs. Michigan due to sickness; missed last week's game at Ohio State with an injury). He leads MSU with six 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 five catches for 82 yards (16.4 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. For the season, he has eight carries for 15 yards and three catches for 27 yards; he also threw a 42-yard pass to Montorie Foster Jr. against Nebraska.

• 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, 8 games/8 starts at LT)

• #77 Ethan Boyd (1L, R-So., 6-7, 320, East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing, 10 games/3 starts at RT)

• #58 Spencer Brown (2L, Gr.-5, 6-6, 315, Canton, Mich./Walled Lake Western, 10 games/7 starts at RT, 2 starts at LT)

• #67 J.D. Duplain (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 10 games/10 starts at LG)

• #72 Dallas Fincher (1L, R-Jr., 6-4, 305, Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood, 7 games/1 start at C)

• #59 Nick Samac (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 10 games/9 starts at C)

• #74 Geno VanDeMark (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Lodi, N.J./St. Joseph, 7 games/6 starts at RG)

• #70 Kevin Wigenton II (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Colts Neck, N.J./The Hun School, 10 games/4 starts at RG)

►J.D. DUPLAIN, NICK SAMAC BRING FIVE YEARS OF STARTING EXPERIENCE TO O-LINE
• Michigan State returned five players with starting experience on the offensive line this season, 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.

• Michigan State has used a total of five different starting combinations on the offensive line in 10 games this season.

• Duplain, a native of Strongsville, Ohio, has started 40 consecutive games at left guard, the second-longest streak by an offensive lineman in school history (Shane Hannah with 44 from 1991-94). Duplain's 45 starts overall are also second most in MSU history by an offensive lineman (record: Joel Foreman with 49 from 2008-11). The four-year letterwinner has played in a total of 51 career games for the Spartans from 2019-23; he started five games as a true freshman in 2019, then five more during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Duplain started all 13 games in 2021 and all 12 in 2022. He has earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades the past two seasons. Duplain's starting streak dates back to Nov. 7, 2020, at Iowa.

• Samac, who was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, started all 12 games at center last fall and has 31 starts overall in his career while playing in a total 48 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 nine games after splitting time with Dallas Fincher in the season opener vs. Central Michigan.

• Graduate fifth-year senior Spencer Brown started all 12 games last season at right tackle and started 20 consecutive games at the position before sitting out the first half at Minnesota on Oct. 28. He started his first career game at left tackle vs. Nebraska with Brandon Baldwin out due to an injury, and was also the starting left tackle last week at Ohio State.

• 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 started at left tackle in the first eight games to run his streak to 12 straight starts at the position before missing the last two games due to an injury.

• Redshirt sophomore Geno VanDeMark earned starting assignments at right guard the last two games of the 2022 season and has an increased role on the offensive line heading in his third season in East Lansing. He started the three games at right guard this season before missing two games with an injury (Maryland, Iowa). He returned to play 33 snaps at Rutgers on Oct. 14 and was back in the starting lineup at right guard vs. Michigan on Oct. 21; however, he did not play at Minnesota on Oct. 28. VanDeMark again returned to the starting lineup in the win over Nebraska on Nov. 4 and also started at Ohio State.

• Redshirt sophomores Ethan Boyd and Kevin Wigenton II also earned their first letters as Spartans last year and have seen increased time in the playing rotation. Wigenton earned starts in three straight games at right guard (vs. Maryland, Iowa and Rutgers) with VanDeMark sidelined and has four starts overall, while Boyd has seen his snap count increase at right tackle throughout the season. Boyd earned his first career start on Oct. 28 at Minnesota and has started three consecutive games at right 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)
(8 games/5 starts, 19 catches, 201 yards, 10.6 avg., 25.1 ypg, 1 TD)

• #19 Jaylan Franklin (Gr.-6, 6-5, 240, Brownstown Township, Mich./Wisconsin)
(10 games, 5 catches, 70 yards, 14.0 avg.; 7.0 ypg)

• #92 Evan Morris (2L, R-Jr., 6-5, 245, Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie)
(10 games/8 starts, 4 catches, 8 yards, 2.0 avg.; 0.8 ypg)

• #82 Brennan Parachek (Fr., 6-5, 250, Dexter, Mich./Dexter)
(7 games, 6 catches, 55 yards, 9.2 avg.; 7.9 ypg)

• Redshirt junior Maliq Carr leads the tight ends with a career-high 19 catches for 201 yards, but missed two games with an injury (Minnesota, Nebraska) and was limited at Ohio State (14 snaps). 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 five catches for 70 yards, including a career-long 46-yard reception vs. Nebraska. 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. He earned his first career start in the season opener against the Chippewas while also recording his first career reception (4 yards). Morris has started eight games overall and has four receptions for 8 yards.

