Spartans Host No. 11 Penn State Friday at Ford Field in Detroit

Game 12: Michigan State (4-7, 2-6) vs. No. 11/11 Penn State (9-2, 6-2)

Date: Friday, Nov. 24
Kickoff: 7:35 p.m. ET
Location: Detroit, Mich.
Stadium: Ford Field (65,000)
Surface: FieldTurf

►GAME DAY INFORMATION
• Ford Field Game Day Website (Timeline, Parking, Tailgating)
• Gates open: 5:30 p.m.
• Tickets: Ticketmaster.com
• Toys for Tots Information

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: NBC
Streaming/Mobile: Peacock
Announcers: Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (sidelines)
Live Stats: msuspartans.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. 85), SiriusXM app (Ch. 85)
Pregame Show: Begins at 6 p.m.

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: Tied, 18-18-1
Series in Big Ten Games (since 1993): PSU leads, 17-10
Last Meeting: Penn State 35, MSU 16 (2022 in University Park)
Current Series Streak: 1 by PSU

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Interim Head Coach: Harlon Barnett
MSU Record: 2-7 (first year)
Overall Record: 2-7 (first year)
Record vs. Penn State: First meeting

Penn State Head Coach: James Franklin
PSU Record: 87-38 (10th year)
Overall Record: 111-53 (13th year)
Record vs. MSU: 4-5

►FIRST-AND-10
• Michigan State closes the regular season against No. 11/11 Penn State on Friday, Nov. 24 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is set for 7:35 p.m. The game will be televised on NBC and streamed live on Peacock with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sidelines) on the call.

• The Spartans (4-7, 2-6 Big Ten) defeated Indiana on the road last week, 24-21, to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon from Hoosiers, while Penn State (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) won 27-6 over Rutgers on Senior Day in Happy Valley.

• Friday's game marks the 38th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans have won six of the last 10 meetings against the Nittany Lions and the all-time series is tied, 18-18-1. This marks the first-ever neutral site game between the two schools.

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land-Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855: Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 17-10, but the Spartans have won six of the last 10.

• Friday's game against Penn State marks the second-ever game for Michigan State at Ford Field. The Spartans beat Florida Atlantic, 30-17, on Sept. 11, 2010, during their first appearance at the facility. Prior to that win over Florida Atlantic, MSU's last visit to downtown Detroit was Oct. 27, 1944, when Coach Charlie Bachman led the Spartans to a 32-0 victory over Wayne State in a contest played at University of Detroit Stadium. Michigan State also played Detroit at U of D Stadium in 1923, 1928, 1931 and 1933.

• Although this marks the first time Michigan State has played a game on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Spartans had a long tradition of playing on Thanksgiving for many years, beginning in the second-ever official season for the school in 1897. Michigan State has played on Thanksgiving a total of 17 times (1897-99; 1901; 1906-09; 1911-12; 1917-22; 1963).

• Michigan State's schedule currently ranks tied for the most difficult in the FBS – along with Penn State – according to the NCAA (opponents with a .664 winning percentage; 73-37 record). The Spartans have played three AP Top-10 teams (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Washington) and seven opponents have clinched postseason berths (Richmond, Washington, Maryland, Iowa, Rutgers, Michigan, Ohio State). Penn State will be MSU's fourth ranked opponent of the season, and five of MSU's opponents are currently in the College Football Playoff rankings (Ohio State, Michigan, Washington, Penn State, Iowa).

• 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.

• Michigan State has nine players from Detroit on its roster (OT Brandon Baldwin, WR Sebastian Brown, DB Dorian Davis, WR Antonio Gates Jr., DT Derrick Harmon, RB Jaren Mangham, RB Davion Primm, S Armorion Smith, DE Jalen Thompson). A total of 28 players on MSU's roster are either from Detroit or the Metro Detroit area.

