Game 12: Michigan State (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) at No. 11 Penn State (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: University Park, Pa.
Stadium: Beaver Stadium (106,572)
Surface: Natural Grass
Live Stats: Click here: Live Stats

TV: FS1
Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines: Jehuu Caulcrick
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. 102/107), SiriusXM app (Ch. 983)
Pregame Show: Begins at 2:30 p.m.

All-Time Series: MSU leads, 18-17-1
Series at Penn State: PSU leads, 11-7-1
Last Meeting: MSU 30, PSU 27 (2021)
Current Series Streak: 1 by MSU (2021)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 18-13 (third year)
Overall Record: 23-20 (fourth year)
Record vs. PSU: 1-1

Penn State Head Coach: James Franklin
PSU Record: 76-36 (ninth year)
Overall Record: 100-51 (12th year)
Record vs. MSU: 3-5



►FIRST-AND-10
• Michigan State will look to win its sixth game of the season and become bowl eligible as it takes on No. 11 Penn State in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. in Beaver Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1 with Noah Eagle (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) on the call. The Spartans (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) fell in double overtime at home last Saturday to Indiana, 39-31, while the Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) won their third straight with a 55-10 win at Rutgers. PSU is ranked 11th in both the College Football Playoff rankings and AP Poll, and 10th in the AFCA Coaches USA TODAY Sports Poll.

• Saturday's game marks the 37th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans have won six of the last nine meetings against the Nittany Lions and own a slim 18-17-1 lead in the all-time series.  MSU head coach Mel Tucker is 1-1 against Penn State, including a 30-27 win over the Nittany Lions last season in the snow at Spartan Stadium. Although Penn State leads the series in University Park, 11-7-1, MSU has won three of the last five matchups at Beaver Stadium.  

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land-Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855: Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 16-10, but the Spartans have won six of the last nine.

• With the win at No. 14 Illinois on Nov. 5, Tucker became the first FBS coach with four wins against AP ranked opponents on the road over the past four years (at MSU: 2022 vs. No. 14 Illinois; 2021 vs. No. 24 Miami; 2020 vs. No. 13 Michigan; at Colorado: 2019 vs. No. 24 Arizona State). Tucker is 8-7 overall against AP Top 25 teams (6-5 at MSU).

• Redshirt sophomore linebacker Cal Haladay ranks tied for first in the Big Ten and No. 13 in the FBS with 9.9 tackles per game (109 overall). He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row after recording a career-high 19 tackles in the win over Rutgers on Nov. 19, the most by a Big Ten player this season. A product of Elysburg, Pennsylvania, Haladay became just the second Spartan to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks. In the win at No. 16 Illinois on Nov. 5, Haladay posted nine tackles, including a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss (10 yards). Haladay's 109 tackles are the most by a Spartan since Max Bullough in 2012 (111).

• Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman ranks among the Big Ten leaders in touchdown catches (tied for fourth with seven), receiving yards (fifth with 707; 64.3 ypg) and receptions (tied for ninth with 50; 4.5 pg). Coleman recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the season with eight catches for 107 yards, including a 2-yard TD, vs. Indiana on Nov. 19. He had a career-high 155 receiving yards on just five catches at No. 4 Michigan on Oct. 29. According to Pro Football Focus, Coleman has 12 catches downfield of 20-plus yards, which leads the Big Ten and ranks tied for eighth in the FBS; in addition, his five TD catches downfield of 20-plus yards are most in the conference and tied for eighth in the FBS.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne, who has started 25 consecutive games for the Spartans, is 218-of-344 passing (.634) for 2,450 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 18 passing touchdowns, including 10 of 25-plus yards. According to Pro Football Focus, Thorne has thrown nine TDs downfield for 20-plus yards (tied for first in the Big Ten and tied for 15th in the FBS). Thorne surpassed the 6,000-yard passing milestone in the Indiana game and is now fifth in Michigan State history with 6,265 career passing yards. Thorne is also fourth in MSU history in career touchdown passes (48), tied for sixth in passing completions (500) and seventh in passing attempts (817). Thorne needs just two passing touchdowns to become the fourth Spartan QB with at least 50 passing TDs (Connor Cook, Kirk Cousins, Jeff Smoker). Thorne's first career start was at Penn State on Dec. 12, 2020, as a redshirt freshman; he was 22-of-39 passing for 325 yards and three TDs in the 39-24 loss. The 325 yards was not only an MSU record for most passing yards by a Spartan QB in his first start, surpassing Ed Smith with 324 in 1976, but also set an MSU freshman single-game record.

• Sixth-year graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer, who continues to lead the FBS in punting with his 48.4-yard average, was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award on Monday, Nov. 21. MSU also leads the FBS in net punting (45.0-yard average) as Baringer has only three touchbacks this season while placing 20 of his 45 punts (44 percent) inside the 20, including eight inside the 10. He also has 21 punts of 50-plus yards (47 percent), third in the Big Ten, including eight of 60-plus yards. A two-time Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week, Baringer was named a first-team midseason Associated Press All-American and he has made five appearances on the "Ray's 8" weekly honor roll.

• Michigan State has won three of its last five games since fifth-year senior safety Xavier Henderson and fifth-year senior defensive tackle Jacob Slade returned to the field in Week 7 vs. Wisconsin after missing extensive time with injuries. Henderson, who entered the season with 33 consecutive starts, left the Week 1 game against Western Michigan in the first half and missed five straight games before returning to the starting lineup against the Badgers. Slade, a second-team preseason Walter Camp All-American, was also out for four games prior to coming back against the Badgers. MSU is allowing an average of 170.6 passing yards in the last five games with Henderson commanding the secondary, compared to 292.0 yards in the first six games.

• Led by redshirt sophomore Jalen Berger, Michigan State is averaging 183.7 yards rushing in the last three games (112 vs. Illinois; 197 vs. Rutgers; 242 vs. Indiana). Berger is averaging 95.0 yards rushing in those contests (81 vs. Illinois; 85 vs. Rutgers; 119 vs. Indiana). Overall, Berger leads the team in rushing yards (669) and carries (141) and is tied for the team lead with six rushing touchdowns. In addition, graduate senior Jarek Broussard had 80 yards rushing in the win over Rutgers, and redshirt senior Elijah Collins recorded a season-high 107 yards and two TDs against Indiana.
 

LAST TIME OUT: INDIANA 39, MSU 31 (2OT)
►SERIES/TEAM
• Michigan State fell in double overtime to Indiana, 39-31, last Saturday in Spartan Stadium . . . MSU is 1-1 in overtime games this season (beat Wisconsin in double overtime in Spartan Stadium on Oct. 15) . . . MSU is 8-8 all-time in overtime games . . . Mel Tucker is 2-1 in OT games at MSU . . . MSU still leads the all-time series against Indiana, 49-18-2, including a 26-8-1 record in East Lansing.

• Michigan State recognized 17 seniors on Senior Day vs. Indiana: P Bryce Baringer, TE Daniel Barker, S Kendell Brooks, RB Jarek Broussard, OG Matt Carrick, RB Elijah Collins, DE Michael Fletcher, OL Brian Greene, S Xavier Henderson, TE Tyler Hunt, PK Ben Patton, WR Jayden Reed, DT Jacob Slade,  CB Ameer Speed, LB Ben VanSumeren, TE Powers Warren and CB Ronald Williams II.

►OFFENSE
• Michigan State had two 100-yard rushers (Jalen Berger, 119 yards; Elijah Collins, 107 yards) in the same game for the first time since Oct. 18, 2014 vs. Indiana (Nick Hill, 178 yards; Jeremy Langford, 109 yards).

