Michigan State Hosts Richmond Saturday in First-Ever Meeting Between Schools

Game 2: Michigan State (1-0) vs. Richmond (0-1)

►THE BASICS
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Kickoff: 3:40 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass

►GAME DAY INFORMATION
Game Day Information (Parking/Tailgating/Timeline): msuspartans.com/gameday
Please note that beginning this Saturday, Sept. 9, Michigan State University is introducing walk-through metal detectors at Spartan Stadium. This new addition adds to the university's already-existing expansive safety and security portfolio. Guests are encouraged to arrive at Spartan Stadium early to expedite their entry. When entering the stadium, guests will not have to initially remove items from their pockets unless the metal detector alarms. In this case, guests will be checked individually with a security wand. For more information, please visit dpps.msu.edu

Parking: Lots open at 7 a.m.

Game Day Updates: Fans can sign up to receive game day updates from MSU Police and Public Safety this season by texting SPARTANFB23 to 888777. Updates will include safety information, potential game delays, traffic suggestions, etc.

Promotions: Big Ten Network will be hosting its B1G Tailgate show from Munn Field from 10 a.m. to noon.

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: Big Ten Network
Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Dannie Rogers (analyst)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com |  Live Stats

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines: Jehuu Caulcrick
Broadcast Host: Will Tieman
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/MSU Spartans app/Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 24 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: Sirius/XM (Ch. 98/195), SiriusXM app (Ch. 957)
Pregame Show: Begins at 2 p.m.

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: First meeting

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 19-14 (fourth year)
Overall Record: 24-21 (fifth year)
Record vs. Richmond: First meeting

Richmond Head Coach: Russ Huesman
Richmond Record: 33-30 (seventh year)
Overall Record: 92-67 (15th year)
Record vs. MSU: First meeting

►FIRST-AND-10
• Fresh off a season-opening win over Central Michigan last Friday in Spartan Stadium, Michigan State hosts Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 3:40 p.m. in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst) and Dannie Rogers (sidelines) on the call. In addition, the B1G Tailgate show, featuring host Mike Hall and analyst Tyvis Powell, will be on campus at Munn Field and will air on the Big Ten Network from 10 a.m. to noon.

• MSU began its 127th season of football with a 31-7 victory over Central Michigan on Sept. 1 in East Lansing, while Richmond fell to Morgan State at home, 17-10, in its season opener last Saturday night. The Spiders finished the 2022 season ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Coaches Poll after reaching the second round of the FCS playoffs, closing the year with a 9-4 overall record. Richmond won the 2008 FCS National Championship, has won 12 conference titles, and has been to the NCAA Playoffs 11 times.

• Saturday's game marks the eighth time Michigan State will be playing an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision. MSU is 7-0 all-time against FCS opponents, with its last victory arriving in 2021, a 42-14 win over Youngstown State.

• Making his first career start at quarterback, redshirt junior Noah Kim was 18-of-31 passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns against Central Michigan, all career highs. After a slow start in the first quarter, Kim was 9-of-16 passing for 147 yards in the second quarter, and was 8-of-10 for 134 yards and two TDs in the second half. After redshirting in 2020 and not seeing game action in 2021, Kim was 14-of-19 passing for 174 yards and three TDs last season.

• Redshirt junior linebacker Cal Haladay, who led the Big Ten in tackles per game (10.0) last season, was back at it again in the season opener against Central Michigan, leading the Spartans with 10 tackles, including one for a 1-yard loss. He also recorded the third interception of his career with a pick in the third quarter. Haladay was named to preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.

• Making his Spartan debut, redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter rushed 18 times for 113 yards and one touchdown vs. Central Michigan. A transfer from UConn, Carter took his first carry as a Spartan on the first play from scrimmage and raced 31 yards for the longest rush of the game by any player. He scored his first TD in the Green and White on a 2-yard run late in the second quarter. Carter became the third consecutive Spartan transfer to start in the season opener and rush for more than 100 yards (Kenneth Walker III, 264 vs. Northwestern in 2021; Jalen Berger, 120 vs. Western Michigan in 2022).

• Michigan State featured five first-time starters in the season opener against CMU, including four on offense (QB Noah Kim, RB Nathan Carter, C Dallas Fincher, TE Evan Morris) and one on defense (S Malik Spencer). The Spartans also started a new placekicker (Jonathan Kim) and punter (Ryan Eckley).

• Michigan State added 18 transfers to its 2023 roster. Here's a breakdown of the incoming transfers by conference/division:

   • Big Ten (4): WR Alante Brown-Nebraska; TE Jaylan Franklin-Wisconsin; DB Semar Melvin-Wisconsin; P Michael O'Shaughnessy-Ohio State
   • Independent (3): LB Aaron Alexander-Massachusetts; DL Dre Butler-Liberty; RB Nathan Carter-Connecticut
   • ACC (2): DL Jarrett Jackson-Florida State; K Jonathan Kim-North Carolina
   • AAC (2): RB Jaren Mangham-USF; DB Armorion Smith-Cincinnati
   • SEC (1): DL Tunmise Adeleye-Texas A&M
   • Pac-12 (1): DL Jalen Sami-Colorado
   • Mountain West (1): TE Tyneil Hopper-Boise State
   • FCS (1): TE Ademola Faleye-Norfolk State
   • Junior college (2): OL Keyshawn Blackstock Sr.-Coffeyville Community College; LS Drew Wilson-Long Beach City College
   • NAIA (1): LB James Burbar-Madonna

• This season marks the 100th anniversary of Spartan Stadium, which hosted its first game on Oct. 6, 1923. Michigan State Athletics will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Spartan Stadium throughout the fall. A special logo was created for the 100-year anniversary, which incorporates elements from the structure of Spartan Stadium and also pays homage to MSU's six national championships in football. Michigan State began playing at the present site of Spartan Stadium with four home games in 1923. A series of projects paralleling the Spartans' rise to national football prominence enlarged the steel-and-concrete facility from its original 13,064 seats in 1923 to its present size of nearly 75,000. MSU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Spartan Stadium (all-time record: 384-166-13, .694). For more information, please visit msuspartans.com/SpartanStadium100.

• Mel Tucker, the 2021 Big Ten Coach of the Year, is in his fourth season in East Lansing at the helm of the Spartans. In just his second year in East Lansing in 2021, Mel Tucker led MSU to an 11-2 record, a Top 10 ranking, and a win in the New Year's Six with a victory over ACC Champion and No. 12 Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Tucker was named a finalist for National Coach of the Year by multiple organizations, including the American Football Coaches Association, the Paul Bear Bryant Awards, the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club. He was also named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media and the AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. Tucker is 19-14 overall with the Spartans.

