Spring Practice Update: Player Quotes

Nick Marsh and the Spartans are in their fourth week of spring practice.

4/9/2025 3:19:00 PM | Football

EAST LANSING, Mich. – With Michigan State football now in its fourth week of spring practice, several coaches and players have talked with the media to provide updates on the team's progress this spring. The Spartans complete spring practice on April 19.

Junior QB Aidan Chiles

On his growth between the end of last season and this spring…
I think just more of understanding my role again. Last year I had a role that a lot of people would've wanted to be in, and I don't think last year I was the leader that I should've been. This year I think I'm taking that next step as a leader, really instead of talking about it, just doing it. Taking action and doing what leaders do. Leading by example, leading vocally. I can always lead and help around as much as I can. Really just be a second coach basically.

On expectations for himself as a leader…
I feel like all of it is on me. Not on me, there are a lot of leaders out here. There are a lot of guys that can help with that role, but it's more of what I need to do and what I need to take a next step on. I feel like I really take pride in that, and talk to the people that I need to talk to, and do the things that I need to do and handle it in the ways that I'm learning how to handle it and continue doing it.

On learning from last year, and what the team's ceiling is this year…
I don't think there is a ceiling, for the team in general. Not just for myself, but for the team. I think we just need to grow on what we learned last year. Last year was tough for us, but you know after that, last year was last year. Now, a whole new team, a whole new everything. It's time to grow and time to work.

Aidan Chiles

On the offseason and refocusing for this season…
I think it was good for us. I think it was a good wake up call, just like this is how things are going to be if you don't win. We don't want to feel that way again. We know that we don't want to feel that way again. It was just something to sit in and sulk for a minute, and after that, you just learn. Understanding that we don't want to feel like that again and that is just what it is. After that, come in and work even better than what you did last year and do what you need to do to take that next step.

On connecting with the new wide receivers…
It's been great. I feel like this is one of the best teams I've ever played on. Growing from it and learning from it every day, it has been a lot of learning for everyone. It's just such a good thing to see right now because I feel like we can take these steps into fall and keep it rolling.

On noticing any of the traits of the wide receivers…
I think everybody is basically at 'one' receiver. Anybody could win. There is no 'this guy this time, this guy this time.' Everybody has a chance of getting the ball every play. Everybody can win. I really like that about everybody. They all have their own specific traits…but they all do their own thing. They all learn each day and come and work as hard as the next guy each day.

On reconnecting with Coach (Jon) Boyer…
That was just the best thing to ever happen to me right me. Just being here for sure. Boyer, he was my coach at Oregon State, so you know just having him here as another coach to bounce things off of and listen to and learn from is amazing. I feel like he is one of the better coaches that I had at Oregon State, and now he is one of the better coaches that I've had here. It's amazing to see the growth that I've gained and everything that I've learned being with him. Just learning from the past few weeks being with him, it's been amazing.

On some of the lessons he learned from Coach Boyer…
Just understanding the little things. Everything where it's very tedious. Stuff like that gets annoying sometimes, but at the same time when you learn it like that you won't have to worry about it on the field. The little things. Basically, we talk about learning how to tie your shoelaces again. Every new moment from winter, spring, fall, we are going to back to basics and back to the mechanics again. We are going to learn how to throw the ball again. We are going to learn how to read a defense. We are going to learn how to understand what to do up front. We're going to learn everything, from the basics. I really like that about him. Making you emphasize that you know you're not any different from any other quarterback here. It's awesome to see.

On if it's easier to visualize his role and success this year after going through some unknowns last year…
Everybody wants to go undefeated. Everybody wants to win awards. Everybody wants to win natty's and stuff like that. That's what I want, that's the basis of it, but when it comes to the little things, I just want wins, I want to learn how to get those wins. We have to do the right things to get into the areas to win those games. We have to finish in the red zone, stuff like that, just visualizing the little things and keep working on those.