• Michigan State had two players recognized by the Big Ten Conference for their performances in the win at Indiana. Redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, while redshirt freshman quarterback Katin Houser was tabbed the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Carr had a career-high seven catches for 119 yards, the most by a Spartan tight end since Dion Sims had 122 vs. Eastern Michigan in 2012, to go along with a career-high two touchdowns. He opened the game on MSU's first series with a 17-yard TD catch in the corner of the end zone. Down 21-17 with 4:06 remaining, the Spartans marched down the field 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown drive. Houser connected on a 36-yard TD pass to Carr with just 1:19 left on the clock to put MSU on top, 24-21. Carr caught the ball inside the 15-yard line, absorbed a big hit, then raced into the end zone for the game-winning score. Houser finished his best game as a Spartan with 279 passing yards while completing 25-of-39 throws for three touchdowns. He also connected on a 29-yard TD to Montorie Foster Jr. in the second quarter.

Toys For Tots Info 2023

►MSU ATHLETICS AND DETROIT LIONS TEAM UP TO COLLECT GIFTS FOR TOYS FOR TOTS
• Michigan State Athletics and the Detroit Lions will join together this holiday season to host a toy drive at Ford Field in conjunction with Lions and Spartans game days. The toy drive will benefit Toys for Tots and collection will take place on the following dates:

November 23 – Packers vs Lions (Lions Thanksgiving Day Classic)
November 24 – Penn State vs Michigan State
December TBD – Broncos vs Lions

Fans attending each of the contests are encouraged to bring unwrapped gifts of any kind that are appropriate for children of all ages. Gifts will be collected at Gates A, B, C, and G by the U.S. Marine Corps.

The basic mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new toys and distribute them to children during the holiday season. In 2022, Toys for Tots distributed 24.4 million toys, books and games to 9.9 million children. For more information visit ToysForTots.org.

LAST TIME OUT: MICHIGAN STATE 24, INDIANA 21

►SUMMARY
• Michigan State rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Indiana, 24-21, last Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, reclaiming the Old Brass Spittoon from the Hoosiers. It also marked the first road win of the season for MSU.

• Down 21-17 with 4:06 remaining, the Spartans marched down the field 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown drive. Redshirt freshman quarterback Katin Houser connected on a 36-yard TD pass to redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr with just 1:19 left on the clock to put MSU on top, 24-21. Carr caught the ball inside the 15-yard line, absorbed a big hit, then raced into the end zone for the game-winning score.

• Michigan State leads the all-time series against Indiana, 50-18-2, including a 24-10-1 record in Bloomington.

• The 24-21 final score was MSU's third game this season decided by one-score and the Spartans are now 2-1 in one-score games, also beating Nebraska, 20-17 on Nov. 4 and losing at Rutgers, 27-24, on Oct. 14.

►OFFENSE
• The Spartans' 279 passing yards were their most in a Big Ten game (previous: 274 in the league opener vs. Maryland on Sept. 23).

• Graduate offensive lineman J.D. Duplain made his 41st consecutive start and played in his 46th overall start as part of playing in his 53rd career game . . . Duplain's 41st straight start not only leads all active Spartans, but moved him up to tie for No. 4 on MSU's career consecutive starts list, matching Shilique Calhoun (2012-15) . . . 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, tying linebacker Dan Bass (1976-79).

• The 46 overall career starts also has Duplain at No. 2 on MSU's most starts by an offensive lineman list, trailing only Joel Foreman (2008-11) with 49 total starts.

• Redshirt freshman Katin Houser made his sixth straight start, finishing with career highs for completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns, going 25-of-39 passing for 279 yards and three TDs . . . Houser's previous highs for completions (18), attempts (29) and TDs (2) were all in the game at Rutgers (10/14), while his previous high for yards (165) was in the last home game vs. Nebraska (11/4) . . . Houser also rushed seven times for 11 yards overall, including a career-long 15-yard scamper during what proved to be MSU's game-winning drive.

• MSU scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the second time this season and first since the Rutgers game (10/14) . . . overall, it is MSU's fourth score on its opening drive, joining Rutgers (TD, 10/14), Minnesota (FG, 10/28) and Nebraska (FG, 11/4).

• Redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr snared a career-high two TD catches, and had a third TD catch called back due to a penalty . . . he now has three TD receptions on the season . . . Carr also now has three TDs in his last two games against Indiana, as he had one TD reception in last season's meeting in East Lansing (11/19/22).

• Carr finished with seven catches for 119 yards, both career highs . . . he matched his previous game career-high of six catches in the first half alone . . . Carr's previous career-best of six receptions came in the game at Iowa (9/30), which he left in the first half due to an injury . . . with the career-high seven receptions Saturday, Carr recorded his fifth game this season with multiple catches as part of his 11th career game with two or more catches.

• Carr's 100-yard receiving outing is MSU's first 100-yard receiving game of the season, and first since last year's meeting with Indiana (11/22/22), with Keon Coleman snaring eight receptions for 107 yards . . . it's the most receiving yards by a Spartan tight end since Dion Sims had 122 vs. Eastern Michigan in 2012.

• The two TD catches by Carr is the most by a Spartan receiver in a game this season.

• Senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. snared his third TD catch of the season, now with two in the last three games, also with a TD catch vs. Nebraska (11/4) and also at Rutgers (10/14) and matching career-high for the fifth time.

• Foster finished with seven catches for a career-high 94 yards, bettering his previous career-best of 79 yards vs. Iowa (9/30), and just shy of his career-high for receptions of eight in the same game vs. Iowa . . . the seven catches gives Foster at least one reception in all 11 games this season and in his last 12 games played dating back to last season and has at least one reception in 22 of the last 34 games played.

• Graduate running back Jaren Mangham had an MSU career high in carries for the second straight game with 12 rushes, bettering his previous high of nine at Ohio State . . . Mangham had 27 yards after 35 against the Buckeyes, giving him 21 rushes for 62 yards in his last two games after four carries for 7 yards in his previous three games, making his MSU debut in the Michigan game (10/21) after missing the first six games with an injury in his first season as a Spartan after transferring from USF.

• Mangham also had collegiate career-highs of five receptions for 33 yards, bettering his previous top marks of three catches for 30 yards during his USF career . . . he now has seven catches for 37 yards on the season.

►DEFENSE
• Senior defensive back Angelo Grose logged his second double-digit tackle outing of the season with 10 stops, matching his season-high of 10 tackles at Minnesota (10/28) . . . Grose now has five career games with 10-plus tackles as the two this season are joined by two in 2022 and his career-high of 16 tackles in 2021 . . . Grose added 0.5 tackle for loss, as he now has 3.0 TFLs for the season.

• Sophomore defensive back Malik Spencer registered 10 tackles, his second most of the season, trailing his career-high 11 tackles vs. Michigan (10/21).

• Graduate linebacker Aaron Brule tallied eight tackles for his second most of the season, behind a season-high 11 stops vs. Michigan (10/21).

• Senior defensive back Chester Kimbrough posted a pass break-up in back-to-back games with a PBU in the second quarter after one last week at Ohio State (11/11) . . . Kimbrough finished with a season-high seven tackles, surpassing his previous season-best of four with five stops in the first half alone.

• Senior defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. blocked an IU field-goal attempt right before halftime, for his second blocked field goal of the season, both coming on the road, also getting a paw on a field goal attempt in the game at Minnesota (10/28) . . . Barrow is the first Spartan with two blocked kicks in the same season since Jerel Worthy had two in 2011 . . . Barrow added a sack in the third quarter and now has 3.5 sacks on the season.

• Freshman linebacker Jordan Hall logged five tackles including 1.0 sack for 14 yards . . . Hall now has 55 tackles on the season, including 6.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Redshirt freshman punter Ryan Eckley punted four times for a career-high 51.0 ypp average with a long of 56 yards . . . three of Eckley's four punts went for 50+ yards, with a 50-yarder on his first punt in the opening quarter and adding a 52-yarder in the second quarter and a 56-yarder in the third quarter . . . Eckley's 51.0 ypp average bettered his previous top single-game mark of 48.8 ypp in the Iowa game (10/30) . . . he also had three inside the 20, including two inside the 11, highlighted by one being downed at the IU 1 in the third quarter.

