With preseason practice starting on July 29 for the Michigan State football team, msuspartans.com takes a look at the position breakdown on offense for the Spartans.
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QUARTERBACKS
â–ºPosition Coach: Jon Boyer (first season)
â–ºPlayers returning (3):
• #2 Aidan Chiles (Jr., 6-3, 225, Long Beach, Calif./Oregon State)     2024: 12 games, 192-of-323 passing [.594], 2,415 yards [201.3 ypg], 13 TDs, 11 INTs; 97 carries for 225 yards, 3 TDs
â–ºIncoming freshmen (1):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• #15 Leo Hannan (6-3, 215, Long Beach, Calif./Servite) *early enrollee
In his first year as a starting quarterback, Aidan Chiles became just the sixth Spartan sophomore to throw for more than 2,000 yards in a single season, completing 59 percent of his passes (192-of-323) for 2,415 yards and 13 touchdowns. Chiles showed growth and improvement in the second half of the season with an 8-to-3 TD/INT ratio while passing for a .620 completion percentage (106-of-171).Â
In addition, Chiles was a threat running the football, gaining a net of 225 yards on the ground, including 28 first downs and 14 carries of 10-plus yards. The Long Beach, California, native ended up finishing ninth in the Big Ten in total offense (220.0 ypg), which was also the most by any underclassmen quarterback in the conference.Â
Already voted a team captain as just a sophomore, Chiles enters the 2025 season with a full year as the starter under his belt as he looks to build on his positive trajectory heading into preseason camp.
Chiles won his first three games as the starter, a first for a Spartan quarterback in eight years, including an impressive showing in his first road start at Maryland in Week 2 in which he threw for 363 yards, the eighth-highest single-game total in school history. In the fourth quarter alone, Chiles was 6-of-8 passing for 171 yards to lead MSU in the comeback win. During Michigan State's 32-20 victory over Iowa on Homecoming, Chiles completed 73 percent of his passes (22-of-30) for 256 yards while rushing for 51 yards to compile 307 yards of total offense, showcasing both his throwing and running ability against the Hawkeyes.Â
Chiles is now looking to build on those standout performances under second-year offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren and first-year quarterbacks coach Jon Boyer, who Chiles worked with in 2023 at Oregon State.
Both of MSU's freshmen quarterbacks from the Class of 2024, Ryland Jessee and Alessio Milivojevic, redshirted last season and completed their second spring practice after early enrolling as true freshmen.
The Spartans signed one quarterback in their latest recruiting class, Leo Hannan (Long Beach, Calif.), and he competed in spring practice as an early enrollee.
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â–ºPlayers returning (4):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• #5 Makhi Frazier (1L, So., 5-10, 218, McKinney, Texas/McKinney) 2024:9 games, 7 carries, 21 yards, 3.0 avg., 2.3 ypg
• #7 Brandon Tullis (1L, So., 6-1, 227, Dallas, Texas/Memorial)     2024: 8 games, 7 carries, 20 yards, 2.9 avg., 2.5 ypg
• #26 Chris Williams (R-Jr., 5-11, 218, Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II)Â
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â–ºIncoming transfers (1):Â
• #4 Elijah Tau-Tolliver (Sr.-5, 6-1, 211, Sparks, Nev./Sacramento State)     2024 (Sacramento State): 11 games/11 starts, 184 carries, 950 yards, 5.2 avg., 86.4 ypg, 7 TDs; 38 receptions, 317 yards, 8.3 avg., 28.8 ypg, 2 TDs
â–ºIncoming freshmen (3):Â Â Â
• #25 Jace Clarizio (5-10, 208, East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) *early enrollee
• #28 Zion Gist (5-11, 205, Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) *early enrollee
• #27 Darrin Jones Jr. (5-10, 202, Lake Orion, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's)Â
â–ºLetterwinners lost (3):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Nathan Carter (2L, 12 games/10 starts, 116 carries, 499 yards, 5 TDs, 4.3 avg., 41.6 ypg; 18 receptions, 173 yards, 2 TDs, 9.6 avg., 14.4 ypg)
• Kay'ron Lynch-Adams (1L, 12 games/2 starts, 113 carries, 649 yards, 2 TDs, 4.9 avg., 54.1 ypg; 15 receptions, 85 yards, 5.7 avg., 7.1 ypg)
• Joseph Martinez (2L, 9 games, 1 carry, 1 yard)
Although Michigan State is losing both of its top-two rushers from last season, the running back room is stocked with potential heading into the 2025 season under the direction of Keith Bhonapha.