• True freshman Brennan Parachek, a four-star recruit from Dexter High School, has seen his playing time increase the second half of the season. He has six catches for 55 yards, all in the last four games (vs. Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio State).

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

A LOOK AT THE SPARTAN DEFENSE

►DEFENSIVE LINE
Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #8 Simeon Barrow Jr. (2L, R-Jr., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(10 games/8 starts at DT, 29 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 29 yards, 2.5 sacks for 28 yards, 1 FF, 1 block)

• #2 Khris Bogle (1L, R-Sr., 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Florida)
(8 games/5 starts at DE, 11 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 9 yards, 1.5 sacks for 8 yards)

• #98 Avery Dunn (1L, R-Jr., 6-4, 250, Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights)
(8 games/1 start at DE, 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 2 yards, 1 FR)

• #97 Maverick Hansen (3L, R-Sr., 6-4, 300, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison)
(10 games/4 starts at DT, 19 tackles, 1.5 TFLs for 6 yards, 1.5 sacks for 6 yards, 1 PBU)

• #41 Derrick Harmon (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(10 games/8 starts at DT, 31 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 1.5 sack for 8 yards, 1 FF, 1 PBU)

• #99 Jalen Sami (Gr.-6, 6-7, 330, Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado)
(8 games, 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 4 yards)

• #44 Ken Talley (R-Fr., 6-3, 245, Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast)
(4 games, 4 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 4 yards)

• #55 Jalen Thompson (Fr., 6-3, 260, Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech)
(6 games/2 starts, 16 tackles, 4.0 TFLs for 7 yards, 2.0 sacks for 5 yards, 1 FF)

• #26 Brandon Wright (4L, R-Sr., 6-2, 250, Euclid, Ohio/Euclid)
(10 games/4 starts at DE, 18 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 13 yards, 2 sacks for 13 yards)

• #9 Zion Young (1L, So., 6-6, 265, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(10 games/7 starts at DE, 25 tackles, 4.5 TFLs for 20 yards, 1.5 sacks for 5 yards)

►DIRON REYNOLDS IN FIRST SEASON AS SPARTAN DEFENSIVE LINE COACH
• 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.

►ROTATING D-LINE: SPARTANS HAVE STARTED NINE DIFFERENT DEFENSIVE LINEMEN IN 2023
• Sophomore defensive end Zion Young leads the Spartan defensive line with 4.5 tackles for loss (20 yards) and also has 1.5 sacks (5 yards). According to Pro Football Focus, Young leads the team with 23 total QB pressures on the season.

• The Spartans have started a total of six defensive ends, including Young (seven games), seniors Khris Bogle (five games), Avery Dunn (one game) and Brandon Wright (four games), and true freshman Jalen Thompson (two games).

• Thompson earned his first career start vs. Nebraska on Nov. 4 and responded with a huge game, recording five tackles and two sacks, including a forced fumble. He has 16 tackles and four tackles for loss in just six games of action.

• Bogle, a Florida transfer and former top-100 recruit, only played in four games last season due to an injury in his first season in East Lansing. He has 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in eight games this season, including five starts.

• 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 seven 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 14 tackles. He has a career-high 18 tackles and two sacks this season in 10 games, including four starts, and is tied for second with 21 QB pressures.

►BARROW, HARMON & HANSEN LEAD THE SPARTAN INTERIOR
• Along the interior, redshirt senior Maverick Hansen has played in 41 career games at defensive tackle, including four starting assignments. He has 19 tackles in 2023, including a career-high 1.5 sacks on Senior Day vs. Nebraska. 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 eight games this season and has 31 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. He has started in 12 career games for MSU.

• Redshirt junior Simeon Barrow Jr. has started in 28 games over the past two-plus seasons (2021-23) and has 29 tackles, 3.5 TFLs (29 yards) and 2.5 sacks (28 yards) in nine games and eight starts this season. He ranks second on the team with 21 QB pressures and was named to the Senior Bowl preseason watch list.