• Graduate senior placekicker Jonathan Kim made a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter . . . Kim now has split the uprights at least once in the last four games as part of moving to 13-of-18 on the season . . . he is now 3-of-5 from 40-49 yards out . . . Kim added 3-for-3 on PATs to improve to 17-for-17 on the season.

MICHIGAN STATE-PENN STATE SERIES NOTES AND STATISTICS

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Nathan Carter (178 carries for 753 yards, 4.2 avg., 68.5 ypg, 4 TDs)
Passing – R-Fr. Katin Houser (101-of-172, .587, 1,043 yards, 104.3 ypg, 6 TDs, 4 INTs)
Receiving – Sr. Montorie Foster Jr. (41 catches for 538 yards, 13.1 avg., 48.9 ypg, 3 TDs)
Tackles – R-Jr. Cal Haladay (81 tackles, 5.0 TFLs for 15 yards, 1 sack for 11 yards, 1 INT, 2 FR)

Penn State:
Rushing – So. Kaytron Allen (147 carries for 714 yards, 4.9 avg., 64.9 ypg, 6 TDs)
Passing – So. Drew Allar (197-of-323, .610, 2,044 yards, 185.8 ypg, 21 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – Jr. KeAndre Lambert-Smith (52 catches for 651 yards, 12.5 avg., 59.2 ypg, 4 TDs)
Tackles – R-So. LB Kobe King (49 tackles, 5.0 TFLs for 12 yards, 1.5 sacks for 5 yards, 1 FR)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT NO. 11/11 PENN STATE (9-2, 6-2 BIG TEN)
• The Nittany Lions tote a 9-2 overall record and 6-2 Big Ten ledger into Friday night's clash with the Spartans in Detroit at Ford Field. Penn State is ranked No. 11 in both the AP and AFCA Coaches Poll, as well as No. 12 in last week's CFP Rankings. PSU is coming off a 27-6 win over Rutgers on Saturday afternoon to get back in the win column after the Nittany Lions' 25-14 loss to Michigan on Nov. 11.

• In last week's win over the Scarlet Knights, Penn State got down 3-0 after the first quarter but scored a TD and a field goal in the second quarter, before Rutgers made a field goal as time expired before halftime to pull within four points, 10-6. The Nittany Lions added a field goal in the third quarter before a pair of TDs in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Scarlet Knights for the 27-6 win.

• Overall, Penn State is second in both the Big Ten and FBS in total defense (238.7 ypg), leading the league and ranking third in the nation in rushing defense (79.2 ypg), while ranking fourth in the conference and sixth in the country in passing yards allowed (159.5 ypg). The Nittany Lion defense is also fourth in the both the Big Ten and FBS in scoring defense (12.5 ppg).

• PSU's defense leads the conference and is second in the country in takeaways (24), while also leading the league and ranking second in the nation in fewest turnovers (6), to lead both the Big Ten and FBS in turnover margin (+18 / +1.64 pg).

• Additionally, Penn State's defense also leads both the league and the nation in team sacks (3.73 pg) with 41.0 total sacks, along with ranking first in the Big Ten and fourth in the FBS in team tackles for loss (8.1 pg) with 89.0 total TFL.

• Offensively, PSU is second in the conference and 15th in the country in scoring offense (36.7 ppg). The Nittany Lions are also sixth in the league and 75th in the nation in total offense (373. ypg), ranking second in the Big Ten and 41st in the FBS in rushing offense (177.9 ypg) and 10th in the league and 100th in the nation in passing offense (195.4 ypg).