• Michigan State's 540 yards of total offense was not only a season high, but also the Spartans' first game this season surpassing the 500-yard mark and the first time since amassing 588 yards last season vs. Rutgers (10/9/21).

• MSU's 242 rushing yards were the most for the Spartans in a Big Ten game this season and second most of the season behind 260 in game two vs. Akron (9/10/22) . . . the Spartans' 298 passing yards were also their most in a Big Ten game this season and second most of the year, behind 323 at Washington (9/17/22).

• Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne became the seventh MSU quarterback to reach 6,000 career passing yards, with his first completion of the game on the Spartans' first offensive play from scrimmage, a 39-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman . . . Thorne finished 27-for-42 for 298 yards with two TDs . . . the 298 passing yards were Thorne's most in a Big Ten contest this season and second most of the season overall behind 323 at Washington (9/17/22) . . . the 298 yards gives Thorne 6,265 career passing yards, moving into No. 5 on MSU's all-time list.

• Thorne's two TDs give him 18 for the season and 48 for his career . . . the two TDs marked Thorne's sixth game this season with multiple TDs as part of eight out of the last 13 games and 13th total time in a career . . . Thorne moved up to No. 4 on MSU's career TD passing list, passing Brian Lewerke (2016-19) with 47 TDs.

• Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger rushed for 119 yards on 21 carries (5.7 avg.) for his third 100-yard game of the season (120 vs. Akron; 107 vs. Western Michigan) . . . Berger had two explosive runs in the game (36 yards and 29 yards).

• Redshirt senior Elijah Collins rushed for a season-high 107 yards on 19 carries with two TDs . . . the 107 rushing yards marked Collins' first 100-yard rushing game since Nov. 23, 2019, at Rutgers (109 yards) . . . the two TDs tied a career high, matching two vs. Illinois on Nov. 9, 2019 . . . Collins registered his fourth 100-yard outing of his career . . . Collins finished with 150 all-purpose yards after adding four receptions for 43 yards, both new career highs, topping previous career-best of three receptions, done twice, last vs. Illinois (11/5/22), and previous receiving yards of 23 from his redshirt freshman season of 2019.

• Collins scored his second TD of the game on a 31-yard scamper in the third quarter, marking MSU's longest scoring rush of the season and third-longest overall rush of the season.

• Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman recorded his third 100-yard outing of the season with eight catches for 107 yards, marking his most receptions in a Big Ten game and the second most of his career behind nine at Washington (9/17/22) . . . Coleman also had 100-yard games vs. Washington (116) and Michigan (career-high 155).

• Graduate senior wide receiver Jayden Reed had four catches for 52 yards, and now has 2,033 yards during his MSU career, becoming the 12th Spartan receiver to reach 2,000 career yards . . . overall, Reed now has 2,830 receiving yards for his collegiate career . . . Reed has at least one catch in 30 straight games played, which is all 30 games of his Spartan career, and in 42 of his 43 career collegiate games . . . the 30 consecutive games with a reception streak is No. 20 among active FBS players.

• Redshirt sophomore tight end Maliq Carr snared his first TD of his collegiate career with a 5-yard TD catch in the second quarter . . . additionally, Carr also registered a career-high four receptions for 27 yards.

• Redshirt freshman Geno VanDeMark started his first career game at right guard.

►DEFENSE
• Michigan State held Indiana to just 31 passing yards, including 7 in regulation . . . the 31 passing yards were the fewest by a Spartan opponent since Oct. 18, 2004 (Indiana with 11).

• Redshirt sophomore linebacker Cal Haladay led the Spartans with 10 tackles . . . it marked Haladay's sixth double-figure tackle game of the season and 10th of his career . . . Haladay leads MSU with 109 tackles on the season.

• Redshirt sophomore defensive end Avery Dunn posted career highs in tackles (7) and tackles for loss (2.5 for 14 yards) . . . he tied his career best with one sack (10 yards).

• Graduate senior linebacker Ben VanSumeren had six tackles, including a 9-yard sack.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Graduate senior punter Bryce Baringer, the Ray Guy Award Watch List member and five-time Ray's 8 honoree, had three punts in the extreme cold, windy conditions, for a 31.0 ypp average with one going out-of-bounds at the 21, and all three were not returned, with two being downed and one out-of-bounds . . . with a long of 41 yards, it was the first game this season that Baringer did not have a 50-plus yard punt, as his streak of at least one punt of 50-plus yards came to a close at 11 games in a row dating back to last season, but he has had at least one 50-plus yard punt in 27 of 35 career games played.

• Redshirt junior placekicker Ben Patton was 4-for-4 on PATs and 1-for-3 on field goals . . . Patton is now 15-for-16 on PATs this season and 23-for-24 for his collegiate career . . . he is also now 4-for-8 on field goals this season and 9-for-14 in his collegiate career.

• Michael Fletcher blocked Charles Campbell's 37-yard field-goal attempt in the first overtime; MSU has blocked a field goal in consecutive weeks (Jacob Slade vs. Rutgers).

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Jalen Berger (141 carries for 669 yards, 4.7 avg., 6 TDs, 60.8 ypg)
Passing – R-Jr. Payton Thorne (218-of-344, .634, 2,450 yards, 18 TDs, 10 INTs, 222.7 ypg)
Receiving – So. Keon Coleman (50 catches for 707 yards, 14.1 avg., 7 TDs, 64.3 ypg)
Tackles – R-So. LB Cal Haladay (109 tackles; 36 solo, 73 assists; 10.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF)

Penn State:
Rushing – Fr. Nicholas Singleton (132 carries for 863 yards, 6.5 avg., 10 TDs, 78.5 ypg)
Passing – R-Sr. Sean Clifford (191-of-306, .624, 2,341 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs, 212.8 ypg)
Receiving – So. Parker Washington (46 receptions for 611 yards, 13.3 avg., 2 TDs, 61.1 ypg)
Tackles – R-Sr. S Ji'Ayir Brown (59 tackles, 43 solo, 16 assists; 5.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 3 PBUs, 3 INTs)

►A QUICK GLANCE AT NO. 11/10 PENN STATE (9-2, 6-2 BIG TEN)
• The Nittany Lions improved to 9-2 overall and 6-2 in Big Ten action with their third straight win, routing Rutgers, 55-10, last week in Piscataway. PSU has been lighting up the scoreboard lately, having won its last three contests by a combined score of 130-24, averaging a 43-8 victory, after winning at Indiana, 45-14, on Nov. 5; blanking Maryland, 30-0 on Nov. 12; and beating Rutgers, 55-10.

• Penn State is third in the Big Ten and 19th in the FBS in scoring offense (35.9 ppg), while ranking sixth in the conference and 14th in the country in scoring defense (18.2 ppg).

• PSU is third in the league and 37th in the nation in total offense (434.5 ypg), a result of ranking fourth in the Big Ten and 31st in the FBS in rushing offense (184.1 ypg) and third in the conference and 44th in the country in passing offense (250.5 ypg).

• The Penn State defense is seventh in the league and 23rd in the nation in total defense (323.6 ypg), ranking seventh in the conference and 21st in the country in rushing defense (112.4 ypg) and ninth in the Big Ten and 48th in FBS in passing yards allowed (211.3 ypg).

• PSU's defense leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth in the FBS in tackles for loss (8.0 pg) and also leads the conference ranking 11th in the country in sacks (3.1 pg).