Tyrell Henry TD catch vs CMU — **Tyrell Henry made an impressive one-handed leaping grab in the end zone during the fourth quarter of Michigan State's 31-7 win over CMU.**

LAST TIME OUT: MICHIGAN STATE 31, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 7

SERIES/TEAM
• Michigan State opened the 2023 season with a 31-7 victory over Central Michigan last Friday in Spartan Stadium . . . MSU leads the all-time series against Central Michigan, 9-3, including an 8-3 mark in East Lansing . . . the Spartans have won five straight over the Chippewas.

• Michigan State improved to 9-0 in Friday night games since 2011 and 11-0 overall in Friday night games during that same time span. All of those games were in season openers for the Spartans.

• Michigan State is 87-37-3 (.697) all-time in season openers, including a 22-3 record (.880) in its last 25 games. In addition, the Spartans are 105-22 (.827) all-time in home openers, including victories in 24 of the past 25 years. MSU has won 23 consecutive home openers against nonconference opponents, dating back to 1998.

• MSU head coach Mel Tucker is 3-1 in season openers and 3-1 in home openers at MSU . . . Tucker is 4-1 in night games at Spartan Stadium . . . MSU is 20-7 overall in night games at Spartan Stadium.

OFFENSE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim made the first start of his Spartan career in just his fifth career game . . . Kim finished 18-of-31 for 279 yards and two TDs, while rushing three times, all new career highs . . . Kim's previous career-bests were six completions (done twice), 10 attempts, 82 yards, one passing TD (done three times) and one rushing attempt.

• Kim rallied from a 1-for-5 start in the first quarter by completing 9-of-16 in the second quarter, before going 8-for-10 with two TDs in the second half, completing 4-of-5 in both the third and fourth frames, with two TDs in the fourth quarter.

• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter made his Spartan debut, rushing 18 times for 113 yards and one TD, coming on a 2-yard plunge late in the second quarter to give MSU a 10-7 lead going into halftime, an advantage it didn't relinquish the rest of the game . . . Carter's one rushing TD tied his career high for the fourth time, doing so three times during his UConn career . . . Carter also had one catch for 21 yards Friday night . . . Carter is the third consecutive Spartan transfer to start and rush for more than 100 yards in the season opener (Kenneth Walker III, Jalen Berger) . . . it marked Carter's fifth career 100-yard rushing game.

• Redshirt junior running back Jalen Berger scored a 12-yard rushing TD in the third quarter, as part of finishing the night with eight carries for 24 yards . . . it marked the second straight season opener that Berger scored a rushing TD . . . it also marked the fourth straight season that Berger has scored a rushing TD in his first action of the season of his collegiate career as he also scored a TD in his first action in both 2020 (vs. Michigan) and 2021 (vs. Eastern Michigan) during his time at Wisconsin.

• Berger also shared the team lead with four catches for 30 yards, with 26 yards after the catch . . . the four receptions and 30 yards were both second-most in his Spartan career behind five catches (at Penn State, 11/26/22) and 38 yards (at Washington, 9/17/22).

• Redshirt freshman Jaron Glover, playing in just his second collegiate game, had three catches for 75 yards, all coming on the same drive late in the second quarter on MSU's TD drive before halftime and all three going for first downs . . . Glover made his first catch with a 10-yard reception on the first play of the Spartan drive that started at their own 16 with 1:45 left before half . . . later on a third-and-3 from the MSU 33, Glover caught a 32-yard pass from Kim to the CMU 35 and good for another Spartan first down, and two plays later, caught a 33-yarder down to the CMU 2 and MSU scored on Carter's 2-yard rush on the next play for a 10-7 lead at halftime, an advantage the Spartans wouldn't relinquish the rest of the game.

• Sophomore wide receiver Tyrell Henry scored his first career touchdown on a leaping, one-handed grab in the end zone in the fourth quarter for a 10-yard TD . . . Henry had two catches overall for 25 yards.

• Redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr also made a leaping catch in the end zone in the fourth quarter for his third career touchdown reception.

DEFENSE
• Redshirt junior linebacker Cal Haladay led the Spartans with 10 tackles, marking his 12th career game with double-figure tackles . . . he recorded the third interception of his career with a pick in the third quarter and also had a 1-yard tackle for loss.

• Making his first career start at safety, sophomore Malik Spencer recorded a career-high nine tackles, including a 1-yard tackle for loss.

• Michigan State recorded 10 tackles for loss and three sacks in the game. The Spartans also had five pass break-ups and one interception.

• The Spartans held Central Michigan to just 219 yards of total offense (96 passing, 123 rushing), the fewest by any opponent against MSU in the Mel Tucker era (previous: 225 by Akron in 2022).

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Jonathan Kim kicked a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter, his first career collegiate field goal . . . Kim is a graduate transfer from North Carolina.

• Tyrell Henry had six punt returns for 55 yards and one kickoff for 26 yards . . . he finished with 106 all-purpose yards.

• In his first appearance as the starting punter, redshirt freshman Ryan Eckley averaged 43.0 yards per punt (three punts for 129 yards), including a long of 47 yards and one inside the 20 . . . graduate senior Michael O'Shaughnessy also punted twice for 68 yards (34.0 avg.), including one inside the 20.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Nathan Carter (18 carries for 113 yards, 6.3 avg., 1 TD)
Passing – R-Jr. Noah Kim (18-of-31, .581, 279 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs)
Receiving – R-Jr. RB Jalen Berger (4 catches for 30 yards, 7.5 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – R-Jr. LB Cal Haladay (10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT)

Richmond:
Rushing – R-So. QB Kyle Wickersham (21 carries for 39 yards, 1.9 avg., 1 TD)
Passing – R-So. Kyle Wickersham (23-of-30, .767, 169 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – R-Jr. Nick DeGennaro (6 catches for 46 yards, 7.7 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – R-Sr. LB Tristan Wheeler (17 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT RICHMOND (0-1)
• The Spiders opened the 2023 season with a 17-10 loss to Morgan State at home last Saturday night, for Richmond's first home opening loss on at Robins Stadium, which opened in 2010 and snapping the Spiders' 17-game home-opener winning streak dating back to 2006.

• Richmond entered the 2023 season ranked in both national NCAA FCS polls in the preseason, opening at No. 16 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the Stats Perform Poll. The Spiders finished the 2022 season ranked 11th in the season-ending Stats Perform FCS Media Poll and 16th in the AFCA Coaches Poll, advancing to the second round of the FCS Playoffs before falling to No. 2 seed Sacramento State in a hard-fought back-and-forth battle, 38-31. Richmond finished with a 9-4 record in 2022, going 6-2 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) action to finish third in the league.

• Richmond's 2022 overall record of 9-4 was its best in head coach Russ Huesman's six seasons leading the Spiders. Huesman has a 33-30 record at Richmond as part of a 92-67 overall record in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach.

