Mel Tucker’s Michigan State football team will hold its annual spring game on Saturday and these are the storylines Spartans fans should be keeping a close on.
This is a very important year for head coach Mel Tucker and the Michigan State football program.
Tucker arrived in East Lansing incredibly late last offseason by way of Colorado. He replaced the legendary Mark Dantonio who abruptly retired. Factor in a season undermined by COVID and the Spartans did not achieve all they wanted to in 2020. The good news is Tucker has had a full offseason to help bring his program along this time around. Their spring game will be on Saturday.
Michigan State football: 3 things to look out for in Spartans’ spring game
3. Look at how ripped the wide receiver corps is!
Even though Tucker is a defensive-minded head coach, what will help the Spartans achieve success this year on the gridiron will be in the passing game. With a quarterback battle brewing, it is even more important for the receiving corps to shine. Though it is just a scrimmage, wideouts like Jayden Reed and Jalen Nailor have hit the weight room hard to transform their bodies for a breakout season this fall.
2. Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker III gives the RB room some bite
Michigan State will also need balance offensively to sustain success in a strong Big Ten. One player who could be a huge boost for the Spartans’ ground game is Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker III. When Michigan State was at its best under Dantonio, the Spartans used the run to open up the pass. Look for Walker to be a vibrant part of the Michigan State offense this season.
1. The quarterback competition between Payton Thorne and Anthony Russo
All eyes will be on the pair of quarterbacks duking it out for a starting job. It looks to be between last year’s starter Payton Thorne and Temple transfer Anthony Russo. Thorne had his moments during the abrupt Big Ten season. Russo coming over from the Group of 5 will provide the competition necessary to bring the very best out of the Michigan State passing game in 2021.
Ultimately, there will plenty more things to keep an eye on in Michigan State’s spring game. This is the supposed “pop” year for Tucker. If the Spartans play up to their capabilities, they can achieve bowl eligibility and maybe make things difficult for their Big Ten East rivals. With the improved coaching across the division, there are no easy outs in the division any more and Tucker knows it.
It is still very early in the process, but 2021 has the feeling of a make-or-break year for Tucker.
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