• Individually, sophomore quarterback Drew Allar is third in the Big Ten and 25th in the FBS in passing TDs (21), while ranking second in the conference in points responsible for/game (13.6), fourth in passing efficiency (135.0), fifth in both completion percentage (.610) and completions/game (17.9), sixth in both passing yards/game (185.8) and total offense (201.9 ypg) along with 10th in passing yards/completion (10.38). Allar is 197-of-323 for 2,044 yards with 21 TDs and just one INT, adding 66 rushing attempts for 177 yards (2.7 ypc/16.1 ypg) with four rushing TDs.

• Junior wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith is fourth in the Big Ten in receptions/game (4.7) and sixth in the league in receiving yards/game (59.2), along with tied for 13th in the conference in receiving TDs (4). Lambert-Smith has a team-leading 52 receptions for 651 yards (12.5 ypc/59.2 ypg) with a long of 72 yards, and four TDs.

• Junior tight end Tyler Warren leads PSU and is tied for fifth in the Big Ten in receiving TDs (6), with 27 receptions for 273 yards (10.1 ypc/24.8 ypg) with a long of 23 yards.

• Sophomore Kaytron Allen and sophomore Nicholas Singleton are a 1-2 punch for the Nittany Lions on the ground, with Allen ranking seventh in the Big Ten in rushing yards/game (64.9), while Singleton is ninth (53.1). Singleton is tied for fifth in the league in rushing TDs (7) while Allen is tied for eighth (6).

• Redshirt sophomore Kobe King spearheads the Nittany Lion defense with 49 total tackles, adding 5.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks, with one fumble recovery.

• Senior defensive end Adisa Isaac is third in the Big Ten and tied for 29th in the FBS in tackles for loss (13.5) and fourth in the league and tied for 31st in the nation in TFL/game (1.23). Isaac is also third in the conference and tied for 43rd in the country in sacks (6.5). He has 28 total tackles, with just shy of half of them being TFL, with four QB hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

• A total of nine different players have snared at least one interception, as PSU has 11 total team INTs.

• Senior kicker Alex Felkins is second in the Big Ten in scoring (8.2 ppg), ranking third in the league in both field goals (16) and PATs (42). He is 16-of-19 (.842) on field goals with a long of 50 yards, going 7-of-10 from 40+ yards. Felkins is also 42-of-42 on PATs.

• Senior punter Riley Thompson is fourth in the league in punting average (45.3 ypp) on 42 punts, with a long of 56 yards, one of 11 punts of 50+, with 14 inside the 20, one touchback and inducing 18 fair catches.

• Penn State head coach James Franklin is in his 10th season leading the Nittany Lions, logging an 87-38 ledger, part of amassing a 111-53 overall record in his 13th season as a collegiate head coach

►MSU/PENN STATE SERIES NOTES
• Friday's game marks the 38th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans have won six of the last 10 meetings against the Nittany Lions and the all-time series is tied, 18-18-1. This marks the first-ever neutral site game between the two schools.

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land-Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855: Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 17-10, but the Spartans have won six of the last 10.

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)
(10 games/6 starts, 101-of-172 passing [.587], 1,043 yards [104.3 ypg], 6 TDs, 4 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 SIX GAMES FOR SPARTANS
• Redshirt freshman Katin Houser has started the last six games for Michigan State, posting a 2-4 record in those contests, including wins over Nebraska and Indiana. Houser has completed 101-of-172 passes (.587) for 1,043 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions in 10 games of action this season. In his six starts, Houser is 92-of-156 passing (.590) for 887 yards (147.8 ypg), six touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has two rushing touchdowns on the season.

• Houser was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following his best performance as a Spartan last week at Indiana. He completed 25-of-39 throws for 279 yards and three touchdowns – all career bests – including the game-winning touchdown pass, a 36-yarder to Maliq Carr, with just 1:19 on the clock that gave the Spartans a 24-21 victory.

• 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..

• 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 product of Anaheim, California, Houser was a highly touted four-star quarterback and Elite 11 finalist who enrolled early in January 2022. 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 six 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.