Sophomores Makhi Frazier and Brandon Tullis, who both saw action in the backfield and lettered as true freshmen in 2024, will compete for additional carries in their second year wearing the Green and White and gained valuable reps in the spring.
The Spartans also brought in fifth-year senior transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver in January from Sacramento State, an experienced back who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards (950; 86.4 ypg) last season for the Hornets while earning honorable mention All-Big Sky accolades. Tau-Tolliver has accumulated nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards in his 41-game collegiate career, including 1,538 rushing yards with six 100-yard games on the ground, and ranked among the school's all-time leaders in kick returns (1,038 yards).
Both of MSU's freshmen running backs that signed in December – Jace Clarizio and Zion Gist – were early enrollees and participated in spring practice. The consensus No. 1 running back prospect in the state of Michigan in the Class of 2025, Clarizio is an East Lansing native whose father, Craig Johnson, was a three-year letterwinner for the Spartans, while Gist was one of the highest ranked running backs in the state of Illinois.
Jaxon McCaig (R-Fr.) and Chris Williams (R-Jr.) also return for the Spartans, while freshman Darrin Jones Jr. joined the team over the summer.Â
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Sophomore Nick Marsh is one of the top returning wide receivers in the Big Ten after a breakthrough first season in which he set freshman program records for most receptions (41) and receiving yards (649).Â
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â–ºPlayers returning (6):
• #0 Alante Brown (1L, Gr.-6, 5-11, 196, Chicago, Ill./Nebraska)                                  2024: 4 games, 2 catches, 20 yards, 10.0 avg; 5.0 ypg; 3 carries, 17 yards, 5.7 avg., 4.3 ypg
• #85 Grant Calcagno (R-So., 6-0, 198, Rochester, Mich./Rochester Hills)
• #18 Atticus Carridine (R-So., 6-1, 182, Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti Community) * made the position switch from quarterback to wide receiver in spring practice
The Spartans, who already feature one of the best young wide receivers in the nation in Nick Marsh, overhauled their receiving room by bringing in four experienced transfers that will look to provide immediate production.
Marsh was a standout in his first season in East Lansing, setting program records for most receptions (41) and receiving yards (649) by a true freshman in school history. In just his second collegiate game, Marsh sparked MSU's 27-24 road comeback win at Maryland with eight catches for 194 yards, including four receptions for 151 yards in the fourth quarter alone that featured a 77-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Chiles. Marsh was named the Big Ten and Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week for his dazzling performance, which ranked among the best receiving games ever at MSU; his 194 receiving yards were second-most in a game by a freshman and 10th-most overall. He finished the season eighth in the Big Ten in yards per catch (15.8) and 13th in receiving yards per game (59.0 ypg), marks which also ranked second among Big Ten freshmen. Â
All four of MSU's incoming transfers have starting experience, and three have garnered first-team all-conference honors at their previous school. The group has a total of 87 games played, including 50 starts, along with 245 receptions, 4,154 yards and 38 touchdown catches combined in their careers.
Senior Omari Kelly, who began his career with two seasons (2022-23) at Auburn, was a first-team All-Conference USA honoree as a junior in 2024 at Middle Tennessee State after posting career highs in receptions (53), receiving yards (869) and TD catches (4). He also was a second-team all-league choice as a punt returner (10.4 avg; one TD).Â
Fellow senior Rodney Bullard Jr. was one of the best Division II receivers in the nation last season at Valdosta State, ranking sixth in the country in yards per catch (23.8 avg.), 10th in TD catches (12) and 17th in receiving yards (1,001; 71.5 ypg) while helping lead the Blazers to a 13-1 record and the D-II national championship game. A first-team All-Gulf South Conference selection, Bullard also led the league in touchdown receptions, yards per catch and receiving yards. In the past two seasons, Bullard has hauled in 85 passes for 1,567 yards and 19 TDs.
A two-year starter at Kent State, Chrishon McCray has two seasons of eligibility remaining after catching 81 passes for 1,315 yards and 13 TDs the past two seasons with the Golden Flashes. He earned first-team All-MAC honors as a redshirt freshman in 2023 with 41 receptions for 610 yards and four TDs, and was a second-team choice in 2024 with 40 catches for 705 yards and nine TDs. The explosive wide receiver ranked third in the FBS with three 60-plus yard receptions last season and tied for eighth with four of 50-plus yards.
Redshirt sophomore Evan Boyd, an East Lansing native, started eight games at Central Michigan in 2024 and had 21 catches for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Â
In addition to Marsh, four receivers from last season's team are back, including sixth-year graduate senior Alante Brown, who is using his final year of eligibility in 2025. Brown has played in 15 games the past two seasons (2023-24) for the Spartans, but was hampered by injuries last fall. Grant Calcagno (R-So.), Shawn Foster (R-So.) and Jack Yanachik (R-So.) will provide depth in the room, while Atticus Carridine (R-So.) made the position switch from quarterback to wide receiver in spring practice.