On freshman quarterback Leo Hannan and redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic…
Leo's a young guy; he's still working and still learning each day. He's a sponge, he's here to learn and here to work. He comes in with the same attitude and same mindset every day. I think Alessio has grown a lot since last year. I really love Alessio. God forbid anything happen to me, but if Alessio takes the reigns, I think he could do it. I believe in Alessio 100 percent. Alessio's a great quarterback and I always tell him, I feel like you could be the best quarterback to come out of here, because he's that good.

On what specific traits and talents of (Alessio) impress him…
Nothing bothers him. I feel like we think similar in a lot of ways. Seeing Alessio play football, it's beautiful to watch. When he's out there with twos and threes and he's just balling, he plays so freely and it's an amazing thing to see. It reminds me of just somebody who knows what's going on, and they know what you're going to do before you even get out there, and they go play football. I just love seeing Alessio play, it's fun to watch.

On what the team could have done better last season, and how the team is improving…
I think it's never ending. We're still doing it right now. We're doing stuff that we saw last year and seeing if we can change things, seeing if we can figure out maybe this play didn't work, and maybe this play didn't work because of this. Maybe my footwork wasn't here, stuff like that. Going back and tedious with everything. Like I said before, just sitting down with Boyer and understanding, 'okay, what happened here, why did it happen, and what do I do to fix it.' That's really what it is. Just thinking about things from that aspect.

On if the team was close last year to seeing that progress…
As of right now, it's spring ball, still a new team…We knew we were close (last year). We knew we were close within the season. It's just more of a, I don't really know how to put it, but we knew we were close, and we just didn't execute the way we wanted to execute. Now we have to do that. That's really what it is. There's no sugar coating it; we have to go out there and we have to execute the way the know we can.

Senior DL Grady Kelly

On why he came to Michigan State from Florida State…
I got to meet with Coach Legi (Suiaunoa) and Coach Smith, and it was really just what they are doing here culturally. They are setting up a culture for success, I think they are on a growth track to win. Coach Legi, obviously, very detailed, very experienced, very good coach. I think Coach Smith just has a vision for winning. I just bought into that.

On who has helped welcome him to Michigan State…
I've become very close with Q (Quindarius Dunnigan). Honestly, the whole D-line room is just super welcoming. It's not very often that you can just step into a room and have 12 or 13 who really just care about each other and really have as strong of a bond as they have. Definitely Q, and the rest of the D-line – Big Worm (Ben Roberts), Big Ru (Ru'Quan Buckley), J-Hall (Jordan Hall). Then my guys on the offensive line – Stanton (Ramil), Caleb (Carter), those are my guys too.

On why he think MSU recruited him…
I think there is an ability there that they see, but I think they just believe in me as a person, who I am and what I stand for. I am a servant of God. I faithfully pursue Jesus, that's who I am, that's my whole personality. People can call me whatever they want, but that is what my life revolves around, serving Jesus. I walk in light of that. I came here and believed my opportunity here was to be a ministry, to reach out to people and bring them along, to show them who Jesus was and the love of him. I'm married; I have a wife at 21. I love my wife very much; I'm very family oriented. I care deeply about the people that I'm around. I want to win; I have a desire and a passion to win. The bigger stage you can be on, the more you can glorify God.

On learning lessons from last year at Florida State as a veteran player…
I think the biggest lesson that can be taken from a season like that (at Florida State in 2024) is just not to lose sight of the goal and tribulations. When you run into these afflictions and these hard times, and it's super easy to just put your head down and say, 'I don't want to do this anymore' or 'I'm going to go for individual accolades' or 'I'm going to go for personal goals' or 'I'm going to do me.' I think that's where a lot of deviation can happen. I think that's what we saw a lot of last year. I think really being able to bring guys along and making sure that, in times like that, winning is still the goal. The team is still the goal. Caring about the guys around you is still the goal. It can never become 'me' focused because that just doesn't lead to success as a unit.