• The Nittany Lions have a two-headed rushing attack with freshmen Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, combing for 1,611 yards and 19 touchdowns. Singleton has logged 132 carries for 863 yards (6.5 ypc/78.5 ypg) and 10 TDs, while Allen has 135 carries for 748 yards (5.5 ypc/68.0 ypg) with nine TDs.

• Redshirt senior quarterback Sean Clifford is fifth in the Big Ten and 68th in the FBS in total offense (228.9 ypg), ranking seventh in the league and 69th in the country in passing yards/game (212.8 ypg), while ranking fourth in the conference and 42nd in the nation in passing TDs (18). Clifford is 191-for-306 passing for 2,341 yards with 18 TDs and seven INTs. He adds 54 carries for 177 yards (3.3 ypc/16.1 ypg) with five rushing TDs.

• Sophomore wide receiver Parker Washington leads the PSU wide receiving corps with 46 catches for 611 yards (13.3 ypc/61.1 ypg) and two TDs. Senior wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley adds 44 receptions for 515 yards (11.7 ypc/46.8 ypg) with four TDs, and redshirt junior tight end Brenton Strange has 30 catches for 345 yards (11.5 ypc/31.4 ypg) and a team-leading five TDs.

• Senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown leads the Nittany Lion defense with 59 total tackles (43 solo, 16 assists), ranking tied for 41st in the Big Ten with 5.5 TFLs and tied for 27th in the conference with 3.0 sacks, also with a team-best three interceptions with 92 return yards, adding three pass break-ups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, along wit four QB hurries.

• Redshirt senior punter Barney Amor is eighth in the Big Ten with a 43.4 ypp average on 46 punts, with a long of 59 yards, one of 13 punts of 50-plus yards, with 19 inside the 20.

• Redshirt senior placekicker Jake Pinegar is tied for second in the Big Ten with 47 PATs on 47-for-49, and ranked tied for fifth in the league with 12 FGs on 12-of-14, with a long of 50 yards. He also has 40 kickoffs for a 64.1 ypk average with 27 touchbacks, which ranks seventh in the conference.

• Penn State head coach James Franklin is in his ninth year at Penn State, posting a 76-36 record there, while amassing a 100-51 career record in his 12th year as a head coach. Franklin has a 3-5 record against Michigan State.

►MSU/PENN STATE SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 37th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans have won six of the last nine meetings against the Nittany Lions and own a slim 18-17-1 lead in the all-time series.  MSU head coach Mel Tucker is 1-1 against Penn State, including a 30-27 win over the Nittany Lions last season in the snow at Spartan Stadium.

• Although Penn State leads the series in University Park, 11-7-1, MSU has won three of the last five matchups at Beaver Stadium.  

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land-Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855: Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 16-10, but the Spartans have won six of the last nine.

►LAST TIME: MSU 30, PENN STATE 27 (NOV. 27, 2021 IN EAST LANSING)
• Michigan State took advantage of a late turnover by Penn State to score a touchdown and recovered an onside kick with less than a minute left as the Spartans beat the Nittany Lions, 30-27, on a snowy Senior Day at Spartan Stadium. Kenneth Walker III recorded his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season with 138 yards on 30 carries, scoring one touchdown. Payton Thorne was 19-of-30 passing for 268 yards and two touchdowns, including a 15-yard scoring pass to Jayden Reed with 5:10 to play that gave the Spartans a 30-20 lead. Reed caught 10 passes for 89 yards. Defensively, Cal Haladay led the Spartans with 11 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, while Darius Snow and Drew Beesley had seven tackles apiece.
 

►QUARTERBACKS
• #12 Katin Houser (Fr., 6-3, 213, Anaheim, Calif./St. John Bosco)
(1 game, 1-for-2 passing (.500), 2 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs)

• #14 Noah Kim (R-So., 6-2, 185, Centreville, Va./Westfield)
(4 games, 14-for-19 passing (.737), 174 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs)

• #10 Payton Thorne (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 205, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(11 games/11 starts, 218-of-344 passing (.634), 2,450 yards, 222.7 ypg, 18 TDs, 10 INTs; 55 carries for 63 yards)

►PAYTON THORNE BACK AFTER RECORD-SETTING SEASON IN 2021
• After a record-setting season in his first year as the starting quarterback, redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne is back for the Spartans in 2022. He has started 25 consecutive games (16-9 record). Thorne set a school single-season record with 27 touchdown passes in 2021, surpassing Kirk Cousins, who previously held the record with 25 TDs in 2011. Overall in his first year as the starting quarterback, Thorne was 234-of-388 passing (.603) for 3,233 yards, 27 TDs and 10 interceptions.

• An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media in 2021, Thorne was especially effective at throwing the ball downfield, ranking tied for sixth in the FBS with 14 TD passes of 20-plus yards and tied for ninth with eight completions for 50-plus yards. He threw for 200-plus yards in eight games and 300-plus yards in three games, including a career-high 354 yards in MSU's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over No. 12 Pitt. He has 17 career games of 200-plus yards passing and five with more than 300 yards.

• The Naperville, Illinois, native was named one of four captains last season and will also be counted on for his leadership for the Spartans this fall. He has been named a game captain in three games.

• Through 11 games this season, Thorne is 218-of-344 passing (.634) for 2,450 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 18 passing touchdowns, including 10 of 25-plus yards. According to Pro Football Focus, Thorne has thrown nine TDs downfield for 20-plus yards (tied for first in the Big Ten and tied for 14th in the FBS).

• Thorne surpassed the 6,000-yard passing milestone in the Indiana game and is now fifth in Michigan State history with 6,265 career passing yards. Thorne is also fourth in MSU history in career touchdown passes (48), tied for sixth in passing completions (500) and seventh in passing attempts (817). Thorne needs just two passing touchdowns to become the fourth Spartan QB with at least 50 passing TDs (Connor Cook, Kirk Cousins, Jeff Smoker).

• In Week 3, Thorne completed a career-high 30 passes against Washington on 42 attempts for 323 yards and three touchdowns (7 and 33 yards to Keon Coleman; 26 yards to Tre Mosley)

• In the first game of the season, Thorne tied his career high with four touchdown passes against Western Michigan in Week 1. Thorne was 12-of-24 passing for 233 yards overall, including scoring strikes to Germie Bernard (44 yards), Daniel Barker (13 yards), Coleman (41 yards) and Mosley (43 yards). Thorne joins Connor Cook as the only Spartans to throw four TDs in a single game four times in a career.

►NOAH KIM, KATIN HOUSER BACKING UP THORNE
• Redshirt sophomore Noah Kim serves as the back-up quarterback and is 14-of-19 passing (.737) for 174 yards and three touchdowns in four games. He was 2-for-2 passing for 22 yards against Akron in Week 2 and was 6-of-7 for 70 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard, vs. Minnesota. On his first official passing attempt of his career against the Zips he threw a 16-yard touchdown to Tre Mosley. Kim was 6-of-10 passing for 82 yards, including a 25-yard TD to Montorie Foster Jr., vs. No. 3 Ohio State.

• The Spartans also welcomed in freshman Katin Houser as an early enrollee in January and he participated in spring practice. Houser was rated a consensus four-star prospect and was an Elite 11 finalist last summer. He played six snaps in his collegiate debut vs. Akron.

• Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson is in his third year coaching the quarterbacks for the Spartans.