Michigan State has four true freshmen wide receivers on its roster. Braylon Collier and Charles Taplin were both early enrollees who competed in spring practice, while Nick Hardy and Bryson Williams joined the team over the summer.
The wide receivers are coached by former Spartan great Courtney Hawkins, who is in his sixth season on the MSU staff.Â
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Stanton Ramil (No. 65) looks to anchor the Spartan offensive line in 2025 as he enters his season season as a starter.
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OFFENSIVE LINE
â–ºPosition Coaches: Jim Michalczik (offensive line, second season), Jacob Lail (assistant offensive line, fourth season)
â–ºIncoming freshmen (4):
• #62 Justin Bell (6-6, 311, Macomb Township, Mich./Dakota) *early enrollee
• #50 Antonio Johnson (6-4, 307, Detroit, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's)
• #76 Drew Nichols (6-4, 281, Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley)
• #68 Rashawn Rogers (6-6, 335, Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa Hills)
â–ºLetterwinners lost (4):
• Brandon Baldwin (3L, 12 games/12 starts [3 at LT, 9 at RG])
• Dallas Fincher (3L, 12 games)
• Tanner Miller (1L, 12 games/12 starts at C)
• Luke Newman (1L, 12 games/12 starts at LG)Â
The Spartans brought in four experienced transfers to bolster the offensive line and position coach Jim Michalczik also welcomes back 13 players from last season in addition to four incoming freshmen.Â
All four of the transfers have starting experience, including left tackle Conner Moore, who earned second-team AP All-America honors last season while helping lead Montana State to the FCS National Championship game. Moore started 28 consecutive games for the Bobcats the past two seasons and has two seasons of eligibility remaining; he was ranked the No. 11 offensive tackle in the transfer portal by 247Sports and one of the top 100 transfers in the nation by ESPN.
Matt Gulbin, a graduate transfer from Wake Forest, played in 41 games for the Demon Deacons the past four seasons with 23 starts (22 at guard, one at center). He garnered honorable mention All-ACC accolades in 2024 after starting all 12 games and grading out as the No. 2 overall guard in the ACC by Pro Football Focus. Gulbin primarily took snaps at center during spring practice for the Spartans.
Caleb Carter, who is also a graduate transfer, played in 36 career games at Western Carolina from 2021-24. The versatile and experienced lineman played snaps at every position on the o-line for the Catamounts last year while starting 12 games.
Rounding out the transfer class is redshirt junior Luka Vincic from Oregon State, who played for Michalczik for two seasons in Corvallis (2022-23). Vincic played in 10 games for the Beavers in 2024, including two starts at center, and has two years of eligibility remaining. Â
Five players returning for the Spartans have starting experience. At tackle, redshirt junior Ashton Lepo started all 12 games on the right side of the line, while redshirt sophomore Stanton Ramil started eight games on the left side. In addition, MSU redshirted two talented freshmen tackles last season that still saw action: Rakeem Johnson played in four games, including a start at left tackle against Ohio State, and Rustin Young also played against the Buckeyes. Â
The Spartans suffered several injuries along the interior of the line last season, especially at right guard, as both Kristian Phillips (one start) and Gavin Broscious (two starts) were lost for the year after just the third week of the season. Both Phillips and Broscious will look to rebound and compete for playing time in the rotation this season.
Senior Jack Velling, who was named to the Mackey Award Watch List last season, headlines a deep group of tight ends coached by Brian Wozniak. Â
Velling caught a career-high 36 passes for 411 yards in his first season as a Spartan in 2024 after transferring from Oregon State. For his career, he has 81 receptions for 1,130 yards and 12 touchdowns in 35 collegiate games, including 28 starts.
Junior Brennan Parachek ranked second among the Spartan tight ends with eight receptions for 63 yards last season and has played in 20 games his first two seasons (2023-24) in East Lansing. Redshirt junior Michael Masunas was limited to four games after suffering an injury in Week 4, but he started the first four games and showed promise with four receptions for 37 yards. Redshirt junior Jay Coyne, who was used primarily as a fullback last season, also returns to the position room to help blocking for the Spartans' running game.
The Spartans signed one tight end in their 2025 recruiting class, Jayden Savoury.Â
MSU added one transfer following spring practice, bringing in redshirt junior Kai Rios from Indiana State. Rios had seven catches for 61 yards and one TD in 12 games of action in 2024, including seven starts.