• In Saturday night's loss to Morgan State, Richmond had 264 yards of total offense, with 169 yards passing and 95 yards rushing. The Spiders had one rushing TD but had four turnovers, getting intercepted once, while losing all three of their fumbles. Richmond was also flagged for seven penalties for 45 yards, and was just 3-for-12 on third-down conversions.

• The Spider defense yielded 213 yards of total offense to Morgan State, with 114 yards rushing and 99 yards passing, on 7-of-13 passing without a TD. Richmond tallied three takeaways, recovering two fumbles and snaring one interception.

• The Spiders took the opening kickoff and scampered down the field behind redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Wickersham in his first career start, who rushed seven times during Richmond's 12 plays, the last coming on a 1-yard rush up the middle and into the end zone for a TD. The ensuing PAT gave the Spiders a 7-0 lead. However, Morgan State countered with a TD drive of its own on its first possession to tie it up at 7-all midway through the opening quarter.

• That remained the score into halftime and through most of the third quarter, until Richmond redshirt junior placekicker Andrew Lopez split the uprights on a 28-yard field goal for a 10-7 Spider advantage. That would be Richmond's last lead of the night at Morgan State tied it up on a 38-yard field goal at the 10:39 mark of the third quarter and scored what proved to be the winning TD with a 10-yard rush with 6:24 left.

• Richmond's defense stopped Morgan State and forced them to punt with just over two minutes to go, but muffed the punt return and Morgan State recovered at the Richmond 34. Morgan State nearly ran out the clock, before turning it over on downs with :01 on the clock. Wickersham connected with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Ja'Vion Griffin for 32 yards but he was tackled at the Morgan State 44 to end the game.

• Wickersham finished the game 23-of-30 passing for 169 yards, getting intercepted once and was sacked five times. The 32-yard pass to Griffin on the final play of the game was Wickersham's longest pass play of the night, as well as the longest offensive play of the game for either team.

• Wickersham also led Richmond in rushing with 21 carries for 39 yards and the lone TD on the opening drive of the game. Redshirt senior running back Savon Smith added 10 carries for 30 yards

• Redshirt junior wide receiver Nick DeGennaro had six catches for 46 yards, while redshirt freshman wide receiver Quanye Veney had five receptions for 24 yards. Smith added five catches for 12 yards, while Griffin finished with three receptions for 42 yards, boosted by the 32-yarder on the final play.

• Redshirt senior linebacker Tristan Wheeler spearheaded the Spider defense with a game-high 17 tackles, with 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. The 17 tackles ranked third-most in the FCS in a game so far this season.

• Redshirt senior defensive lineman Marlem Louis had four tackles, with half of them going for 2.0 TFL, with one being a sack, in addition to forcing and recovering a fumble on a sack-fumble, which set up the Spiders at the Morgan 29 for a drive the resulted in a field goal. Louis also had a QB hurry that forced an interception.

• Fellow redshirt senior defensive lineman Aidan Murray matched Louis with four tackles, with 1.5 TFL and 1.0 sack, part of the Richmond defense's 10.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.

• Lopez finished just 1-for-3 on field goals, missing a 44-yarder and having a 52-yarder blocked, both in the second quarter, before his 28-yarder in the third frame.

• Senior punter Aaron Trusler punted five times for a 39.0 ypp average with a long of 43-yards, with two inside the 20.

• Smith had two punt returns for 13 yards with a long of 15 yards. Graduate senior running back Milan Howard had two kick returns for 22 yards, while Wheeler added one kick return for 12 yards.

• Redshirt freshman placekicker Will McManus had three kickoffs for a 51.3 ypk average and did not have any touchbacks.

►MSU/RICHMOND SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game between Michigan State and Richmond marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

• Saturday's game marks the eighth time Michigan State will be playing an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision. MSU is 7-0 all-time against FCS opponents, with its last victory arriving in 2021, a 42-14 win over Youngstown State.

Noah Kim vs CMU — **In his first career start, Noah Kim was 18-of-31 passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns.**

A LOOK AT THE SPARTAN OFFENSE

►QUARTERBACKS
• #12 Katin Houser (R-Fr., 6-3, 215, Anaheim, Calif./St. John Bosco)
(1 game, 0-of-1 passing (.000), 0 yards)

• #10 Noah Kim (1L, R-Jr., 6-2, 185, Centreville, Va./Westfield)
(1 game/1 start, 18-of-31 passing (.581), 279 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs)

• #4 Sam Leavitt (Fr., 6-2, 200, West Linn, Ore., West Linn)

• #18 Andrew Schorfhaar (R-Jr., 6-2, 190, DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt)

• Making his first career start at quarterback, redshirt junior Noah Kim was 18-of-31 passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns against Central Michigan, all career highs. After a slow start in the first quarter, Kim was 9-of-16 passing for 147 yards in the second quarter, and was 8-of-10 for 134 yards and two TDs in the second half. After redshirting in 2020 and not seeing game action in 2021, Kim was 14-of-19 passing for 174 yards and three TDs last season.

• In four games of action off the bench last season, Kim was very efficient, completing 74 percent of his passes (14-of-19) for 174 yards and three touchdowns. During his two Big Ten games, Kim was 6-of-7 passing for 70 yards against Minnesota, including a 27-yard touchdown, and was 6-of-10 for 82 yards and a 25-yard TD vs. Ohio State. He has also shown the ability to move the chains with his legs, bringing an added dimension to the Spartan offense.

• Redshirt freshman Katin Houser, a highly touted four-star quarterback and Elite 11 finalist who enrolled early in January 2022, has also impressed the coaching staff with his arm talent over the past year. He took reps with the offense during practices last season, but still preserved his redshirt season after making just one appearance in Week 2 in his collegiate debut vs. Akron.

• The Spartans also welcomed in four-star quarterback Sam Leavitt, the 2022 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year, to the program this summer after he signed a National Letter of Intent in December. Leavitt threw 82 career touchdown passes in high school and closed his prep career by passing for 36 TDs and 3,065 yards in addition to rushing for 693 yards and eight scores as a senior.

• Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson is in his fourth season with the Spartans.

**Nathan Carter rushed for 113 yards in his Spartan debut last Friday night against Central Michigan**.

►RUNNING BACKS
• #3 Jaelon Barbarin (Fr., 5-9, 185, Simi Valley, Calif./Chaminade)

• #8 Jalen Berger (1L, R-Jr., 6-1, 215, Newark, N.J./Wisconsin)
(1 game, 8 carries, 24 yards, 3.0 avg., 1 TD; 4 receptions, 30 yards)

• #5 Nathan Carter (R-So., 5-10, 200, Rochester, N.Y./Connecticut)
(1 game/1 start, 18 carries, 113 yards, 6.3 avg., 1 TD)

• #1 Jaren Mangham (Gr.-5, 6-2, 235, Detroit, Mich./USF)
(DNP vs. Central Michigan)

• #25 Joseph Martinez (R-Jr., 5-9, 200, Holt, Mich./Holt)

• #24 Davion Primm (R-So., 6-0, 205, Detroit, Mich./Oak Park)

• #22 Jordon Simmons (3L, Sr., 5-11, 195, Marietta, Ga./McEachern)
(1 games, 1 carry, -1 yard, -1.0 avg.)