►RUNNING BACKS
• #8 Jalen Berger (R-So., 6-1, 215, Newark, N.J./Wisconsin)
(11 games/10 starts, 141 carries, 669 yards. 4.7 avg., 6 TDs, 60.8 ypg)

• #3 Jarek Broussard (Gr.-5, 5-9, 195, Dallas, Texas/Colorado)
(11 games/1 start, 61 carries, 292 yards, 4.8 avg., 3 TDs, 26.5 ypg)

• #24 Elijah Collins (3L, R-Sr., 6-1, 215, Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit)
(11 games, 60 carries, 285 yards, 4.8 avg., 6 TDs, 25.9 ypg)

►TRANSFER JALEN BERGER LEADS SPARTAN RUNNING GAME
• The Spartans featured an explosive and resurgent rushing attack last year thanks to unanimous first-team All-American Kenneth Walker III, who had one of the best seasons in Michigan State history en route to winning the Doak Walker Award, the Walter Camp National Player of the Year and the Big Ten Running Back of the Year. Walker ranked second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards and his 18 rushing TDs ranked tied for eighth in the nation.

• Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger, a Wisconsin transfer, leads the Spartans in carries (141), rushing yards (669) and rushing touchdowns (6). Berger rushed for a career-high 120 yards and one touchdown in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan, and followed that effort with a career-high three touchdowns and 107 yards vs. Akron in Week 2. He ran for 119 yards, the most in a Big Ten game by a Spartan running back this season, on 21 carries vs. Indiana on Nov. 19.

• Berger is 14th in the Big Ten in rushing (669 yards; 60.8 ypg) and tied for 10th in the conference in rushing TDs (six).

• Berger was rated a four-star prospect out of high school before attending Wisconsin for two years (2020-21). He rushed for 389 yards and three TDs in seven career games with the Badgers, including a team-leading 301 yards on 60 carries in just four games as a true freshman during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Newark, New Jersey, native enrolled at MSU in January and made strong gains toward the end of spring practice.

• Fellow running back transfer Jarek Broussard (Colorado) ranks second on the team with 61 carries for 292 yards and three TDs. He scored his first two touchdowns as a Spartan in the Week 2 win over Akron and had 15 carries overall for 81 yards against the Zips. Broussard ran for 80 yards, his most in a Big Ten game, on 11 carries (7.3 avg.) in the win over Rutgers on Nov. 12.

• Broussard, who joined the program in May from Colorado, rushed for 1,556 yards and seven TDs the past two seasons (2020-21) in just 17 games for the Buffaloes. He was named the 2020 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 895 rushing yards and five touchdowns in six games during the pandemic-shortened season, and followed up with 661 yards and two TDs last fall.

• Redshirt senior Elijah Collins ranks tied for first on the team with six rushing touchdowns. He has seen his workload increase the second half of the season, including a season-high 19 carries for 107 yards and two TDs on Senior Day vs. Indiana on Nov. 19. Collins nearly rushed for 1,000 yards (222 carries for 988 yards) in 13 games, including 12 starts, during his redshirt freshman season in 2019. He had 41 carries for 90 yards in 2020 and 18 carries for 102 yards in seven games last season while battling an ankle injury. Collins ranks third on the team in rushing (285 yards) and carries (60).

• Led by Berger, Michigan State is averaging 183.7 yards rushing in the last three games (112 vs. Illinois; 197 vs. Rutgers; 242 vs. Indiana). Berger is averaging 95.0 yards rushing in those contests (81 vs. Illinois; 85 vs. Rutgers; 119 vs. Indiana). In addition, graduate senior Jarek Broussard had 80 yards rushing in the win over Rutgers, and redshirt senior Elijah Collins recorded a season-high 107 yards and two TDs against Indiana.

• Effrem Reed, who was an offensive analyst the past two seasons, was promoted to running backs coach in the offseason.
 

►WIDE RECEIVERS
• #5 Germie Bernard (Fr., 6-0, 200, Henderson, Nev./Liberty)
(11 games/1 start, 7 catches, 128 yards, 18.3 avg., 2 TDs, 11.6 ypg)

• #0 Keon Coleman (So., 6-4, 215, Opelousas, La./Opelousas Catholic)
(11 games/11 starts, 50 catches, 707 yards, 14.1 avg., 7 TDs, 64.3 ypg)

• #16 Christian Fitzpatrick (R-So., 6-4, 218, Southfield, Mich./Louisville)
(5 games, 2 catches, 17 yards, 8.5 avg., 0 TDs, 3.4 ypg)

• #83 Montorie Foster Jr. (2L, Jr., 6-0, 185, Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward)
(9 games, 6 catches, 82 yards, 13.7 avg., 1 TD, 9.1 ypg)

• #85 Cade McDonald (2L, R-Jr., 5-11, 195, Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central)
(10 games, 3 catches, 31 yards, 10.3 avg., 0 TDs, 3.1 ypg)

• #17 Tre Mosley (2L, R-Jr., 6-2, 198, Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield)
(11 games/7 starts, 31 catches, 297 yards, 9.6 avg., 4 TDs, 27.0 ypg)

• #1 Jayden Reed (2L, Gr.-5, 6-0, 190, Naperville, Ill./Western Michigan)
(10 games/10 starts, 49 catches, 600 yards, 12.2 avg., 5 TDs, 60.0 ypg)

►RETURNING ALL-AMERICAN JAYDEN REED LEADS TALENTED WIDE RECEIVING CORPS
• Fifth-year graduate senior Jayden Reed, who earned first-team All-America honors as an all-purpose player by the American Football Coaches Association as a junior in 2021, leads a talented wide receiving corps for the Spartans. Reed's explosiveness was one of the main reasons for MSU's school-record turnaround season last year – he not only led the Spartans with 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he also ranked first in the Big Ten in punt returns (19.8 avg.; 12 returns for 238 yards) and tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). His 10 TD grabs were sixth most in an MSU single-season and his 1,026 receiving yards ranked ninth most.

• Reed has rounded back into form in the second half of the season after missing time with an injury that sidelined him in Week 3 at Washington. He ranks second on the team in catches (49), receiving yards (600; 60.0 ypg), touchdown catches (five) and all-purpose yards (711; 71.1 ypg).

• Reed is tied for the team lead with 14 explosive plays (20-plus yards), including 13 receptions and one kick return. He has a team-best 46 explosive plays the past two seasons (33 receptions; 10 kick returns; three punt returns).

• Reed recorded season bests in receptions (9) and receiving yards (117) against Wisconsin on Oct. 15 and accounted for both touchdowns in the double-overtime win – he threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman on the first play of overtime, then caught a 27-yard pass from Payton Thorne on third-and-12 in the second overtime that clinched the victory for the Spartans. His performance against the Badgers landed him on the Paul Hornung Award weekly honor roll.

• Reed has started all 30 Michigan State games he has played in since 2020 and has at least one catch in every one of those games. He started 12 games as a freshman at Western Michigan in 2018 and earned Freshman All-America honors for the Broncos before sitting out the entire 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Reed currently ranks tied for seventh in MSU history in touchdown catches (18), eighth in receptions (141) and 12th in receiving yards (2,033). His 15.4-yard career punt return average ranks second among active FBS players. Reed leads all active Big Ten players in career receiving yards (2,830), receptions (197) and TD catches (26).

• Last season, Reed was named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award – given annually to the nation's most versatile player – after averaging 18.0 yards per play (1,674 all-purpose yards on 93 total plays), which led the Big Ten and ranked tied for seventh in the FBS. Forty-two of Reed's 59 catches (.712) went for either a first down or a touchdown, and he led MSU with 32 explosive plays (20-plus yards), including 20 receptions, nine kick returns and three punt returns. In addition, seven of his 10 TD catches were from 25-plus yards.

• Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman ranks among the Big Ten leaders in touchdown catches (tied for fourth with seven), receiving yards (fifth with 707; 64.3 ypg) and receptions (tied for ninth with 50; 4.5 pg). Coleman recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the season with eight catches for 107 yards, including a 2-yard TD, vs. Indiana on Nov. 19.

• According to Pro Football Focus, Coleman has 12 catches downfield of 20-plus yards, which leads the Big Ten and ranks tied for eight in the FBS; in addition, his five TD catches downfield of 20-plus yards are most in the conference and tied for eighth in the FBS.

• Coleman had a career-high 155 receiving yards on just five catches at Michigan on Oct. 29 (31.0-yard average). Coleman made a leaping 26-yard grap in the end zone in the first quarter and also had a 51-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
 
• Coleman showed flashes of his athleticism as a true freshman in 2021 and is now a full-time starter for the Spartans. The 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound Coleman recorded a career-high nine catches for 116 yards and two TDs in Week 3 at Washington, and he also caught two two-point conversion passes.

• Coleman matched his two-TD game against the Huskies with two touchdowns in the Week 7 win over Wisconsin, including a leaping 25-yard catch on the first play of overtime that was thrown by Reed. The  Opelousas, Louisiana, product had five catches for 79 yards overall vs. Wisconsin; he also had a 27-yard TD grab in the fourth quarter.

• Coleman spent last winter with the basketball team, playing in six games, to earn letters in both football and basketball as a true freshman in 2021-22.

• Redshirt junior Tre Mosley (R-Jr.) has been consistently productive for the Spartans throughout his career with 94 catches for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns in 34 collegiate games, including 20 starting assignments. He has a career-high four touchdown catches this season to go along with 31 receptions for 297 yards. Mosley surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving milestone for his career in the Ohio State game with a season-best six catches for 40 yards.

• True freshman Germie Bernard has seven catches for 128 yards (18.3 avg.). He made an immediate impact in his first game as a Spartan, catching his first pass and racing 44 yards to the end zone in the first quarter against Western Michigan. He also caught a 27-yard TD pass vs. Minnesota from Noah Kim. Bernard joined the Spartans in January and competed in spring practice.

• After missing the first two games of the season due to an injury, junior Montorie Foster has played in nine games and has six catches for 82 yards and one TD.

• Courtney Hawkins is entering his third season as the wide receivers coach for the Spartans.

►OFFENSIVE LINE
• #53 OT Brandon Baldwin (R-So., 6-7, 315, Detroit, Mich./Independence CC, 8 games/4 starts at LT)

• #58 OT Spencer Brown (1L, R-Jr., 6-6, 315, Commerce Twp., Mich, Walled Lake Western, 11 games/11 starts at RT)

• #56 RG Matt Carrick (4L, Gr.-6, 6-5, 320, Minerva, Ohio/Perry, 9 games/9 starts at RG)

• #67 LG J.D. Duplain (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville, 11 games/11 starts at LG)

• #50 OG/C Brian Greene (Gr.-6, 6-3, 300, Yakima, Wash./Washington State, 10 games/1 start at RG)

• #79 LT Jarrett Horst (Sr.-5, 6-6, 300, Milddleton, Wis./Arkansas State, 8 games/7 starts at LT)

• #59 C Nick Samac (3L, Sr., 6-4, 300, Mentor, Ohio/Mentor, 11 games/11 starts at C)

• #74 OG Geno VanDeMark (R-Fr., 6-5, 325, Lodi, N.J./St. Joseph, 9 games/1 start at RG)

►SPARTANS FEATURE 145 COMBINED CAREER STARTS ON OFFENSIVE LINE
• The Spartans lost eight lettermen from last season's offensive line, including four starters (center Matt Allen, guard Blake Bueter, tackle AJ Arcuri, guard/tackle Kevin Jarvis), but assistant head coach/offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Kapilovic still returned plenty of experience in 2022.

• Although Allen started every game at center in 2021, senior Nick Samac split time with Allen during the season and is now the full-time starter at center. Samac has 21 career starts under his belt, including all 11 games this season, and has played in 38 collegiate games.

• Senior J.D. Duplain, a second-team All-Big Ten honoree last season by Pro Football Focus, is back for his fourth consecutive season starting games at left guard. Duplain earned five starts at left guard as a true freshman in 2019 and five more as a sophomore in 2020 before starting every game at the position last season while helping pave the way for Doak Walker Award winner and unanimous All-American Kenneth Walker III. Duplain has started a team-best 29 consecutive games for the Spartans at left guard and has 34 career starts overall.

• At right guard, sixth-year graduate senior Matt Carrick brings 27 career starts and 47 games of experience to the table. Carrick rotated at right guard in the first seven games last season, but missed the second half of the year with an ACL injury. He returned to the starting lineup in the season opener against Western Michigan and started the first nine games of the season before missing the Rutgers and Indiana games due to an injury. Carrick started all seven games at the position in 2020 and 11 times in 2019.

• Redshirt freshman Geno VanDeMark earned his first career starting assignment at right guard in the Indiana game on Nov. 19 with Carrick and Greene not available to play due to injuries.

• Redshirt junior Spencer Brown, who still has three years of eligibility remaining, earned his first career start in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over No. 12 Pitt, playing in all 89 snaps at right tackle against the Panthers. Brown has started all 11 games this season at right tackle for a streak of 12 consecutive starts.

• Fifth-year senior Jarrett Horst, who transferred to MSU in 2021 after starting two years (2019-20) at left tackle at Arkansas State, started the first eight games of last season at left tackle during the Spartans' 8-0 start. Although he missed the last five games of the year, Horst still earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by the coaches and media in playing a total of 317 offensive snaps. Horst returned to the lineup in a reserve role at left tackle against Western Michigan in Week 1 and was back in the starting lineup for Week 2 against Akron, earning co-offensive player of the week honors for the Spartans. He has seven starts this season and 35 for his career (20 at Arkansas State, 15 at MSU).

• Another experienced transfer joined the Spartans over the summer, as Brian Greene landed in East Lansing from Washington State. A sixth-year graduate senior, Greene has played in 39 career games overall, including 10 starts at center for the Cougars (four in 2020, six in 2021). He has rotated at guard for the Spartans in 2022 and earned the start at right guard vs. Rutgers on Nov. 12.

• Redshirt sophomore Brandon Baldwin earned his first career start at left tackle in Week 1 against Western Michigan and played 41 snaps vs. the Broncos. Baldwin transferred to MSU in 2021 from Independence Community College but did not see game action last season. He returned to the starting lineup in the win at Illinois on Nov. 5 and has started the last three games for MSU.

►TIGHT ENDS
• #9 Daniel Barker (Gr.-5, 6-4, 250, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Illinois)
(11 games/5 starts, 21 catches, 239 yards, 11.4 avg., 2 TDs, 21.7 ypg)

• #6 Maliq Carr (1L, R-So., 6-5, 255, Inkster, Mich./Purdue)
(11 games, 14 catches, 188 yards, 13.4 avg., 1 TD, 17.1 ypg)

• #97 Tyler Hunt (4L, Gr.-6, 6-3, 248, Gobles, Mich./Gobles)
(10 games/10 starts, 15 catches, 98 yards, 6.5 avg., 0 TDs, 9.8 ypg)

►TIGHT ENDS SEE A PROMINENT ROLE IN SPARTAN OFFENSE
• Although the Spartans lost Connor Heyward, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Steelers after a successful season in 2021, there are still plenty of intriguing options at tight end for third-year coach Ted Gilmore.