On his experience in the transfer portal…
I think the portal is a great tool, but sometimes the grass isn't greener, and sometimes the grass is greener. I think the advice that I would give young guys, that I've been able to take from the portal is that if you're surrounded by people that love you, push you, and care about you as a person, you are in a good situation. The NFL is going to find players. If you are a good player, the NFL is going to find you. If you're in a bad situation, you can utilize it, but just be mindful, when you get into the portal, don't chase a logo, don't chase money. These things don't lead to success, they lead to, like we talked about earlier, division and the culture of the locker room. Chase the mission of the team, buy into the people that are going to be coaching you and that you're playing with. Buy into the program as a whole because the other stuff just doesn't matter. It doesn't lead to success. When you can really buy into the mission and the culture of the coaches and the players around you, then you could step into a special program.

On the urgency of the pass rush this spring…
For sure, we have definitely had a huge emphasis on third down, on getting to the pass, getting to the quarterback on pass rush. Obviously, we were good a program last year in stopping the run, but third down officially, third down wins games. You have to get off the field. They have definitely put a big emphasis on that. I think that I can add value to the program. Just in going through these spring practices, some of my past in pass rushing and things like that, I definitely think that I can add value. I can definitely see an upwards trajectory in our third down defense right now.

On Joe Rossi's scheme…
Obviously there is a structure to schemes, but he likes to let the defensive line up front go eat. He likes to us to get off the ball, go cause this disruption in the backfield, just go make plays and have the linebackers, like J-Hall, you can go penetrate and cause disruption in the backfield because you have a guy like J-Hall behind you. He is going to make a fast, quick decision, and he is going to do it in confidence at full speed. I think just that penetrating, get off the ball, get up field defense that Coach Rossi runs. I have loved every bit of it.

On his last year of eligibility in 2025 and does that create personal urgency…
Yes sir, last year. Yeah, it becomes a reality when it's your last year of college football. It's like now or never. I have to get it done. That just comes in forms of like taking recovery more seriously, taking nutrition and sleep more seriously. Being on the board more, learning schemes of defenses, which Coach Legi is helping me with so much. But there is definitely a sense of urgency just to be as great as I can be this year.

Sophomore WR Nick Marsh

On his growth on and off the field after his first year...
It's been great. The process is pretty good. Getting up and going through school and going through the process of playing football as a freshman, it's been great. It built my character. I'm learning a lot of new things about myself that I may not have known before. It's just been one heck of a process so far. I'm looking forward to where the journey takes me.

On his physical transformation...
To be honest, it is kind of up-and-down. I came in kind of big. I gained a little weight, about 10 or 15 pounds. I went back down some when I got sick a little bit. The transition has just been up-and-down, but now I'm at a steady rate maintaining it around 210. Keeping in good shape and sticking with that. Just trying to balance out with how I feel about that.

On what he did in his freshman year that surprised him...
I would say a little bit of my route-running. The catching, I know I am capable of. I wouldn't have expected my route running to be as sharp as it was last year. That's one thing I know I can work on, but I would definitely say that was a shocker for me freshman season. I didn't know that I had that in me. I thank Coach (Courtney) Hawkins for bringing that out, but I feel like we got more work to do.

On his comfort level of being at Michigan State...
The comfort level, I give it a 10 out of 10. I'm comfortable and I'm happy where I'm at. We can grind from here on out. I feel comfortable. Especially schedule-wise, offense, school-wise, knowing the area and streets, knowing how to get to class and stuff. I would say I'm way more comfortable than last year.

On his next personal goals...
To be a leader. To be a captain. To help this team take another step to being great.

On the new wide receiver room...
We watch a lot of film together. The chemistry is building. These guys are animals. They are in the film room every day. They are grinding. Today, we had a pretty good practice. You can see how much detail they are putting into their work and craft. I think the chemistry of the room is getting better.

Senior TE Jack Velling

On what differences he notices from year one to year two...
In a lot of ways, Coach (Smith) always talks about the biggest step you are going to take is from year one to year two. Whether you are a freshman going into sophomore year, or year one of the new coaching staff to year two. I could definitely see that out there. Both sides of the ball. We got the defense flying around. On offense, offensive line-wise we look great. Quarterbacks, we look great, and honestly receivers look great, tight ends look great, running backs look great. So, it's really fun to go out there and see the huge step that we have taken since last year.