• Redshirt junior Andrew Schorfhaar made his collegiate debut while playing one series at Ohio State on Nov. 11.

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

►RUNNING BACKS
Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #5 Nathan Carter (R-So., 5-10, 200, Rochester, N.Y./Connecticut)
(11 games/11 starts, 178 carries, 753 yards, 4.2 avg., 68.5 ypg, 4 TDs; 20 receptions, 102 yards, 5.1 avg.)

• #28 Harold Joiner III (Sr.-6, 6-4, 215, Birmingham, Ala./Auburn)
(7 games, 5 carries, 5 yards, 1.0 avg., 0.6 ypg)

• #1 Jaren Mangham (Gr.-5, 6-2, 235, Detroit, Mich./USF)
(5 games, 25 carries, 69 yards, 2.8 avg., 13.8 ypg)

• #24 Davion Primm (R-So., 6-0, 205, Detroit, Mich./Oak Park)
(6 games, 4 carries, 17 yards, 4.3 avg., 2.4 ypg)

►CARTER RANKS THIRD IN BIG TEN IN CARRIES, SIXTH IN RUSHING
• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter ranks sixth in the Big Ten rushing, averaging 68.5 yards per game (753 total). He also ranks third in the conference in carries (178) and 11th in all-purpose yards 855; 77.7 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 1,736 yards on 368 carries in his 27-game collegiate career (16 at UConn from 2021-22; 11 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 five games. The past two weeks, Mangham has seen his workload increase, rushing nine times for 35 yards at No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 11 and 12 times for 27 yards in the win at Indiana on Nov. 18. He also had a career-high five catches for 33 yards against the Hoosiers.

• For the season, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Mangham has rushed 25 times for 69 yards and has seven receptions for 37 yards.

• 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 1,316 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 37 collegiate games (16 at Colorado in 2019-20; 16 at USF in 2021-22; 5 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 five carries for 5 yards this season.

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

Montorie Foster Jr. at Indiana — **Montorie Foster Jr. leads the Spartans with 41 catches for 538 yards and three touchdowns this season.**

►WIDE RECEIVERS
Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #0 Alante Brown (Sr., 5-11, 190, Chicago, Ill./Nebraska)
(10 games/2 starts, 3 catches, 27 yards, 9.0 avg; 2.7 ypg; 8 carries, 15 yards, 1.9 avg., 1.5 ypg)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 220, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(11 games/2 starts, 16 catches, 237 yards, 14.8 avg., 21.5 ypg, 1 TD)

• #83 Montorie Foster Jr. (2L, Sr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(11 games/11 starts, 41 catches, 538 yards, 13.1 avg., 48.9 ypg, 3 TDs)

• #7 Antonio Gates Jr. (R-Fr., 6-2, 195, Detroit, Mich./Fordson)
(11 games, 5 catches, 82 yards, 16.4 avg., 7.5 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)
(11 games/3 starts, 23 catches, 194 yards, 8.4 avg., 17.6 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 have had 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 three 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 (41), receiving yards (538) and TD receptions (3). 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.

• In the win at Indiana on Nov. 18, Foster had a highlight reel one-handed catch in the middle of the field at the IU 22-yard line, then spun around a defender and raced into the end zone to put the Spartans on top, 14-7, at the 1:10 mark in the second quarter. The catch was named the No. 1 play of the week by the Big Ten Conference. Foster had seven catches for 94 yards overall agains the Hoosiers.

• A three-year letterwinner, Foster has played in 41 career games and has 60 receptions for 802 yards and five 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 16 catches for 237 yards (14.8 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 23 catches for 194 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).

• 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 two weeks with an injury). He has had 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, 9 games/9 starts at LT)

• #77 Ethan Boyd (1L, R-So., 6-7, 320, East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing, 11 games/3 starts at RT)

• #58 Spencer Brown (2L, Gr.-5, 6-6, 315, Canton, Mich./Walled Lake Western, 11 games/8 starts at RT, 2 starts at LT)

• #67 J.D. Duplain (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 11 games/11 starts at LG)

• #72 Dallas Fincher (1L, R-Jr., 6-4, 305, Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood, 8 games/1 start at C)

• #59 Nick Samac (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 11 games/10 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, 11 games/5 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 11 games this season.