• Making his Spartan debut, redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter rushed 18 times for 113 yards and one touchdown vs. Central Michigan. A transfer from UConn, Carter took his first carry as a Spartan on the first play from scrimmage and raced 31 yards for the longest rush of the game by any player. He scored his first TD in the Green and White on a 2-yard run late in the second quarter. Carter became the third consecutive Spartan transfer to start in the season opener and rush for more than 100 yards (Kenneth Walker III, 264 vs. Northwestern in 2021; Jalen Berger, 120 vs. Western Michigan in 2022).

• Carter still has three seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in only four games last season for the Huskies before suffering a season-ending injury. He rushed for 983 yards on 190 carries with three TDs in two seasons (2021-22) at UConn, including a team-leading 578 yards as a freshman in 2021. He was averaging more than 100 yards rushing a game last year (101.3 ypg), highlighted by a career-high 190 yards in the season opener vs. Utah State, before his injury in Week 4.

• Jalen Berger (R-Jr.), who posted career highs in rushing yards (683), carries (148) and rushing TDs (6) while starting 11 of 12 games last season after transferring from Wisconsin, had 24 yards on eight carries with one TD for 12 yards vs. Central Michigan in the season opener. Berger rushed for more than 100 yards in his first two games wearing the Green and White in 2022 (career-high 120 vs. Western Michigan; 107 vs. Akron) and also had a Big Ten-best 119 yards vs. Indiana; in addition, he caught 19 passes out of the backfield for 128 yards.

• Jaren Mangham (USF), who joined the team in January and competed during spring practice, did not play in the season opener due to an injury. Mangham, brother of current Spartan sophomore defensive back Jaden Mangham, played two years at Colorado (2019-20) and two at USF (2021-22) prior to arriving in East Lansing as a graduate transfer. He has collected 1,251 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 32 collegiate games (16 at Colorado; 16 at USF). Mangham had a career-high 671 yards and 15 rushing TDs as a junior at USF in 2021 to lead the Bulls.

• Effrem Reed is in his second season as the running backs coach for MSU.

**Sophomore Tyrell Henry had 106 all-purpose yards for Michigan State in Week 1 against Central Michigan.**

►WIDE RECEIVERS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #0 Alante Brown (Sr., 5-11, 190, Chicago, Ill./Nebraska)
(1 game, 0 catches, 0 yards, 0.0 avg)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 220, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(1 game, 2 catches, 70 yards, 35.0 avg.)

• #83 Montorie Foster Jr. (2L, Sr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(1 game/1 start, 1 catch, 7 yards, 7.0 avg.)

• #7 Antonio Gates Jr. (R-Fr., 6-2, 195, Detroit, Mich./Fordson)
(1 game, 0 catches, 0 yards, 0.0 avg.)

• #15 Jaron Glover (R-Fr., 6-1, 205, Sarasota, Fla./Riverview)
(1 game, 3 catches, 75 yards, 25.0 avg.)

• #2 Tyrell Henry (So., 6-0, 175, Roseville, Mich./Roseville)
(1 game, 2 catches, 25 yards, 12.5 avg., 1 TD)

• #17 Tre Mosley (3L, Gr.-5, 6-2, 200, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(1 game/1 start, 3 catches, 39 yards, 13.0 avg.)

• Michigan State has a group of talented young wide receivers that will look to have increased roles in the offense in 2023, but the unit will be led by fifth-year graduate senior Tre Mosley, who has played in 37 games, including 22 starting assignments, over the past five seasons (2019-23). Mosley has given the Spartans steady production over the course of his time in East Lansing with 101 career receptions for 1,215 yards and eight touchdowns in his career. Last season, he matched his career high with 35 receptions for 359 yards and had a career-best four touchdown catches. In addition to his play on the field, Mosley's leadership will be counted on to mentor the wide receiver room.

• Senior Montorie Foster Jr. also has starting experience and will look to increase his production after battling an injury last season. A three-year letterwinner, Foster has played in 31 career games and has 20 receptions for 269 yards. He played in 13 games with three starts during the 2021 season and had a career-high 12 catches for 164 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown catch vs. Maryland.

• Two-year letterwinner Christian Fitzpatrick (R-Jr.), who missed the final seven games of last season due to an injury, is back for the Spartans after competing in spring practice. After playing in a reserve role the past two seasons, Fitzpatrick, a former Louisville transfer, will look to contribute more to the offense in his third season at MSU. He had two catches for 70 yards, including a game-long 72-yard reception, in the season opener vs. CMU.

• Sophomore Tyrell Henry, who earned a letter as a true freshman returning kicks in 2022, will look to have an expanded role in the offense this fall, along with redshirt freshmen Antonio Gates Jr. and Jaron Glover. The young trio all showed promising signs during spring practice and continued to work on their development in preseason camp heading into the season. All three saw significant playing time in the season opener vs. Central Michigan, as Henry made a leaping one-handed grab for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Glover had three catches for a team-high 75 yards, and Gates drew a key pass interference penalty that led to a Spartan TD.

• The Spartans also added transfer Alante Brown from Nebraska over the summer. Brown played three seasons (2020-22) with the Huskers, collecting 22 receptions for 262 yards in 30 games. He posted career highs in catches (16) and yards (191) last season while playing in all 12 games, including 10 starts. His speed and versatility will give the Spartans another option in the passing game in 2023.

• Former Spartan Courtney Hawkins is in his fourth year on the offensive staff as the wide receivers coach.

J.D. Duplain vs CMU — **Fifth-year senior J.D. Duplain has started 31 consecutive games at left guard for the Spartans.**

►OFFENSIVE LINE

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #53 Brandon Baldwin (1L, R-Jr., 6-7, 315, Detroit, Mich./Independence CC, 1 game/1 start at LT)

• #54 Keyshawn Blackstock Sr. (Jr., 6-5, 310, Covington, Ga./Coffeyville CC, 1 game)

• #77 Ethan Boyd (1L, R-So., 6-7, 320, East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing, 1 game)

• #58 Spencer Brown (2L, Gr.-5, 6-6, 315, Canton, Mich./Walled Lake Western, 1 game/1 starts at RT)

• #57 Evan Brunning (1L, Gr.-5, 6-5, 305, Oxford, Mich./Oxford, 1 game)

• #67 J.D. Duplain (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 1 game/1 start at LG)

• #72 Dallas Fincher (1L, R-Jr., 6-4, 305, Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood, 1 game/1 start at C)

• #66 Ashton Lepo (R-Fr., 6-7, 310, Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven, 1 game)

• #71 Kristian Phillips (R-Fr., 6-4, 315, Conyers, Ga./Salem, 1 game)

• #59 Nick Samac (4L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 1 game)

• #74 Geno VanDeMark (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Lodi, N.J./St. Joseph, 1 game/1 start at RG)

• #70 Kevin Wigenton II (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Colts Neck, N.J./The Hun School, 1 game)

• Michigan State returns five players with starting experience on the offensive line, led by multi-year fifth-year senior starters J.D. Duplain and Nick Samac, who are both using their extra year of eligibility in 2023.

