Can some playmakers emerge in 2024?
Our position group previews move on to the offensive skilled positions, beginning with the wide receivers.
Returning Players: Alante Brown, Antonio Gates Jr., Montorie Foster Jr., Jaron Glover, Jaelen Smith, Aziah Johnson, Jack Yanachik, Zach Gillespie, Grant Calcagno
Departed Players: Tyrell Henry, Sebastion Brown, Christian Fitzpatrick, Tre Mosley, Aubrey Dawkins, Nick Hunter
Transfers In: NONE
Recruits In: Nick Marsh, Jaylan Brown, Dyson Sims, Austin Clay
The Spartans return 9 players from last year’s receiving corps while losing 6 to eligibility or transfer. Four recruits join the roster while no one comes in via the transfer portal.
This may ultimately prove to be a talented group but there is not a lot of experience, production, or depth at this position. Gone from the 2023 squad are Tre Mosley (eligibility) and transfers Tyrell Henry (Wisconsin) and Christian Fitzpatrick (Marshall). This trio accounted for 70 receptions and over 700 yards in 2023.
Montorie Foster Jr. has proved to be the most productive of the returners with 838 receiving yards in 42 games with the Spartans and is expected to lead this group in 2024. After Foster, Jaron Glover, Antonio Gates Jr., and Alante Brown have all seen game action at MSU but will need to be much bigger contributors in 2024 if the offense is to be successful.
Gates, the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Gates Sr., briefly entered the transfer portal after spring practice before deciding to remain at MSU. He played in all 12 games last year recording five catches for 82 yards, including one TD. Brown, a Nebraska transfer, has recorded only 3 catches for 27 yards as a Spartan. Glover started 4 games last year, catching 14 passes for 261 yards before missing the last three games due to injury.
Smith, Johnson, Yanachik, and Calcagno all redshirted last year while Zach Gillespie hasn’t seen any game action in the Green and White. Someone from this group, as well as the incoming recruiting class, may need to step up to provide some depth.
Fortunately, there is a lot of buzz and hope among the recruits, led by Nick Marsh, a 4-star recruit and the highest rated among the Spartans ‘24 class. Marsh went through spring practice with MSU and receivers coach Courtney Hawkins has high praise for his ability in practice.
Marsh pledged to the Spartans in July ‘22 before decommitting in March ‘23. But he recommitted in July of ‘23 and stayed true to the Spartans through the coaching change. This, along with his high ceiling, have probably made Marsh a fan favorite at MSU before he’s even played a down.
Jaylan Brown and Austin Clay were both 3-star recruits who may have to get a look, especially if injuries strike the rest of the group.
As far as the depth chart, it seems like Foster Jr. is the only sure first stringer on the roster while Glover, Brown, Gates Jr., and Marsh will all fight for spots with the ones. This should still leave open some opportunities for the redshirt and true freshmen to crack the playing rotation.
There are many questions with this MSU football team but some of the biggest may be with the receivers. How much of an impact will Marsh have as a true freshman? Will any other young players emerge? Can this group avoid the injury bug? How much of a jump can Glover, Brown, and Gates Jr. make in Coach Jonathan Smith’s system? I think one thing that will be different this year, at least compared to the last two years, is the coaching staff evaluating talent and coming up with schemes that put players in a position to be successful, as Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren did at Oregon State. Then it’s up to the players to make the plays.
18 days until kickoff!