Michigan State is a third of the way through spring practice and is getting excited about the first year under new head coach Jonathan Smith.
There are so many things to do in East Lansing. The Spartans are coming off back-to-back losing seasons and have fallen short of bowl eligibility for the second year in a row. MSU had nearly 20 players enter the transfer portal this offseason, but Smith and his coaching staff were able to replenish the roster with several additional players through the portal as well.
On offense, two transfers, quarterback Aiden Chiles and tight end Jack Verring, are expected to be immediate contributors in East Lansing, and the Spartans have a talented returning senior, Nathan Carter. We have a running back. Still, in order to have a successful 2024 season, Michigan State will need multiple players to step up and play bigger roles than expected this season.
With that in mind, here are three potential breakouts for the Spartans' offense this fall.
1.) WR Nick Marsh (France)
Michigan State lost multiple wide receivers to the graduation and transfer portal in the offseason, opening up a great opportunity for true freshman Nick Marsh to make an immediate impact in his first season as a Spartan. Marsh, a former four-star recruit, is already one of MSU's biggest receiving targets at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds.
Marsh is a very good athlete who can win even 50-50 battles with his excellent physical ability and high scoring ability. The freshman's chances of becoming an immediate option will depend on how quickly he learns the technique and ability to block in the run game needed to be a wide receiver in college. You don't want to expect too much from a true freshman, but Michigan State doesn't have many players like Marsh.
2.) WR Jaron Glover (Republican)
Sticking to the wide receiver room, I see a potential breakout year for redshirt freshman Jaron Glover. The 6-foot-1, 209-pounder got his first real taste of college ball last season when he had 14 receptions for 261 total yards and led Michigan State with 18.6 yards per reception. . We could see those numbers improve significantly in 2024, and Glover could even emerge as the Spartans' top pass catcher this fall.
It will be interesting to see how MSU handles the wide receiver room this fall. Smith was the only member of former head coach Mel Tucker's staff to retain position coach Courtney Hawkins, but three of the 2023 team's top four receivers are no longer on the roster. Redshirt senior Montrey Foster, who led the Spartans in receptions, yards and touchdowns last season, is back, but the remaining two starting spots at receiver are open. My early choices are Grover and Marsh for those roles.
3.) TE Brennen Palaczek (So.)
As mentioned at the beginning, Belling will be Michigan State's top tight end in 2024. The rising junior had two outstanding seasons at Oregon State, earning second-team All-Star honors with 45 receptions for a total of 719 yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two years. -Won Pac-12 honors a year ago.
Understanding that, Michigan State will need more than just one tight end in the system Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren have in place in East Lansing. My fortune rests on sophomore Brennen Palaczek, the guy who spells Vering at tight end for the Spartans. The 6-foot-5, 254-pounder flourished a year ago, appearing in eight games and totaling six receptions for 55 yards. It's impressive that Palaczek was able to get on the field as a true freshman in a physical position like tight end, but it speaks to his unique physicality and level of talent. Palaczek will take on an additional role this season, providing MSU with good depth behind Veling.
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