• Duplain has been an anchor at left guard for the Spartans, starting 31 consecutive games at the position, and the four-year letterwinner has a started a total of 36 games in his career while playing in 43 overall. He has earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades the past two seasons and returns for another year as a leader on the offensive line in 2023.

• Samac, who was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, started all 12 games at center last fall and has 22 starts overall in his career while playing in a total 39 games the past four seasons. He played a career-high 803 snaps in 2022, most on the Spartan offense, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.

• Graduate fifth-year senior Spencer Brown also started all 12 games last season at right tackle and has a streak of 14 consecutive starts at the position.

• Redshirt junior Brandon Baldwin took over the starting role at left tackle the final four games of the 2022 season and gained valuable experience while playing a total of 405 offensive snaps. It was Baldwin's first season playing at the FBS level after redshirting in 2021 following two years at Independence Community College. He started at left tackle in the season opener to run his streak to five straight starts at the position.

• Redshirt sophomore Geno VanDeMark earned starting assignments at right guard the last two games of the season and will look to have an increased role on the offensive line heading into his third season in East Lansing. He earned the start in the season opener vs. Central Michigan.

• Redshirt sophomores Ethan Boyd and Kevin Wigenton II also earned their first letters as Spartans last year and will likely see time in the playing rotation.

• Keyshawn Blackstock Sr., who was ranked the top junior college interior offensive lineman in the nation, arrived to campus in January and will also see time in the rotation.

• Assistant head coach Chris Kapilovic is in his fourth season as MSU's offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Kapilovic's unit in 2021 was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the nation's best offensive line.

►TIGHT ENDS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #6 Maliq Carr (2L, R-Jr., 6-6, 260, Inkster, Mich./Purdue)
(1 game/1 start, 1 catch, 8 yards, 8.0 avg., 1 TD)

• #92 Evan Morris (2L, R-Jr., 6-5, 245, Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie)
(1 game/1 start, 1 catch, 4 yards, 4.0 avg.)

• #19 Jaylan Franklin (Gr.-6, 6-5, 240, Brownstown Township, Mich./Wisconsin)
(1 game)

• #23 Tyneil Hopper (Gr.-6, 6-3, 245, Roswell, Ga./Boise State)
(1 game)

• Michigan State has a full tight end room under fourth-year coach Ted Gilmore with nine players at the position, including redshirt junior Maliq Carr, who is looking to have a breakout season in 2023 after showing his potential the past two seasons. Carr ranked second among the Spartan tight ends last season with career highs in receptions (16) and receiving yards (206) to go along with two touchdowns. After playing basketball during the winter of 2021-22, Carr had a full offseason with the team and should see his production increase following the graduated departures of last year's starters Daniel Barker and Tyler Hunt. Carr earned the start in the season opener vs. Central Michigan and had an 8-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter.

• MSU also brought in three transfers at tight end in January who competed during spring practice: Ademola Faleye (Jr., Norfolk State), Jaylan Franklin (Gr.-6, Wisconsin) and Tyneil Hopper (Gr.-6, Boise State). Faleye has two seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in 20 games for Norfolk State in 2021-22, while Franklin and Hopper are graduate transfers in their final season of eligibility. Hopper's experience at the line of scrimmage (more than 1,100 snaps on offense in 45 games with the Broncos) should help the Spartans in the running game, and he also caught 22 passes for 259 yards and two TDs with the Broncos. Both Franklin and Hopper played in the season opener vs. CMU.

• In addition, redshirt senior Evan Morris will be relied upon his blocking skills, and he earned a start in the season opener against the Chippewas while also recording his first career reception (4 yards).

Zion Young vs CMU — **Sophomore Zion Young had a 9-yard tackle for loss in Week 1 against Central Michigan.**

A LOOK AT THE SPARTAN DEFENSE

►DEFENSIVE LINE

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #52 Tunmise Adeleye (R-So., 6-4, 290, Katy, Texas/Texas A&M)
(1 game, 2 tackles, 0.5 TFLs for 2 yards)

• #8 Simeon Barrow Jr. (2L, R-Jr., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(1 game/1 start, 2 tackles, 1 TFL for 7 yards, 1 sack for 7 yards)

• #2 Khris Bogle (1L, R-Sr., 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Florida)
(1 game/1 start, 3 tackles, 0.5 TFLs for 1 yard)

• #45 Dre Butler (Gr.-5, 6-5, 300, Covington, Ga./Liberty)
(1 game, 3 tackles, 0.5 TFLs for 1 yard)

• #98 Avery Dunn (1L, R-So., 6-4, 250, Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights)
(1 game, 2 tackles)

• #97 Maverick Hansen (3L, R-Sr., 6-4, 300, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison)
(1 game)

• #41 Derrick Harmon (1L, R-So., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(1 game/1 start)

• #75 Ben Nelson (R-Fr., 6-7, 315, Holland, Mich./Holland Christian)
(1 game)

• #99 Jalen Sami (Gr.-6, 6-7, 330, Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado)
(1 game, 1 tackle)

• #32 James Schott (R-Fr., 6-4, 235, Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove)
(1 game, 1 tackle)

• #44 Ken Talley (R-Fr., 6-3, 245, Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast)
(1 game)

• #55 Jalen Thompson (Fr., 6-3, 260, Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech)
(1 game)

• #26 Brandon Wright (4L, R-Sr., 6-2, 250, Euclid, Ohio/Euclid)
(1 game, 1 tackle)

• #9 Zion Young (1L, So., 6-6, 265, Atlanta, Ga./Westlake)
(1 game/1 start, 4 tackles, 1 TFL for 9 yards)

• Michigan State returns plenty of depth and experience along the defensive line this season, in addition to welcoming in four highly touted transfers (Tunmise Adeleye from Texas A&M, Dre Butler from Liberty, Jarrett Jackson from Florida State and Jalen Sami from Colorado) and three top-200 recruits (Andrew Depaepe, Bai Jobe, Jalen Thompson).

• Diron Reynolds, who was named the program's defensive line coach in January, got his first on-field look at the position group during spring practice. Reynolds has more than 25 years of coaching experience both at the NFL and Power 5 levels and previously spent the past seven seasons (2016-22) as the defensive line coach at Stanford. He has coached on multiple championship teams, including winning a Super Bowl ring with the Colts, and has worked with numerous All-Americans, NFL Draft picks and All-Pro players.