• Former walk-on Tyler Hunt, who began his Spartan career as a punter, is in his sixth season in 2022. He started the first 10 games of the season before missing the Indiana game with an injury; he has a career-high 15 catches for 98 yards. Hunt made the transition from a specialist to a tight end during preseason practice in 2020.

• The program welcomed transfer Daniel Barker (Gr.-5) from Illinois during the summer, an experienced player who owns the Fighting Illini record for most touchdown catches by a tight end with 11. Barker racked up 64 receptions for 827 yards in 44 games at Illinois from 2018-21, including 21 starting assignments. That production has carried over to East Lansing, as he leads the Spartan tight end room with 21 catches for 239 yards and two TDs. In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan, Barker made a one-handed 13-yard touchdown grab in the left corner of the south end zone in the second quarter. In Week 3 at Washington, he had a career-high seven catches for 69 yards. In the win against Rutgers, Barker had four receptions for 64 yards, including a 32-yard TD grab.

• Redshirt sophomore Maliq Carr showed plenty of promise during his first season with the Green and White in 2021 with eight receptions for 135 yards, including a start in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against No. 12 Pitt. Through 11 games this season, he has 14 catches for 188 yards (13.4 avg.). He had a 72-yard reception vs. Wisconsin, which is MSU's longest pass play this season.
 

►DEFENSIVE LINE
• #8 DT Simeon Barrow (1L, R-So., 6-3, 290, Grovetown, Ga./Grovetown)
(11 games/10 starts, 36 tackles, 7.0 TFLs for 21 yards, 3.0 sacks for 15 yards, 1 FR)

• #2 DE Khris Bogle (Sr., 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Florida)
(4 games/1 start, 11 tackles, 3 TFLs for 3 yards, 1 sack for 1 yard)

• #98 DE Avery Dunn (R-So., 6-4, 245, Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights)
(8 games/2 starts, 27 tackles, 4.5 TFLs for 23 yards, 2.0 sacks for 17 yards)

• #5 DE Michael Fletcher (R-Jr., 6-6, 260, Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth)
(7 games/2 starts, 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL)

• #97 DT Maverick Hansen (2L, R-Jr., 6-4, 300, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison)
(11 games/1 start, 34 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 1 yard, 1 FR)

• #41 DT Derrick Harmon (R-Fr., 6-5, 320, Detroit, Mich./Loyola)
(11 games/5 starts, 28 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 10 yards, 2.0 sacks for 10 yards, 1 FR, 1 PBU)

• #99 DE/DT Jalen Hunt (R-Jr., 6-4, 320, Belleville, Mich./Belleville)
(7 games/3 starts at DE, 9 tackles)

• #94 DE Dashaun Mallory (R-Sr., 6-2, 280, Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook)
(7 games, 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL for 1 yards, 0.5 sack for 4 yards, 2 FR)

• #47 DE Jeff Pietrowski Jr. (2L, Jr., 6-2, 250, Medina, Ohio/St. Edward)
(3 games/3 starts, 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL for 2 yards)

• #64 DT Jacob Slade (3L, Gr.-5, 6-4, 305, Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy)
(7 games/5 starts, 15 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 2 yards, 0.5 sack for 4 yards)

• #91 DT Alex VanSumeren (Fr., 6-3, 300, Bay City, Mich./Garber)
(4 games, 3 tackles)

►SPARTANS BATTLING INJURIES ALONG DEFENSIVE LINE
• Due to a combination of injuries, the Spartans have utilized nine different starting defensive ends and four defensive tackles this season.

• At defensive end, the Spartans started a pair of former defensive tackles in Dashaun Mallory (R-Sr.) and Jalen Hunt (R-Jr.) in the win at Illinois. Hunt and Mallory took snaps alongside each other as defensive tackles the past two seasons, but have moved to the outside of the line. The duo helped contain Illinois, the Big Ten's No. 3 rushing offense entering the game with nearly 200 rushing yards per game, to 153 yards, its second-lowest total of the season. Mallory has 39 tackles, including 5.0 TFLs and 2.5 sacks, in 26 career games. The Bolingbrook, Illinois, native has 11 tackles in seven games in 2022. Hunt earned his third straight start at defensive end vs. Indiana on Nov. 19; he posted a career-high four stops in the win over Scarlet Knights on Nov. 12.

• Redshirt sophomore Avery Dunn has started the last two games at defensive end. He earned his first career start in the win over Rutgers on Nov. 12 and he responded with a then-career best six tackles, including a 7-yard sack. He followed that effort with career highs in tackles (7) and TFLs (2.5) vs. Indiana, and had a sack for the second consecutive game.

• Redshirt junior Michael Fletcher earned starting assignments against Wisconsin and Michigan but did not play at Illinois due to an injury; he returned to action in a reserve role vs. Rutgers. He tied his career high with four tackles at Michigan on Oct. 29 and has registered 11 stops in seven games this season.

• Junior Jeff Pietrowski Jr. started the first three games at defensive end, but has missed the last eight games due to an injury he suffered in Week 3 at Washington. He has six tackles, including a half tackle for loss, in three games of action. Pietrowski was productive in his second season with the Spartans in 2021, ranking tied for second on the team with 5.5 sacks and third with seven tackles for loss in 13 games and three starts. He played a total of 483 snaps on defense and also ranked tied for second in the Big Ten with three forced fumbles.

• The Spartans added impact transfer Khris Bogle from Florida to bolster the pass rush in 2022, but he has missed the last seven games due to an injury. Rated a four-star prospect in the Class of 2019, Bogle was ranked one of the top 100 overall players in the nation coming out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bogle played three seasons (2019-21) with the Gators, collecting 69 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 35 career games, including seven starts. He enrolled in January and participated in spring practice for the Spartans to get a head start for the 2022 season; he has 11 tackles, three tackles for loss (3 yards) and one sack (1 yard) in four games.

• First-year coach Brandon Jordan, who was hired in January as a pass rush specialist, works with the defensive ends, along with fellow first-year defensive line coach and run game coordinator Marco Coleman.

• The Spartans returned both starters from 2021 at defensive tackle (Simeon Barrow; Jacob Slade), but unfortunately injuries have shuffled the rotation much of the 2022 season. Barrow and Slade started the first two games of the season, but didn't start alongside each other again until Oct. 29 at Michigan. Barrow and Slade also split time in the playing rotation with Derrick Harmon (R-Fr.) and Maverick Hansen (R-Jr.).

• A preseason second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Slade was named to watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award entering the season, but missed four games after suffering an injury in Week 2 vs. Akron. He returned to the lineup vs. Wisconsin in Week 7, and the Spartans responded with a victory over the Badgers. Slade made a key play in the win over Rutgers on Nov. 12, blocking a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Scarlet Knights.

• A first-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus, Slade posted career numbers in 2021 with 40 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. According to PFF, he racked up 40 QB pressures, the most of any Big Ten defensive tackle and tied for 10th most in the FBS, and 33 QB hurries, No. 1 among Big Ten DTs and No. 3 in the FBS. He was named to the AP All-Bowl Team after recording a career-high two tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, to go along with six stops overall in the victory over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

• Barrow has started 10 games for the Spartans and is building upon his strong redshirt freshman season in 2021 with another solid performance in 2022. Barrow has a career-high 36 tackles, including 7.0 for losses (21 yards) and 3.0 sacks (15 yards). He tallied 34 tackles, four TFLs and three sacks in 10 starts last season. After missing the last three games of the regular season due to an injury, Barrow stormed back on the field with six tackles and a TFL in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win against Pittsburgh.

