(Photo Credit: Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
WR/PR Jalen Nailor, WR/KR Jayden Reed, OC Matt Allen, OG J.D. Duplain, OG Kevin Jarvis, OT A.J. Arcuri, DE Drew Beesley, DE Jacub Panasiuk, LB Noah Harvey, LB Chase Kline, CB Kalon Gervin, NB Michael Dowell, FS Angelo Grose, SS Xavier Henderson, PK Matt Coghlin, and PT Bryce Baringer.
Key Players Departing:
QB Rocky Lombardi, OT Cole Chewins, DE Naquan Jones, DT Mike Panasiuk, LB Antjuan Simmons, CB Shakur Brown, and CB Tre Person.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: LB Ma’a Gaoteote (Las Vegas, Nevada), WR Maliq Carr (Purdue transfer), and CB Ronald Williams (Alabama transfer).
3 Star Recruits: WR Keon Coleman (Opelousas, Louisiana), OG Geno VanDeMark (Montvale, New Jersey), CB Charles Brantley (Venice, Florida), LB Ben VanSumeren (Michigan transfer), S A.J. Kirk (Akron, Ohio), OT Ethan Boyd (East Lansing, Michigan), and DT Tyson Watson (Warren, Michigan).
2020 Results:
G01 RUTGERS L 27-38
G02 at #13 Michigan W 27-24
G03 at Iowa L 7-49
G04 #10 INDIANA L 0-24
G05 #8 NORTHWESTERN W 29-20
G06 #4 OHIO STATE L 12-52
G07 at Penn State L 24-39
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 2-5 (7th in Big Ten East)
Home: 1-3
Away: 1-2
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 2-5
Non-B10: 0-0
Head Coach: Mel Tucker
Michigan State: 2-5
Career: 7-12
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Payton Thorne (48-85, 582 yards, 56.5%, 6.8 avg., 3 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Jordan Simmons (56 car., 219 yards, 3.9 avg., 0 TD)
Receiving: Jayden Reed (33 rec., 407 yards, 12.3 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Jalen Nailor (4)
Sacks: Drew Beesley/Michael Fletcher (3)
Tackles: Noah Harvery (54)
Tackles For Loss: Drew Beesley (5.5)
Interceptions: None
Pass Deflections: Kalon Gervin (4)
Forced Fumbles: Chase Kline (2)
Kick Returns: Jaylen Reed (16 ret., 329 yards, 20.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Jalen Nailor (2 ret., 18 yards, 9.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Matt Coghlin (9-12 fg/fga., 75%, 13-13 xp/xpa., 40 pts.)
Punting: Bryce Baringer (37 punts, 1613 yards, 43.6 avg., 9 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 15 Anthony Russo (GR/TR)
RB: 9 Kenneth Walker (RS JR/TR)
WR: 1 Jayden Reed (RS JR)
WR: 8 Jalen Nailor (RS JR)
WR: 7 Ricky White (RS FR)
TE: 97 Tyler Hunt (RS SR)
LT: 79 Jarrett Horst (RS JR/TR)
LG: 67 J.D. Duplain (JR)
OC: 59 Nick Samac (JR)
RG: 75 Kevin Jarvis (RS SR)
RT: 76 A.J. Arcuri (GR)
KR: 1 Jayden Reed (RS JR)
PK: 4 Matt Coghlin (GR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 96 Jacub Panasiuk (RS SR)
DT: 64 Jacob Slade (RS JR)
DT: 99 Jalen Hunt (RS SO)
DE: 86 Drew Beesley (GR)
LB: 6 Quavaris Crouch (JR/TR)
LB: 45 Noah Harvey (RS SR)
NB: 7 Michael Dowell (RS JR)
CB: 1 Ronald Williams (SR/TR)
CB: 18 Kalon Gervin (RS JR)
FS: 15 Angelo Grose (SO)
SS: 3 Xavier Henderson (SR)
PR: 1 Jayden Reed (RS JR)
PT: 99 Bryce Baringer (RS SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/03 at Northwestern Wildcats | Michigan State leads the series 40-19. The Spartans are 4-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (19-29) was in 2018.
09/11 YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS | Michigan State leads the series 2-0. The Spartans won (55-17) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
09/18 at Miami (FL) Hurricanes | Michigan State trails the series 0-4. The Spartans lost (20-26) the last meeting between schools in 1989.
09/25 NEBRASKA CORHUSKERS | Michigan State trails the series 2-9. The Spartans are 2-4 since 2011, and they lost (6-9) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/02 WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS | First meeting between schools.
10/09 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Michigan State leads the series 8-4. The Spartans are 6-1 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (27-0) was in 2019.
10/16 at Indiana Hoosiers | Michigan State leads the series 49-16-2. The Spartans are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series win (40-31) was in 2019.
10/30 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | Michigan State trails the series 37-71-5. The Spartans are 5-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (10-44) was in 2019.
11/06 at Purdue Boilermakers | Michigan State leads the series 37-27-3. The Spartans won (23-13) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
11/13 MARYLAND TERRAPINS | Michigan State leads the series 9-2. The Spartans are 5-1 since renewing the series in 2014, and they won (19-16) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/20 at Ohio State Buckeyes | Michigan State trails the series 15-34. The Spartans are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series win (17-14) was in 2015.
11/27 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS | The series is tied 17-17-1. The Spartans are 4-3 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (21-17) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Road: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 6-3
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 8-4 (2nd in Big Ten East)
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