• Along the interior, three Spartans return with starting experience, led by redshirt junior Simeon Barrow Jr. Barrow started 10 games at defensive tackle last season and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades while recording career highs in tackles (40), tackles for loss (9.0 for 28 yards) and sacks (4.0 for 21 years). He also led the defense with 28 total quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, ranking fourth most in the Big Ten. Barrow has started 22 career games for the Spartans.

• Redshirt senior Maverick Hansen collected a career-high 41 tackles in 12 games last season, including two starting assignments, and has played in 32 career games. Redshirt sophomore Derrick Harmon started five games in 2022 and registered 30 stops, including three TFLs and two sacks; he also earned the start in the season opener.

• Incoming graduate transfers Dre Butler (Liberty), Jarrett Jackson (Florida State) and Nolan Sami (Colorado) will bolster the Spartan interior with more than 85 combined games at the FBS level. Butler, who originally enrolled at Independence Community College out of high school, played two seasons at Auburn (2020-21) and one at Liberty (2022) before graduating and attending MSU in January. Jackson is also a graduate transfer who joined the program in January after playing one season at Louisville (2018) and three at Florida State (2020-22). Sami arrived at MSU in the summer after playing in 40 career games for the Buffaloes, including 32 starting assignments at defensive tackle, the past four seasons (2019-22). He played for MSU head coach Mel Tucker at CU during the 2019 season.

• Due to a rash of injuries, the Spartans started nine different players at defensive end last season. Four of those players – Khris Bogle (R-Sr.), Avery Dunn (R-Jr.), Brandon Wright (R-Sr.) and Zion Young (So.) – are back this season on the edge. Bogle, a Florida transfer and former top-100 recruit, only played in the first four games last season after suffering a season-ending injury vs. Minnesota in Week 4, but returned to action in a starting assignment vs. Central Michigan in Week 1. Dunn saw his playing time increase toward the end of last season with starts against Rutgers and Indiana, and he recorded career highs in tackles (28), tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3.0) to earn his first letter. In his second full season at defensive end after spending time as a running back his first two years in East Lansing, Wright played in eight games with two starts, including a career-high 14 tackles. Young appeared in eight games as a true freshman, including two starts, and posted 21 stops with two tackles for loss; he started in Week 1 vs. Central Michigan at defensive end.

• Tunmise Adeleye, a top-40 recruit in the Class of 2021 out of Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas, enrolled in January after spending two seasons at Texas A&M and will look to make an immediate impact on the Spartan pass rush. Adeleye was named the No. 53 player in the transfer portal by The Athletic heading into the 2023 season. He recorded two tackles and a half tackle for loss in his Spartan debut vs. Central Michigan.

• The Spartans also signed three highly ranked players at defensive end as part of their 2023 recruiting class. Bai Jobe, the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma, played in the All-American Bowl and was ranked the No. 54 overall player in the nation according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Andrew Depaepe, a consensus top-150 recruit from Bettendorf, Iowa, also enrolled in January for the Spartans. Jalen Thompson, a four-star prospect from Detroit Cass Tech and the consensus No. 1 defensive end in the state of Michigan, joined the Spartans over the summer.

Cal Haladay vs CMU — **Cal Haladay, a Butkus Award candidate, led Michigan State with 10 tackles and an interception in the season opener against Central Michigan.**

►LINEBACKERS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #33 Aaron Alexander (R-Fr., 6-1, 225, Belleville, Mich./Massachusetts)
(1 game)

• #7 Aaron Brule (1L, Gr.-6, 6-2, 240, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(1 game, 3 tackles, 1 TFL for 5 yards, 1 sack for 5 yards)

• #35 Sam Edwards (1L, R-Jr., 6-1, 225, Williamston, Mich./Lansing Catholic)
(1 game)

• #27 Cal Haladay (2L, R-Jr., 6-1, 235, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(1 game/1 start, 10 tackles, 1 TFL for 1 yard, 1 INT for 2 yards)

• #5 Jordan Hall (Fr., 6-3, 235, Fredericksburg, Va./IMG Academy)
(1 game, 1 tackle)

• #4 Jacoby Windmon (1L, Sr.-5, 6-2, 250, New Orleans, La./UNLV)
(1 game/1 start, 8 tackles, 1 TFL for 8 yards, 1 sack for 8 yards)

• The linebackers, coached by fourth-year Secchia Family Defensive Coordinator Scottie Hazelton, are loaded with experience as Aaron Brule and Jacoby Windmon both elected to come back to Michigan State in 2023 to use their extra year of eligibility.

• Redshirt junior linebacker Cal Haladay, who led the Big Ten in tackles per game (10.0) last season, was back at it again in the season opener against Central Michigan, leading the Spartans with 10 tackles, including one for a 1-yard loss. He also recorded the third interception of his career with a pick in the third quarter. Haladay was named to preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.

• Windmon, who transferred to MSU from UNLV in 2022, burst onto the scene with four sacks in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan to earn Big Ten and National Defensive Player of the Week honors. He became the first Spartan and just the sixth Big Ten player to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades three times in one season (vs. Western Michigan, Akron and Wisconsin), and he was also named the National Defensive Player of the Week in his first start at linebacker vs. Wisconsin in Week 7 after starting the first six games at defensive end. The New Orleans native, who led the team in TFLs (10.5) and sacks (5.5) and ranked first in the nation with six forced fumbles, returned to his natural position of linebacker in the spring and earned the start in Week 1 vs. Central Michigan.

• Brule, a graduate transfer from Mississippi State who also arrived on campus last year with Windmon, saw his playing time increase as the season progressed and he ended up ranking second on the team in sacks (4.0 for 32 yards) and third in tackles for loss (6.5 for 41 yards). He registered 30 tackles while playing all 12 games, including two starting assignments. Brule had three tackles and a 5-yard sack in Week 1 vs. CMU.

• Redshirt junior Darius Snow, who began last season at linebacker after playing in the secondary his first two seasons, unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 vs. Western Michigan. He will look to bounce back this season after a promising sophomore year in 2021 in which he ranked third on the team and 18th in the Big Ten with 87 tackles.

• Sixth-year senior Harold Joiner III, a converted running back, practiced at safety toward the end of last season and played exclusively at his new position in the spring. He moved to linebacker during the onset of preseason camp. Joiner missed the season opener with an injury.

• Incoming four-star freshman Jordan Hall, the only three-time captain in IMG Academy history, enrolled in January and made an early impact during spring practice for the Spartans. He recorded a solo tackle in his Spartan debut vs. Central Michigan in Week 1.