• Redshirt junior Maverick Hansen filled in for Barrow in the starting lineup for three games in 2021 and was equally effective during his time in the lineup. Hansen ranked fourth on the team with 3.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss in 13 games overall. He has a career-high 34 stops this season.

• Promising redshirt freshman Derrick Harmon played in four games last fall to preserve his redshirt season. He has earned five starting assignments (Akron, Washington, Maryland, Ohio State, Wisconsin) and has 28 tackles overall with two sacks in nine games. Harmon recorded his first career sack vs. Ohio State.

• Four-star prospect Alex VanSumeren, who was ranked one of the top overall players in the nation by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports, enrolled in January at Michigan State and gained valuable experience during spring practice. He has three tackles in four games of action.

►LINEBACKERS
• #7 Aaron Brule (Gr.-5, 6-2, 242, New Orleans, La./Mississippi State)
(11 games/1 start, 26 tackles, 5.5 TFLs for 35 yards, 3.0 sacks for 26 yards)

• #10 Ma'a Gaoteote (So., 6-1, 230, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman)
(10 games, 8 tackles, 1.0 TFL for 9 yards)

• #27 Cal Haladay (1L, R-So., 6-1, 230, Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia)
(11 games/10 starts, 109 tackles, 10.5 TFLs for 36 yards, 1.5 sacks for 12 yards, 1 FR for 21 yards, 1 FF)

• #13 Ben VanSumeren (Gr.-5, 6-3, 235, Bay City, Mich./Michigan)
(10 games/9 starts, 77 tackles, 3.0 TFLs for 30 yards, 2.0 sacks for 22 yards, 2 PBUs)

►HALADAY RANKS TIED FOR FIRST IN BIG TEN IN TACKLES
• The linebackers, coached by Secchia Family Defensive Coordinator Scottie Hazelton, feature a strong position room, but unfortunately will be missing one of its key players this season as junior starter Darius Snow suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 against Western Michigan. Snow played safety and nickelback last season and racked up 87 tackles before moving to linebacker during spring practice. His versatility will be missed in 2022.

• Returning starter Cal Haladay (R-So.) won the middle linebacker job as a redshirt freshman in 2021 and went on to earn Freshman All-America honors after tying for the team lead with 96 tackles. He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns, including a game-winning 78-yard return for a score with less than a minute remaining in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory to earn Defensive MVP honors in the game.

• Haladay ranks tied for first in the Big Ten and No. 13 in the FBS with 9.9 tackles per game (109 overall). He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row after recording a career-high 19 tackles in the win over Rutgers, the most by a Big Ten player this season. Haladay is just the second Spartan to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks. Haladay's 109 tackles are the most by a Spartan since Max Bullough in 2012 (111).
 
.• Haladay was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording nine tackles, including a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss (10 yards), in MSU's 23-15 win at No. 16 Illinois on Nov. 5. The Spartans held the Illini, which entered the game with the No. 3 rushing offense in the Big Ten (197.6 ypg), to 153 yards rushing, the second fewest by Illinois this season. MSU's defense had five fourth-down stops in the game, including two by Haladay in the second half.

• Graduate senior Ben VanSumeren has started nine games for the Spartans and ranks third on the team with a career-best 77 tackles. He has posted double-digit stops in four games, including a career-high 14 at Maryland in Week 5. VanSumeren played in a reserve role against Wisconsin and did not play at Michigan due to an injury.

• Aaron Brule started eight games and played in 12 last season at Mississippi State, recording 52 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. He brought a wealth of experience from Starkville, where he collected 141 tackles, including 17.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks, in 40 career games (19 starts) from 2018-21. Brule, who has seen his playing time increase the second half of the season, has 25 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and three sacks for the Spartans. He had five stops, including 1.5 TFLs and an 8-yard sack, and a fumble recovery in the win at No. 16 Illinois, and had six tackles with 1.5 TFLs and a 13-yard sack vs. Rutgers. Brule started his first Spartan game in the Week 7 victory over Wisconsin.

• Sophomore Ma'a Gaoteote, a former four-star and top-100 recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School, played in nine games as a true freshman to earn his first letter and will compete for time in the rotation. He has eight tackles and one TFL (9 yards) in 10 games this season.

►SECONDARY
• #0 CB Charles Brantley (1L, So., 6-0, 170, Sarasota, Fla./Venice)
(11 games/11 starts, 48 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 12 yards, 1 sack for 8 yards, 6 PBUs, 1 INT for 32 yards)

• #33 S Kendell Brooks (1L, Sr.-5, 6-0, 215, Swansea, S.C./North Greenville)
(10 games/9 starts, 93 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 7 yards, 3 FF, 3 PBUs)

• #3 S Xavier Henderson (4L, Gr.-5, 6-1, 210, Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Pickerington Central)
(6 games/6 starts, 30 tackles, 2.0 TFLs for 6 yards, 1 PBU, 2 FF)

• #12 NB Chester Kimbrough (1L, Sr., 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La./Florida)
(9 games/6 starts, 19 tackles, 2 sacks for 13 yards, 1 FR for 3 yards, 3 PBUs)

• #1 S Jaden Mangham (Fr., 6-2, 175, Bingham Farms, Mich./Wylie E. Groves)
(9 games/2 starts, 20 tackles)

• #6 CB Ameer Speed (Gr.-6, 6-3, 215, Jacksonville, Fla./Georgia)
(11 games/10 starts, 57 tackles, 1 TFL for 2 yards, 5 PBUs)

• #43 S Malik Spencer (Fr., 6-1, 195, Buford, Ga./Buford)
(4 games, 5 tackles)

• #9 CB Ronald Williams II (1L, Sr.-6, 6-2, 195, Ferriday, La., Alabama)
(10 games/1 start, 18 tackles, 1 PBU)
 

►XAVIER HENDERSON'S RETURN SPARKS SPARTAN SECONDARY
• Former Spartan All-American and NFL veteran Harlon Barnett is in 14th year overall on the defensive coaching staff at Michigan State, his third under head coach Mel Tucker. Barnett was the cornerbacks coach in 2020 before returning to coaching the entire secondary in 2021. Ross Els, who is also the special teams coordinator, will coach the nickelbacks this season, while Tucker will also assist with the cornerbacks.

• At cornerback, sixth-year graduate senior Ameer Speed enrolled in January after spending his first five years at Georgia (2017-21). Speed started in three games for the National Champion Bulldogs in 2021 and played in 13 games overall, playing a total of 181 snaps with 13 tackles. He has started 10 games this season for the Spartans and ranks fourth on the team with 57 tackles and second with five pass break-ups. He recorded six tackles in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan and had a career-high 12 stops vs. Maryland in Week 5.

• Lining up opposite of Speed, sophomore Charles Brantley has started all 11 games this season and leads the team with six pass break-ups, including a career-high three vs. Akron in Week 2. He intercepted a C.J. Stroud pass and raced 32 yards into the end zone for a touchdown against the Buckeyes in Week 6. Brantley played in eight games in 2021 and earned a start at Purdue on Nov. 6, but he suffered a season-ending injury in the game and had his freshman season cut short by a month. Brantley sealed the win over No. 6 Michigan last season with a one-handed interception in the final minute of the game.

• Sixth-year graduate senior Ronald Williams started nine games at cornerback in 2021 and returned to the starting lineup for the first time this season vs. Rutgers on Nov. 12, posting a season-best seven tackles against the Scarlet Knights. He has 18 tackles in 10 games this season.