• 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 and has 14 tackles in five games.

►LINEBACKERS
Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #33 Aaron Alexander (R-Fr., 6-1, 225, Belleville, Mich./Massachusetts)
(10 games, 4 tackles)

• #7 Aaron Brule (1L, Gr.-6, 6-2, 240, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(10 games/7 starts, 51 tackles, 7.5 TFLs for 28 yards, 4 sacks for 18 yards, 1 PBU)

• #27 Cal Haladay (2L, R-Jr., 6-1, 235, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(10 games/10 starts, 74 tackles, 5.0 TFLs for 15 yards, 1 sack for 11 yards, 1 INT for 2 yards, 2 FR for 42 yards)

• #5 Jordan Hall (Fr., 6-3, 235, Fredericksburg, Va./IMG Academy)
(10 games/4 starts, 50 tackles, 5.5 TFLs for 27 yards, 2.5 sacks for 20 yards, 1 FF, 1 PBU)

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

►PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE AT LINEBACKER FOR SPARTANS
• 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 has played in four games after missing nearly the entire 2022 season with an injury, but hasn't seen game action the past four weeks.

►HALADAY LEADS TEAM, RANKS 10TH IN BIG TEN IN TACKLES
• Redshirt junior linebacker Cal Haladay leads the team and ranks 10th in the Big Ten with 7.4 tackles per game (74 total). In addition, he ranks third on the team with five tackles for loss. He has 290 total tackles for his career in 39 games, which ranks 20th in school history. Haladay led the Big Ten in tackles per game last season (10.0 avg.; 120 total).

• During the third quarter at Iowa, Haladay tied a school record with the third defensive touchdown of his career as he 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).

• Haladay was named to preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.

►BRULE PLAYING IN 63RD COLLEGIATE GAME ON SATURDAY
• Sixth-year graduate senior linebacker Aaron Brule leads the team in tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (4.0) and ranks fourth with 51 tackles overall. Brule, who played four seasons (2018-21) at Mississippi State before transferring to Michigan State in 2022, will be playing in his 63rd collegiate game overall on Saturday against Indiana (40 at Mississippi State, 22 at Michigan State). For his career, Brule has 222 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.

►JORDAN HALL: FRESHMAN BY NAME ONLY
• True freshman Jordan Hall, the only three-time captain in IMG Academy history, enrolled in January and has made an early impact in his first year with the Spartans. The consensus four-star recruit ranks fifth on the team with 50 tackles, tied for second with 2.5 sacks, and second with 5.5 tackles for loss.

• Hall earned the first start of his collegiate career in his first Big Ten game against Maryland in Week 4 and has started in four games overall (Maryland, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska).

• On Oct. 28 at Minnesota, Hall had a career-high two sacks, including a forced fumble on one in the first quarter that led to a Spartan field goal. Hall had a career-high nine tackles overall against the Gophers.

►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)

• #3 Caleb Coley (R-Fr., 6-0, 185, Warner Robins, GA/Houston County)
(4 games/1 start at CB, 2 tackles, 1 TFL)

• #37 Khary Crump (R-Jr., 6-0, 180, Los Angeles, CA/Arizona)
(2 games/1 start at CB, 1 tackle)

• #15 Angelo Grose (3L, Sr., 5-10, 185, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield)
(10 games/5 starts at NB, 3 starts at S, 52 tackles, 2.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 0.5 sack for 2 yards, 5 PBUs, 2 INTs)

• #12 Chester Kimbrough (2L, R-Sr., 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La./Florida)
(10 games/1 start at CB, 14 tackles, 1.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 1 sack for 9 yards, 1 PBU)

• #36 Brandon Lewis (Fr., 5-11, 185, Lansing, Mich./Lansing Catholic)
(4 games/1 start at S, 1 tackle)

• #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)
(9 games/8 starts at S, 45 tackles, 4 INTs, 3 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 TFL)

• #25 Chance Rucker (Fr., 6-1, 180, Denton, Texas/Ryan)
(10 games/6 starts at CB, 21 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBUs)

• #43 Malik Spencer (So., 6-1, 195, Buford, Ga./Buford)
(10 games/7 starts at S, 1 at NB, 62 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 1 yards, 6 PBUs)

• #21 Dillon Tatum (So., 5-11, 200, Farmington Hills, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(9 games/8 starts at CB, 45 tackles, 2.5 TFLs for 8 yards, 7 PBUs)

• #20 Ade Willie (1L, So., 6-1, 190, Baltimore, Md./IMG Academy)
(8 games/1 start at S, 3 tackles)

►SPARTANS FEATURE FOUR UNDERCLASSMEN STARTERS IN SECONDARY
• 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 also the program's secondary coach. First-year assistant Jim Salgado is the team's cornerbacks coach.

