2021 First Glance Preview: Week Seven (Michigan State Spartans)

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Image: Indiana University Athletics

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Matt Smith

Week 7 Michigan State Spartans

Date & Time: Saturday, October 16, 2021, Time: 12pm

Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN (Homecoming)

TV: TBD

Spartans at a glance

Head Coach: Mel Tucker
Entering his second year as Michigan State’s head coach, Overall Record: 2-5

Last Season, 2-5 (2-5) seventh in Big Ten East.

Spartans’ Returning Leaders

Passing: Payton Thorne (48-85 passing(56.5%), 582 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs)

Rushing: Connor Heyward (65 rushes, 200 yards, 3.1 YPCs, 0 TDs)

Receiving: Jalen Nailor (26 receptions, 515 yards, 4 TDs)

Tackles: Antjuan Simmons ( 75 tackles, 28 solo)

Spartans Preseason Predictions

Athlon: 7th in Big Ten East

Lindy’s: 7th in Big Ten East

Phil Steele: 7th in Big Ten East

Impact Newcomers for the Spartans

-QB Anthony Russo (Transfer from Temple)

-RB Kenneth Walker III (Transfer from Wake Forest)

-DT Drew Jordan (Transfer from Duke)

Biggest Questions facing the 2021 Spartans

  1. Who will get the start at Quarterback Week 1?

  2. How will Mel Tucker get his team to respond to a disappointing first year?

  3. How can Tucker fix the issues with the linebackers and secondary of the defense?

Program Preview

Mel Tucker is entering his second year as head coach of the Spartans following the retirement of long time head coach Mark Dantonio. Tucker was not the first choice for MSU, but he is determined to prove that he was the correct choice. Tucker was not dealt a good hand when he took over in February of 2021, due to the poor recruiting done by Dantonio in his final years as coach of the Spartans. The Spartans did not have a season that the fans are used to as they finished 2-5. Mel Tucker is rebuilding the Spartan squad and I’d expect for that to continue throughout the 2021 season. It will be another underwhelming season for the Spartans as Tucker will continue to try and build the program back to competing for a Big Ten title. 

Offensive Preview

The biggest question going into the 2021 season for the Spartans is who will be the starting quarterback for Week 1. Rocky Lombardi got the majority of the starts last season, but did not live up to expectations. This paved the way for the incumbent for the job, Payton Thorne, to take over. Thorne is expected to enter camp as the starter, but transfer Anthony Russo from Temple is expected to win the starting job by the end of camp. The Spartans are also excited for true freshman, Hampton Fay who many believe will take over the reins at some point.

One of the Spartans’ biggest strengths is their wide receiving core which is led by Jalen Nailor and Jayden Reed. Nailor has incredible speed while many people expect Reed to be playing on Sundays pretty soon. Tre Mosley and Ricky White are also two receivers in the room who showed flashes of greatness throughout the season last year.

The Spartans have a solid offensive line that will look to improve throughout the season this year. Also, the running back position is always something that the Spartans’ have excelled at. This year the Spartans’ will look to Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker III, and still have a solid group in the room from the 2020 season.

Defensive Preview

Last season Tucker brought a 4-2-5 defense to East Lansing which was a big change for the program. MSU will return 10 starters to the defense from last year. The Spartans’ strongest part of their defense is their line, Jacob Panasuik was a standout at end last season and will look to continue his high level play coming into the 2021 season. Tucker added a key addition to the line in Drew Jordan who came over as a graduate transfer from Duke.

The weakest part of the Spartans’ defense last year and coming into this year is the two players at the linebacker position. Tucker lost four of his linebackers from during his tenure as head coach already, but made up for it with some key transfers from around the big ten. Itayvion Brown came over from Minnesota and Ben VanSumeren came over from Ann Arbor. 

The Spartans’ secondary is vulnerable. Some bright spots in the secondary is Kalon Gervin, who is improving a lot and looking to take a big leap coming into this season. At the safety position, Xavier Henderson and Michael Dowell both have experience. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans’ have the talent, but the question is will it all come together and will the Spartans gain an identity on this side of the ball?

Special Teams Preview

With the defense still rebuilding, the Spartans will need all the points they can get on the offensive and special team side of the ball. Matt Coghlin is returning for the Spartans which is a big plus as he has lots of trust from his teammates as well as coaches to make the big time kicks. 

Other than Coghlin, the special teams for the Spartans is one big question mark as Tucker has a lot of speed for returners, but the concern is still there. Going into camp, the Spartans will look to improve this part of their game.