Michigan State football has two new assistant coaches, adding a defensive coach and quarterbacks coach under head coach Jonathan Smith.

The Spartans on Monday announced the hiring of James Adams from Wake Forest to work with their safeties. He will take over that position from secondary coach Blue Adams (no relation), who will assume former assistant Demetrice Martin’s role overseeing cornerbacks.

The school also confirmed Jon Boyer will is leaving Oregon State to coach MSU’s quarterbacks. Spartans offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren was responsible for the quarterbacks last season.

James Adams is a 16-year coaching veteran and Wake Forest alum who has been at his alma mater since 2022 under since-retired coach Dave Clawson. Adams began his career as a graduate assistant in 2009 with the Demon Deacons after winning two letters as a linebacker in 2005-06. He served as associate head coach and safeties coach with Wake Forest last season, and also has made stops at Purdue (2021), Navy (2020), Western Michigan (2019), Charlotte (2011-18) and Wofford (2010).

“James stood out during the interview process as someone who would be a great fit for our staff,” Smith said in a statement. “He has extensive experience coaching defensive backs and has been held in high regard on previous staffs with additional responsibilities as assistant and associate head coach.”

Martin, a former MSU star player and Los Angeles native, left his post as cornerbacks coach to take a similar role at UCLA, where he will be pass game coordinator and oversee the secondary. Martin worked under Blue Adams in his lone season returning to the Spartans after spending 14 seasons coaching on the West Coast.

Boyer moved to tight ends coach last season with the Beavers after Smith and the bulk of his staff left for MSU. Boyer spent the previous six seasons as the Beavers’ quality control coach and senior advisor on offense after serving as offensive coordinator at his alma mater Northern Colorado of the Football Championship Subdivision from 2012-17. Boyer was the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2000-01, then stayed there from 2002-05 and coached quarterbacks in 2004-05 before becoming offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa from 2007-10.

“In having worked with Jon for several years at Oregon State, he has a thorough knowledge of our offensive scheme and what we’re trying to accomplish on that side of the ball,” Smith said in a statement. “He has strong relationships with our staff, and has done a great job throughout his career of developing and working with quarterbacks.”

As an understudy to Lindgren at Oregon State, Boyer worked with former Beavers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei as well as Aidan Chiles in 2023. Chiles returns in 2025 for his second season as the MSU starter.

That brings Smith’s coaching staff to 11 assistants, one more than the previous limit. The NCAA lifted those limitations in June, permitting any staff member to provide on-field coaching, but only 10 assistants and the head coach are permitted to actively recruit off campus.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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Associated Press

Michigan Wolverines (11-3, 3-0 Big Ten) at UCLA Bruins (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten)

Los Angeles; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Michigan visits No. 15 UCLA after Danny Wolf scored 21 points in Michigan’s 85-74 victory against the USC Trojans.

The Bruins have gone 8-0 in home games. UCLA is 10-2 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 11.1 turnovers per game.

The Wolverines are 3-0 against Big Ten opponents. Michigan has a 2-3 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

UCLA’s average of 7.4 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.5 more made shots on average than the 6.9 per game Michigan gives up. Michigan averages 24.9 more points per game (84.1) than UCLA gives up (59.2).

The Bruins and Wolverines face off Tuesday for the first time in conference play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Bilodeau is scoring 14.5 points per game with 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Bruins.

Vladislav Goldin is averaging 13.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for the Wolverines.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 8-2, averaging 75.9 points, 29.4 rebounds, 16.7 assists, 8.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 62.2 points per game.

Wolverines: 8-2, averaging 83.6 points, 36.3 rebounds, 17.0 assists, 6.2 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.4 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Sunday was supposed to be rookie Blake Corum’s chance to step into a featured role in the Los Angeles Rams backfield.

But the former Michigan running back didn’t get much of an opportunity, suffering a fractured forearm in the second quarter of a 30-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed the injury after the game.

“He’s a tough, resilient guy,” McVay said. “He’s going to be a really good player for us for a long time, but he will miss the postseason.”

With the Rams having already clinched the NFC West crown entering Sunday, they rested No. 1 running back Kyren Williams, paving the way for Corum to handle a larger workload in the team’s regular-season finale.

Michigan’s all-time rushing touchdowns leader received just two carries for 10 yards and one catch for 12 yards before exiting. The 2024 third-round pick was on the sideline in the second half wearing a sling, finishing the year with 58 carries for 207 yards and seven receptions for 58 yards.

The Rams will host the loser of the Lions and Vikings’ Sunday night matchup in next week’s Wild Card round.

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