Michigan State running backs: One thing I like, one thing I don’t

Michigan State soccer is simply days away from the beginning of summer time conditioning, and we’re simply over three months away from the Spartans’ season-opener towards Western Michigan.

As we gear up for 12 months 3 of the Mel Tucker period in East Lansing, Spartan Nation will likely be taking nearer appears to be like at each place group on the Spartans’ depth chart and stating one factor we like, one factor we do not and one thing to control.

Immediately, we take a look at the place group that has the most important sneakers to fill from the 2021 roster: Operating Again

One Factor I Like

Mel Tucker struck gold final offseason when he nabbed Kenneth Walker III out of the switch portal. Whereas that is not one thing one can count on to occur yr in and yr out, I do just like the additions that Michigan State added to its operating again room this offseason.

For my cash, I might guess on Colorado switch Jarek Broussard to be the starter and first ball-carrier for the Spartans in 2022. In two seasons with the Buffaloes, Broussard rushed for 1,556 yards on 298 carries (5.3 per carry) with seven touchdowns. He is a fluid runner who will get downhill and has good velocity. I am very desperate to see Broussard in a Michigan State uniform.

Likewise, the addition of Wisconsin switch Jalen Berger may be very intriguing. He is a former four-star recruit, and confirmed flashes of being the following good Badger tailback in 2020, earlier than he discovered himself buried on the depth chart and was finally dismissed from Wisconsin’s crew in 2021. There is definitely expertise to faucet into right here, however there have been additionally studies that Berger didn’t deal with dropping carries to his fellow Badger teammates very effectively in any respect. That is going to be one thing he’ll must have a greater mindset about in East Lansing. In two seasons in Madison, Berger carried the ball 84 instances for 389 yards and three touchdowns.

I count on these two guys to be the first ball-carriers for the Spartans this season, and I like their potential as a one-two punch.

Michigan State additionally has a wide range of different choices to serve in several roles within the backfield. The Spartans get redshirt senior Elijah Collins again, who had a breakout season in 2019 when he rushed for 988 yards on 222 carries and 5 touchdowns. Nevertheless, Collins struggled with harm every of the final two seasons. MSU additionally has a pair veterans who present depth in Jordon Simmons and Harold Joiner. There’s loads to love about this operating again room.

One Factor I Do not

Whereas Michigan State has good depth at tailback this season, I do not see a bonafide star within the Spartans backfield. That is what Kenneth Walker III was for MSU in 2022, and it was a serious motive why the Spartans had been capable of win 10 video games within the common season. Can Michigan State replicate that with out a man like Walker within the backfield this season?

The Spartans have a wealthy historical past of star tailbacks: Lorenzo White, LeVeon Bell, Javon Ringer, T.J. Duckett, Jeremy Langford and others.

Who is aware of? Possibly someone on this roster pops and has an excellent season. Heck, that is precisely what occurred final season with Walker. Nevertheless it’s onerous to strike gold like that in back-to-back seasons. If Michigan State would not have that run risk that each protection has to respect, that might put boundaries on how excessive the Spartans’ ceiling is on offense.

One Factor To Preserve An Eye On

Each head coach Mel Tucker and offensive coordinator Jay Johnson talked about redshirt freshman Davion Primm unprompted, by identify, this spring when speaking about gamers who had stood out in spring observe.

As a result of nature of Michigan State’s “spring recreation” in April, we did not get to see a lot of Primm ourselves, nevertheless it definitely raises eyebrows when the pinnacle coach and offensive coordinator point out a younger man on a number of events.

Given the depth at tailback, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how a lot Primm get on the sphere in 2022, and what areas the teaching workers desires to make use of the redshirt freshman. My finest guess could be as a possible pass-catcher out of the backfield, as Primm has good velocity an burst in open area. That is nonetheless a wait-and-see nevertheless, given how little we learn about Primm at this level.

In Case You Missed It

This text is a part of a collection inspecting each place group on Michigan State’s roster. You could find the opposite place teams that Spartan Nation has already lined right here: (Quarterbacks, Operating backs)

Twitter: @mlounsberry_SI