►SECONDARY

Players who have seen game action in 2023:
• #0 Charles Brantley (2L, Jr., 6-0, 170, Sarasota, Fla./Venice)
(1 game/1 start, 4 tackles, 1 TFL for 3 yards, 1 PBU)

• #15 Angelo Grose (3L, Sr., 5-10, 185, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield)
(1 game/1 start, 6 tackles, 1 TFL for 5 yards, 2 PBUs)

• #12 Chester Kimbrough (2L, R-Sr., 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La./Florida)
(1 game, 4 tackles)

• #29 Marqui Lowery Jr. (2L, R-Jr., 6-0, 175, Charlotte, N.C./Louisville)
(1 game, 1 tackle)

• #1 Jaden Mangham (1L, So., 6-2, 185, Beverly Hills, Mich./Wylie E. Groves)
(1 game/1 start, 6 tackles)

• #25 Chance Rucker (Fr., 6-1, 180, Denton, Texas/Ryan)
(1 game)

• #19 Armorion Smith (R-So., 6-1, 205, Detroit, Mich./Cincinnati)
(1 game, 1 tackle)

• #43 Malik Spencer (So., 6-1, 195, Buford, Ga./Buford)
(1 game/1 start, 9 tackles, 1 TFL for 1 yards)

• #21 Dillon Tatum (So., 5-11, 200, Farmington Hills, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(1 game/1 start, 5 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 2 yards, 1 PBU)

• #20 Ade Willie (1L, So., 6-1, 190, Sarasota, Fla./IMG Academy)
(1 game)

• Former Spartan All-American and NFL veteran Harlon Barnett is in 15th year overall on the defensive coaching staff at Michigan State, his fourth under head coach Mel Tucker, and will coach the secondary for MSU.

• The Spartans feature a number of promising players in the secondary and also return starters with multiple years of experience in addition to bolstering their depth through the transfer portal.

• At cornerback, Charles Brantley (Jr.) took over a full-time starting role during his second season in East Lansing and led the team with six pass break-ups to go along with 48 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one interception in 11 starts. The two-year letterwinner has started in 13 of his 20 collegiate games and has 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions in his career.

• Senior Angelo Grose has started games at both safety and nickelback the past three seasons and has played in 29 games overall since his arrival on campus in 2020, including 26 starts. The three-year letterwinner has 165 tackles with six tackles for loss, 15 pass break-ups and one interception during his collegiate career.

• Sophomores Dillon Tatum (12 games), Jaden Mangham (8 games), Ade Willie (6 games) and Malik Spencer (5 games) all gained valuable experience during their true freshmen season in 2022 and will look to have an even greater impact in the secondary in 2023.

• Redshirt seniors Chester Kimbrough and Justin White each started games at nickelback for the Spartans last year and are back to compete for a starting role this season. Marqui Lowery Jr. (R-Jr.) also has starting experience at cornerback.

• MSU is also adding two transfers to the secondary in 2023, both with playing experience: Semar Melvin, a redshirt senior from Wisconsin, enrolled in January, while Armorion Smith (Cincinnati) joined the team in the summer. Melvin played in 23 games for the Badgers (2019-22) and Smith appeared in 12 games for the Bearcats last season.

• The Spartans signed four defensive backs to National Letters of Intent for the Class of 2023: Sean Brown, Philipp Davis, Eddie Pleasant III and Chance Rucker. Rucker saw brief action in Week 1 vs. Central Michigan.

A LOOK AT SPARTAN SPECIAL TEAMS

Players who have seen game action in 2023:

Punters:
• #96 P Ryan Eckley (R-Fr., 6-2, 205, Lithia, Fla./Newsome, 1 game, 1 punt for 41 yards)
(1 game, 3 punts for 129 yards, 43.0 avg., 1 inside the 20, 1 touchback)

• #42 P Michael O'Shaughnessy (Gr.-5, 6-3, 210, New Albany, Ohio/Ohio State)
(1 game, 2 punts for 68 yards, 34.0 avg., 1 inside the 20)

Long Snapper:
• #31 LS Hank Pepper (2L, Jr., 6-2, 210, Chandler, Ariz./Chandler, 1 game)

Placekickers:
• #97 K Jonathan Kim (Gr.-5, 6-0, 225, Fredericksburg, Va./North Carolina)
(1 game, 3-for-3 PATs, 1-for-1 FGs, 5 kickoffs for 301 yarsd, 60.2 avg., 3 touchbacks)

• #98 K Stephen Rusnak (R-So., 6-1, 190, Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston)
(1 game, 1-for-1 PATs, 1 kickoff for 65 yards, 65.0 avg.)

• Michigan State will have a new look in the specialists room as the team will have a new starting kicker and punter for the 2023 season.

• First-team All-American Bryce Baringer, who set a school record with his 49.0-yard average and was drafted by the New England Patriots, is gone for the Spartans at punter. Redshirt freshman Ryan Eckley began the process to replace Baringer during spring practice, and he was joined by graduate transfer Michael O'Shaughnessy (Ohio State) in preseason camp.

• The Spartans, who used multiple placekickers in 2022, brought in graduate transfer Jonathan Kim from North Carolina over the summer. Redshirt sophomore Stephen Rusnak will also compete for the position and kicked for the Spartans during the spring. Rusnak earned a letter as a freshman in 2021 while converting 4-of-5 PATs and averaging 57.0 yards on kickoffs.

• Junior Hank Pepper returns as the starting long snapper for the Spartans.

• Ross Els in his his fourth year as the program's special teams coordinator.

►A LOOK AT THE 2023 SCHEDULE
• Michigan State opens the 2023 season with three nonconference games – all in Spartan Stadium – against Central Michigan (Sept. 1), Richmond (Sept. 9) and Washington (Sept. 16).

• In the season opener, MSU beat Central Michigan, 31-7, on Friday, Sept. 1 in Spartan Stadium.

• The meeting against the Spiders at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 will be the first-ever matchup between MSU and Richmond. MSU is 7-0 all-time against FCS opponents. Richmond went 9-4 in 2022 and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

• Washington travels to East Lansing to complete the home-and-home series with the Spartans after MSU went to Seattle in 2022. The Huskies lead the all-time series, 3-1. MSU's only win in the series was the first meeting, a 27-11 win at Spartan Stadium in the 1969 season opener. The game will start at 5 p.m. and will be streamed exclusively on Peacock.

• MSU will open the Big Ten season with Homecoming against Maryland on Sept. 23 at 3:30 p.m., giving the Spartans four consecutive home games to start the season, a first since 2017.

• The Spartans will then travel to Iowa (Sept. 30, TBA) and Rutgers (Oct. 14, 12 p.m.) before hosting Michigan on Oct. 21. Michigan State returns to the road on Oct. 28 at Minnesota.

• In November, Nebraska travels to East Lansing on Nov. 4 prior to a two-game road stretch for the Spartans at Ohio State (Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock) and Indiana (Nov. 18, TBA).