• Duplain, a native of Strongsville, Ohio, has started 41 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 46 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 52 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 32 starts overall in his career while playing in a total 49 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. Unfortunately, Samac suffered a season-ending injury in the first half at Indiana. Redshirt junior Dallas Fincher, who started the season opener at center, took over for Samac last week.

• 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. Brown returned to his starting right tackle position last week at Indiana.

• 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; he returned to the starting lineup at Indiana.

• 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, but missed the game at Indiana.

• 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 five 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 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)
(9 games/5 starts, 26 catches, 320 yards, 12.3 avg., 36.0 ypg, 3 TDs)

• #19 Jaylan Franklin (Gr.-6, 6-5, 240, Brownstown Township, Mich./Wisconsin)
(11 games, 5 catches, 70 yards, 14.0 avg.; 6.4 ypg)

• #92 Evan Morris (2L, R-Jr., 6-5, 245, Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie)
(11 games/9 starts, 4 catches, 8 yards, 2.0 avg.; 0.7 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 26 catches for 320 yards. He had a career game in the win over Indiana last week with seven receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns, all career bests. It marked the most receiving yards by a Spartan tight end since Dion Sims had 122 vs. Eastern Michigan in 2012.

• For his effort in the victory against the Hoosiers, Carr was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Down 21-17 with 4:06 remaining, the Spartans marched down the field 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown drive. Houser connected on a 36-yard TD pass to Carr with just 1:19 left on the clock to put MSU on top, 24-21. Carr caught the ball inside the 15-yard line, absorbed a big hit, then raced into the end zone for the game-winning score. He also had a 17-yard TD grab in the first quarter.

• Carr missed two games with an injury (Minnesota, Nebraska) and was limited at Ohio State (14 snaps). He had six receptions for 43 yards in the first quarter alone at Iowa on Sept. 30 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 nine 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 coming in a four-week span (vs. Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State), but missed last week's game with an injury.

• 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)
(11 games/9 starts at DT, 34 tackles, 4.5 TFLs for 39 yards, 3.5 sacks for 38 yards, 1 FF, 2 blocks)

• #2 Khris Bogle (1L, R-Sr., 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Florida)
(9 games/5 starts at DE, 14 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)
(9 games/1 start at DE, 10 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)
(11 games/9 starts at DT, 37 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)
(9 games, 10 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)
(7 games/3 starts, 18 tackles, 4.5 TFLs for 8 yards, 2.0 sacks for 5 yards, 1 FF)

• #26 Brandon Wright (4L, R-Sr., 6-2, 250, Euclid, Ohio/Euclid)
(11 games/4 starts at DE, 19 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 13 yards, 2 sacks for 13 yards)

• #9 Zion Young (1L, So., 6-6, 265, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(11 games/8 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 is tied for the lead on 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 24 total QB pressures on the season.

• The Spartans have started a total of six defensive ends, including Young (eight games), seniors Khris Bogle (five games), Avery Dunn (one game) and Brandon Wright (four games), and true freshman Jalen Thompson (three 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 started the last three games and has 18 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss in just seven games of action as a true freshman.

• 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 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks in nine 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 10 tackles this season.

• In his second full season at defensive end in 2022 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 19 tackles and two sacks this season in 11 games, including four starts, and is second with 23 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 nine games this season and has 37 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. He has started in 13 career games for MSU.

• Redshirt junior Simeon Barrow Jr. has started in 29 games over the past two-plus seasons (2021-23) and has 34 tackles, 4.5 TFLs (39 yards) and 3.5 sacks (38 yards) in 11 games and nine starts this season. He ranks third on the team with 22 QB pressures and was named to the Senior Bowl preseason watch list. Barrow has blocked two field goals this season (vs. Minnesota and Indiana) to become the first Spartan since Jerel Worthy in 2011 to block two kicks in the same season.