• Senior Chester Kimbrough, who transferred from Florida last season, started the first three games at nickelback and returned to the starting lineup the last three weeks. He moved to nickelback in spring practice after starting 11 games at cornerback for the Spartans in 2021. Kimbrough has 19 tackles, including two sacks for 13 yards, and three pass break-ups.

• A 2021 team captain, Henderson had started 34 consecutive games at safety before missing Week 2 against Akron. He left the season opener against Western Michigan in the second quarter and missed five games with an injury before returning in Week 7 vs. Wisconsin. Henderson recorded career highs in tackles (96) and tackles for loss (10) last year to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors by the media. Henderson has started 39 games overall for the Spartans.

• Henderson returning to the starting lineup and started his 35th career game in the win over the Badgers and had five tackles. In his return, the Spartans allowed just 131 passing yards to Wisconsin, the second-fewest by an opponent in the Mel Tucker era.

• The Spartans have won three of the past five games with Henderson back in the starting lineup. MSU is allowing an average of 170.6 passing yards in the last five games with Henderson commanding the secondary, compared to 292.0 yards in the first six games.

• Following Henderson's exit from the game in Week 1, Kendell Brooks (Sr.-5) stepped up against Western Michigan and posted five tackles, including a forced fumble. Since then, he has gone on to lead the Spartan secondary in tackles and ranks second on the team overall with 93 stops; his 9.3 tackles per game average ranks fifth in the Big Ten.

• In his first career start against Akron in Week 2, Brooks caused another fumble and had seven tackles. He posted eight stops at Washington and forced a fumble in his third straight game; he ranks tied for third in the FBS with three forced fumbles. Brooks, who transferred from Division II North Greenville in 2021, had a career-high 18 stops vs. Minnesota in Week 4.

• True freshman Jaden Mangham, a four-star prospect, earned his first career start at safety in Week 5 at Maryland and collected six tackles. He played 38 total snaps at safety before playing 73 snaps against the Terrapins. Mangham started against Ohio State in Week 6, but left the game with an injury and did not play vs. Wisconsin; he returned to action at Michigan and has played in nine games overall.

►SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter: The Augusta Sports Council announced on Monday, Nov. 21 that Bryce Baringer has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the nation's best collegiate punter.

• Baringer, who has been ranked No. 1 in the FBS in punting for seven consecutive weeks, continues to lead the nation with his 48.4-yard punting average. MSU also leads the FBS in net punting (45.0-yard average) as Baringer has only three touchbacks this season while placing 20 of his 45 punts (44 percent) inside the 20, including eight inside the 10. The sixth-year graduate senior also has 21 punts of 50-plus yards (47 percent), third in the Big Ten, including eight of 60-plus yards.

• A two-time Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week (vs. Ohio State and Illinois), Baringer was named a first-team midseason Associated Press All-American and he has made five appearances on the "Ray's 8" weekly honor roll (vs. Western Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Rutgers).

• Baringer's career punting average of 45.7 yards per punt (156 punts for 7,134 yards) is currently the best in Big Ten history (Reggie Roby, Iowa, 45.5 average from 1979-82).

• Baringer used his extra season of eligibility in 2022 and returned as the starting punter after a record-breaking season in which he set the MSU single-season record in 2021 with his 48.4-yard punting average, a mark that also led the Big Ten and ranked No. 5 in the FBS. Baringer became the first Spartan punter to lead the Big Ten in punting since the late Mike Sadler in 2012. In addition, Baringer's 48.4-yard average was also the second-best average in Big Ten history, second only to Iowa's Reggie Roby in 1981 (49.8 avg.). Baringer also ranked second in the conference in punts of 50-plus yards (26), including 10 of 60-plus yards, to earn second-team all-league honors.

• For the second time this season, Baringer was honored as the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week for his performance in the win at Illinois on Nov. 5. Baringer, the nation's leading punter, punted five times for a 49.6-yard average, successfully punting in winds that were 25-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. He finished with four punts inside the 20, including two inside the 10. Baringer had a game-long 68-yarder with the wind in second quarter that went to the Illinois 6-yard line and also had a 62-yarder that went out of bounds at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter.

• Baringer was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week after averaging 48.9 yards per punt against Ohio State (seven punts for 342 yards) in Week 6. He also tied a career high with five punts placed inside the 20.

• In the season opener, Baringer averaged 50.5 yards per punt on four punts (202 yards) against WMU to be named one of the Ray Guy Award's top-eight punters of Week 1. He had a game-long 70-yard punt, marking the third time he has punted a ball at least 70 yards in a game; his first punt of the game was a 67-yarder that was downed at the 4-yard line.

Placekicker: The Spartans have a new starting placekicker for the first time in five years following the departure of the school's all-time leading scorer and field-goal kicker, Matt Coghlin.

• MSU added graduate transfer Ben Patton from Auburn in August prior to the season opener, and he has earned the starting placekicking duties in the second half of the season. Patton is 15-of-16 on PATs and 4-of-8 on field goals this season. He made his first PAT as a Spartan in Week 5 at Maryland and connected on a 21-yard field goal at Illinois for his first field goal wearing the Green and White.

• Patton tied his career high with two field goals, both in the fourth quarter, against Rutgers in the 27-21 win over the Scarlet Knights on Nov. 12. He made a 34-yarder with 6:28 left in the game to put MSU on top, 24-14, and then made a season-long 48-yarder at the 3:22 mark to give the Spartans a 27-14 lead in the eventual 27-21 victory.

• True freshman Jack Stone is 15-for-16 on PATs and 1-for-3 on field goals; he made a 43-yarder vs. Akron for the first field goal of his young career in Week 2. Stone is averaging 58.6 yards on kickoffs with 11 touchbacks in 50 attempts (.220).

• While Coghlin battled an injury at the end of last season, Stephen Rusnak stepped in the last five games to earn his first letter. Rusnak was 4-of-5 on PATs and averaged 54.3 yards on kickoffs with four touchbacks on 21 kickoffs.

Long Snapper: Hank Pepper handled every snap for the Spartans as a true freshman in 2021 and started the first five games of the season before getting sidelined with an injury. Backup redshirt freshman Michael Donovan has started the past six games for MSU.

Kick Returner/Punt Returner: Redshirt senior Jayden Reed earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as an all-purpose player last season thanks to a dynamic return game, as Reed led the Big Ten in punt returns (19.8 avg.; 12 returns for 238 yards) and tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). Reed also ranked fourth in the Big Ten in kick returns (23.5 avg.) and second in the Big Ten and 23rd in the FBS in combined returns (614 yards). He was selected the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Nebraska after his 62-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter tied the game in MSU's eventual overtime victory against the Huskers.

• Reed was named one of five finalists for the 2021 Paul Hornung Award, which is given annually to the nation's most versatile player. As a team, Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked third in the FBS in punt returns (18.2 avg.). Reed's two punt returns not only tied a school record, but he became the first Spartan to ever return touchdowns on back-to-back punts (fourth quarter vs. Nebraska; first quarter vs. Western Kentucky).

• Reed has nine punt returns for 73 yards (8.1 avg.) this season; his 15.4-yard career punt return average ranks second best among all active FBS players. He has had two punt returns for touchdowns called back this season due to penalties (86 yards vs. Akron; 81 yards vs. Wisconsin).

• Redshirt junior Cade McDonald has four punt returns for 44 yards (11.0 avg.), including a 21-yarder vs. Akron.

• Freshman Tyrell Henry leads the team in kick return yards with 167 on nine returns (18.6 avg.) Jarek Broussard ranks second with five returns for 95 yards (19.0 avg.).