On Coach (Jon) Boyer and Aidan Chiles' relationship...
I think their relationship is awesome. It's fun to see them work together and challenge each other, because they are both such big competitors. It's definitely grown since Oregon State. Aidan's gotten older and more mature and just a better football player in general. I think Coach Boyer is always trying to learn more stuff. It's fun to see them reconnecting. And even all of the other quarterbacks in the room learning from Coach Boyer, so it is fun to see.

On how Aidan Chiles has changed from 18 to 20...
A lot. Physically for sure, I think he has put on 20 pounds or so. And then just the mental side. You can tell he is becoming more serious. It's the real deal now and he definitely senses that. Even him in the huddle now, he just takes control of the offense and it's fun to watch.

On his first impressions of Aidan Chiles...
He was really skinny and really tall. He could throw a really good deep ball. It's fun to see how he has grown into the full player that he is now.

On the advice he would give himself looking back at last season...
The advice I would really give myself is don't change how you play, just play your game. I think I came in and tried to switch things up because maybe it felt different, or I thought it was going to be different, but it really is just football at the end of the day. No matter who is lining up on the other side of me, I try to go win that matchup. So, just to be myself.

On the individual attention he received from defenses last year...
I think for sure, even from game one against FAU, we could tell they were going to have a guy over top of me all game. It kind of carried. I had trouble winning against man last year. That was a big focus for me this offseason. Teams picked up on that and kind of started doing that more. I've been working on that all offseason, and throughout spring ball, so I am feeling a lot better this year.

On how he manages the extra attention...
I think a little bit of that, a little bit of both. It's cool to see that, but no matter who is out there guarding me I feel like I should be able to beat them. It wasn't the case as much as I'd like it to be last year. So, I got a little chip on my shoulder to go prove them wrong this year.

On what he worked on this offseason...
Change of direction. Route running. Just being able to create separation on releases when I got a man pressed up on me. Stuff like that. Little details that I think have helped a lot.

On the depth of the tight end room...
We have a lot of rooms that are stacked on the team, but I think our tight end room is up there with the best. Mike (Masunas), Brennan (Parachek), Wyatt (Hook), Jay (Coyne) at fullback is really coming together this year. Once we get everyone healthy, I think we will be a great room top-to-bottom. And it'll be really fun to watch.

On what the public hasn't seen of Masunas yet...
I think the full tight end aspect of him. A complete tight end. He can go run a route one-on-one. I think he didn't really get to show that, whether it was limited reps being kind of banged up and having to get surgery (last year). I am excited for him because he has been balling out in spring ball. Just to be able to go and put that on full display for everybody.

On the best position room on the team...
I don't know if there's one in particular. Honestly, I like this team a lot. I think there are a lot of different rooms that have that. I think all of them have that top to bottom depth. I don't really know one in particular that I would say.

On how the offensive newcomers have performed...
The guys we brought in, the receivers especially, have been awesome. Omari (Kelly) has been balling out. Chrishon (McCray) has been balling out; Rodney (Bullard Jr.) has been playing well. It's really fun to see. They help spread the field and get matchups that we like all across the board. Definitely.

On how this will help the tight ends...
Now we will have guys out there that may attract different attention, or whatnot. So, it might take a little attention off of us, which is definitely helpful. It's a lot of fun to see guys all across the board winning their matchups.

On the deep passing game this year...
I don't know what the stat is, but it's felt to me like we have caught more deep balls than we had all of last year already. We got freshmen that are going and winning deep balls. Today, Alante (Brown) won a one-on-one. Definitely it's fun to see those guys get to run.

On working with Coach (Brian) Wozniak...
Honestly, it is great because he knows where I started and where I am now. He knows the little things that I have to do to take that next step. It's helpful, because I don't think anyone knows me like he does or can coach me like he does. He knows the little things that I need to do better and the ways that I learn best.

On his focus in the weight room this past winter...
I think the focus was to lean out a little bit, and then put that weight back on. I feel like I have done that. It was really more of a speed side of things. We go every other day with speed work, which was awesome. Just working that and getting stronger than I have been.