• MSU will close out the regular season against Penn State on Friday, Nov. 24 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on NBC/Peacock. It marks the second-ever game for MSU at Ford Field (2011 vs. Florida Atlantic).

Football Uniforms 2023

►SPARTANS UNVEIL NEW NIKE UNIFORM DESIGN FOR 2023
• The Michigan State football program has unveiled new uniforms, designed by Nike, for the 2023 season. Members of the 2023 team received the first glimpse of the new uniforms, along with new helmets, at a program event – "Thy Shadows" – Friday, July 28 at the Pasant Theatre inside the Wharton Center on campus.

• The uniforms are part of the Field Utility Special Edition by Nike Vapor F.U.S.E., which combines leading edge fabric technology with a precision fit. It is the first football uniform to meet Nike Dri-FIT standards.

• The new helmet design features the "Spartan Pattern" down the middle while keeping the traditional Spartan logo on the sides. The Spartan Pattern, which was inspired by a traditional Greek key pattern, was designed in 2010 to strengthen the connection to the school's Greek history and nickname.

• The Green and White uniforms also feature the Spartan Pattern along the neckline and on the shoulder pads, while keeping the primary "Michigan State" wordmark across the front which has been used since 2010. The Spartan Pattern is also used down the side of the pants.

• MSU introduced the "Shadows" uniform as well over the summer, featuring a black chrome helmet along with black jerseys and pants. The numerals are in white, outlined by green, and feature the green Spartan Pattern along the neckline, shoulder pads and pants.

►MICHIGAN STATE CELEBRATING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SPARTAN STADIUM IN 2023
• This season marks the 100th anniversary of Spartan Stadium, which hosted its first game on Oct. 6, 1923. Michigan State Athletics will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Spartan Stadium throughout the fall. For more information, please visit msuspartans.com/SpartanStadium100.

• A special logo was created for the 100-year anniversary, which incorporates elements from the structure of Spartan Stadium and also pays homage to MSU's six national championships in football.

• Michigan State began playing at the present site of Spartan Stadium with four home games in 1923. A series of projects paralleling the Spartans' rise to national football prominence enlarged the steel-and-concrete facility from its original 13,064 seats in 1923 to its present size of nearly 75,000.

• MSU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Spartan Stadium (all-time record: 384-166-13, .694).

• A new era of Spartan football began in 2020 as Mel Tucker started his head coaching tenure in East Lansing. Tucker, a 27-year coaching veteran with championship experience, was named Michigan State University's 25th head football coach on Feb. 12 following Mark Dantonio's retirement on Feb. 4.

►MICHIGAN STATE ONE OF THE WINNINGEST FBS PROGRAMS IN HISTORY
• Michigan State is one of 33 programs in the FBS to win more than 700 games. The Spartans currently rank No. 27 all-time with 727 victories (all-time record: 727-479-44, .599). Michigan State is in its 127th season of football in 2023.

►ALL IN THE FAMILY
• Michigan State has a deep family legacy on the 2023 roster, from siblings to fathers to relatives. In fact, four players and two staff members have direct family connections who played Spartan football, or are alumni of the program.

Legacy: Charles Brantley (cousin Herb Haygood); Dallas Fincher (father Mark); Darius Snow (uncle Percy), Geno VanDeMark (grandfather Allan).

Siblings: Jaren/Jaden Mangham

Alumni: DB coach Harlon Barnett (CB from 1986-89), WR coach Courtney Hawkins (WR from 1988-91)

►SPARTANS BOAST 17 GRADUATES ON 2023 ROSTER
• Michigan State has 17 graduates on its 2023 roster:

Spencer Brown – Bachelor's degree in advertising management in May 2022
Aaron Brule – Bachelor's degree from Mississippi State in interdisciplinary studies in December 2021 (graduate transfer)
Evan Brunning – Bachelor's degree in hospitality business in May 2023
Dre Butler – Bachelor's degree from Liberty in December 2022 (graduate transfer)
J.D. Duplain – Bachelor's degree in communication in May 2023
Jaylan Franklin – Bachelor's degree from Wisconsin in retail and consumer behavior in December 2022 (graduate transfer)
Tyneil Hopper – Bachelor's degree in business administration from Boise State in December 2022 (graduate transfer)
Jarrett Jackson – Bachelor's degree from Florida State in December 2022 (graduate transfer)
Jonathan Kim – Bachelor's degree from North Carolina in May 2023 (graduate transfer)
Jaren Mangham – Bachelor's degree from South Florida in December 2022 (graduate transfer)
Evan Morris – Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies-social science education in May 2022
Jackson Morse – Bachelor's degree in accounting in May 2023
Tre Mosley – Bachelor's degree in advertising management in December 2022
Michael O'Shaughnessy – Bachelor's degree from Ohio State in consumer and family financial services in May 2023 (graduate transfer)
Nick Samac – Bachelor's degree in communication in December 2022
Jalen Sami – Bachelor's degree from Colorado in ethnic studies in August 2022 (graduate transfer)
Darius Snow – Bachelor's degree in graphic design in May 2023

►TWO FOOTBALL PLAYERS INDUCTED IN MSU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME IN 2023
• Among the nine inductees for the 2023 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class, two are football players: Al Dorow and Javon Ringer.

ALBERT DOROW | Football (1948-51) | Quarterbacks Coach (1965-70) | Imlay City, Mich.
• Led Spartans to a 17-1 record as a two-year starting quarterback, including a 9-0 mark and the school's first National Championship in 1951 while earning first-team All-America honors
• Named United Press International Midwest Back of the Week for his performance in a 35-0 win over No. 11 Notre Dame on Nov. 10, 1951
• Finished career as Michigan State's all-time leader in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes
• Named MVP of the 1952 Senior Bowl and also played in the 1952 East-West Shrine Game and College All-Star Game
• Third-round NFL Draft pick played seven seasons in the NFL/AFL, including two Pro Bowl appearances, and two seasons in the CFL
-Played football at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., and was voted top player in the Air Force Service in 1954

JAVON RINGER | Football (2005-08) | Dayton, Ohio
• Finished career ranked No. 1 in school history in all-purpose yards (5,426), No. 2 in rushing yards (4,398), carries (843) and 100-yard rushing games (19), and No. 5 in total touchdowns (35) and rushing touchdowns (34)
• 2008 consensus first-team All-American and Doak Walker Award finalist led nation in scoring (10.2 ppg) and carries (390) while ranking fourth in rushing (125.9 ypg)
• Two-time All-Big Ten selection (first team in 2008; second team in 2007)
• Two-time team MVP (2007, 2008) and 2008 team captain
• One of only two Spartans in school history to lead team in rushing four consecutive seasons (2005-08)
• Set a school record with 22 rushing touchdowns in 2008; his 390 carries rank second most in an MSU season and his 1,637 rushing yards rank third most
• Became first offensive player in Big Ten history to earn Player of the Week honors three consecutive weeks (2008)