• After recording an FBS-low two interceptions last season, Michigan State ranks tied for sixth in the Big Ten with nine picks this season, led by Jaden Mangham with four. Angelo Grose is second on the team with two, while Cal Haladay, Chance Rucker and Khalil Majeed have also picked off passes this season. MSU also has 35 pass break-ups as a team, which is tied for sixth most in the Big Ten.

• Sophomore Malik Spencer started the first seven games of the season at safety and ranks second on the team with 62 tackles. He also ranks second on the team with six pass break-ups. Spencer earned his first career start at nickelback last week at Ohio State.

• Fellow sophomore Jaden Mangham has started in eight of the 10 games at safety (DNP at Iowa due to injury). Mangham ranks tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for ninth in the FBS with four interceptions. He recorded a pick in back-to-back games (at Minnesota, vs. Nebraska), and also had interceptions against Washington and Rutgers. In addition, he has three pass break-ups and ranks tied for sixth on the team with 45 tackles.

• Senior Angelo Grose has started games at both safety and nickelback the past four seasons (2020-23) and has played in 38 games overall since his arrival on campus in 2020, including 33 starts (20 at safety, 13 at nickelback). The three-year letterwinner has 211 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, 18 pass break-ups and three interceptions during his collegiate career. Grose has started at nickelback in five games and at safety in three games. He is second on the team with two interceptions and ranks third with five pass break-ups and 52 tackles.

• At cornerback, sophomore Dillon Tatum started eight of the first nine games, but missed the Ohio State game with an inury. He leads the team with seven pass break-ups and has 45 tackles on the season.

• True freshman Chance Rucker earned his first collegiate start vs. Maryland in Week 4 and has started in six of the seven Big Ten games this season. Rucker has 21 tackles, three pass break-ups and one interception in 10 games overall.

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)
(10 games, 42 punts for 1,886 yards, 44.9 avg., 18 inside the 20, 2 touchbacks, 19 fair catches, 15 50+)

• #42 P Michael O'Shaughnessy (Gr.-5, 6-3, 210, New Albany, Ohio/Ohio State)
(7 games, 13 punts for 516 yards, 39.7 avg., 4 inside the 20, 1 touchback, 7 fair catches, 1 50+)

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)
(10 games, 14-for-14 PATs, 12-for-17 FGs, 36 kickoffs for 2,284 yards, 63.4 avg., 23 touchbacks, 2 OB)

• #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.)

Returns:
• #2 Kick/Punt Return Tyrell Henry (So., 6-0, 175, Roseville, Mich./Roseville)
(12 punt returns for 88 yards, 7.3 avg.; 10 kick returns for 167 yards, 16.7 avg.)

• #0 Kick Return Alante Brown (Sr., 5-11, 190, Chicago, Ill./Nebraska)
(3 kick returns for 52 yards, 17.3 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 during the first half of the season, but Eckley has been the primary punter the past four games. Eckley ranks third in the Big Ten and 22nd in the FBS in punting, averaging 44.9 yards per punt. He also ranks third in the conference with 15 punts of 50-plus yards and 18 punts inside the 20.

• Eckley has been added to the Ray Guy Award Watch List and was named one of "Ray's 8" for the week of games on Nov. 4, as he averaged 48.3 yards per punt (seven punts for 338 yards) in the win over Nebraska, including three inside the 20 and five of 50-plus yards.

• The Spartans, who used multiple placekickers in 2022 and only made six field goals during the season, 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 12-for-17 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 14-for-14 on PATs. Kim's 12 made field goals rank tied for fifth in the Big Ten, and four of those are from 50-plus yards.

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

• Sophomore Tyrell Henry returns punts for the Spartans, and also returns kicks in addition to Montorie Foster Jr. and Alante Brown.

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