• 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 18 tackles in seven games.

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

• #7 Aaron Brule (1L, Gr.-6, 6-2, 240, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(11 games/8 starts, 59 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)
(11 games/11 starts, 81 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)
(11 games/5 starts, 55 tackles, 6.5 TFLs for 41 yards, 3.5 sacks for 34 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 (81 total). In addition, he ranks third on the team with five tackles for loss. He has 297 total tackles for his career in 40 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 64TH COLLEGIATE GAME ON FRIDAY
• Sixth-year graduate senior linebacker Aaron Brule leads the team in tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (4.0) and ranks fourth with 59 tackles overall. Brule, who played four seasons (2018-21) at Mississippi State before transferring to Michigan State in 2022, will be playing in his 64th collegiate game overall on Friday against Penn State (40 at Mississippi State, 23 at Michigan State). For his career, Brule has 230 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 55 tackles, second with 6.5 tackles for loss and tied for second with 3.5 sacks.

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

• 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.

►ON THE MEND
• Jacoby 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.

• 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. In four games this season, Snow has six tackles.

►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)
(5 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)
(11 games/5 starts at NB, 4 starts at S, 62 tackles, 3.0 TFLs for 11 yards, 0.5 sack for 2 yards, 5 PBUs, 2 INTs)

• #12 Chester Kimbrough (2L, R-Sr., 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La./Florida)
(11 games/2 starts at CB, 21 tackles, 1.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 1 sack for 9 yards, 3 PBUs)

• #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)
(10 games/9 starts at S, 48 tackles, 4 INTs, 3 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 TFL)

• #25 Chance Rucker (Fr., 6-1, 180, Denton, Texas/Ryan)
(11 games/7 starts at CB, 22 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBUs)

• #43 Malik Spencer (So., 6-1, 195, Buford, Ga./Buford)
(11 games/7 starts at S, 1 at NB, 71 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 2 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)
(9 games/1 start at S, 4 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 seventh 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 39 pass break-ups as a team, which is 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 71 tackles. He also ranks second on the team with six pass break-ups. Spencer earned his first career start at nickelback at Ohio State on Nov. 11.

• Fellow sophomore Jaden Mangham has started in nine of the 11 games at safety (DNP at Iowa due to injury). Mangham ranks tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for 12th 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 48 tackles.

• Senior Angelo Grose has started games at both safety and nickelback the past four seasons (2020-23) and has played in 39 games overall since his arrival on campus in 2020, including 34 starts (21 at safety, 13 at nickelback). The three-year letterwinner has 221 tackles with 8.0 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 four games. He is second on the team with two interceptions and ranks third with five pass break-ups and 62 tackles.

• At cornerback, sophomore Dillon Tatum started eight of the first nine games, but has missed the last two weeks with an injury. 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 seven of the eight Big Ten games this season. Rucker has 22 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)
(11 games, 46 punts for 2,090 yards, 45.4 avg., 21 inside the 20, 2 touchbacks, 20 fair catches, 18 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)
(11 games, 17-for-17 PATs, 13-for-18 FGs, 41 kickoffs for 2,607 yards, 63.6 avg., 27 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)
(13 punt returns for 89 yards, 6.8 avg.; 12 kick returns for 205 yards, 17.1 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 five games. Eckley ranks third in the Big Ten and 18th in the FBS in punting, averaging 45.4 yards per punt. He also ranks third in the conference with 18 punts of 50-plus yards and second with 21 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.

• Eckley punted four times for a career-high 51.0 ypp average with a long of 56 yards at Indiana, and punted three inside the 20.

• 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 13-for-18 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 17-for-17 on PATs. Kim's 13 made field goals rank tied for sixth in the Big Ten, and four of those are from 50-plus yards. He is the first Spartan to kick four field goals from 50-plus yards in a single season since Dave Rayner in 2003.

• 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.