Note: This is the ninth and final installment of a series reviewing Michigan State's position groups heading into spring practice. Today's position: special teams
Michigan State's special teams in 2022 was a mixed bag.
The star of the show is All-American punter Bryce Ballinger, a former walk-on who became the nation's Most Valuable Player. And the long snapper had a terrible place kick situation and a big problem.
Despite all the uncertainty facing the Spartans on special teams heading into last season, they had a decent overall performance while relying heavily on rookies in key areas. Redshirt freshman punter Ryan Eckley stepped up and transfer kicker Jonathan Kim provided big, reliable legs. Both will return under new staff after Jonathan Smith was hired as program director in November.
2023 Recap:
Jack Stone and Ben Patton combined to go 6-of-12 on field goals in 2022, with Patton missing four shots inside 40 yards, one of which cost the team a bowl bid. It was something. Neither player returned to the team, leaving Michigan State with untested options going into last fall.
Kim, a graduate transfer from North Carolina State, was a standout kickoff specialist, but he missed the only field goal attempt of his career. Walk-on Stephen Rusnak returned, but also failed to make a field goal. Kim won the job in fall camp and regained some consistency in his kicking game. He went 13-for-18, 4-for-7 from at least 50 yards, and split the uprights from 58 yards to set the Kinnick Stadium record for longest field goal in a loss to Iowa. Established.
Eckley only had one punt attempt as a true freshman studying under Ballinger, but he split time early with Ohio State graduate Michael O'Shaughnessy before solidifying the role. He averaged 46.7 yards per punt on 56 attempts, had 24 completions of 50 or more yards, including a long of 67 yards, and had 24 touchdowns of 20 yards or less. He was a second-team All-Big 1 selection as Michigan State's punter. He earned the team's highest honors in the conference.
After Mel Tucker was fired in September, the Spartans needed a more reliable player in 2022, even after injury-prone third-year starter Hank Pepper left the team to enter the portal. He also benefited from high long snaps. JUCO transfer Drew Wilson and linebacker Sam Edwards will share the remaining duties.
Receiver Tyrell Henry took over as the top returner after Jaden Reed left for the NFL, but he didn't have the same shine. He had a long punt return of 18 yards and a long of 26 yards on the kickoff.
Michigan State's coverage unit lacked strength, allowing Iowa's star cornerback Cooper DeJean a game-winning 70-yard punt return touchdown. In the next game, O'Shagnessy fumbled a snap, but blew an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter of the Spartans' loss to Rutgers and ran it back for a touchdown in the end zone, earning Eckley his spot as the starter. solidified.
Breakdown of personnel:
Back: K: Jonathan Kim (sixth grade), Steven Rusnak (redshirt junior), Yousef Obeid (redshirt freshman), Tariq AhmetBasic (redshirt freshman). P: Ryan Eckley (redshirt sophomore). LS: Drew Wilson (4th grade), Sam Edwards (5th grade). KR/PR: Allante Brown (5 years senior), Montrey Foster (5 years senior).
2024 Signatories: K: Martin Connington (walk-on)
Transfer added: LS: Kaden Schickel (current)
Disappeared: P: Michael O'Shaughnessy. KR/PR: Tyrell Henry
Outlook for 2024:
Much of the uncertainty facing Michigan State's special teams a year ago has disappeared. Kim returned for his final season of eligibility and proved to be a reliable player splitting the uprights while also giving the team a scoring weapon from deep. Eckley showed improvement in his second college season, earning a scholarship and being named a Freshman All-American.
The special teams also have a new leader after an extremely difficult four-year tenure under coordinator Ross Els. Running backs coach Keith Bonafa, whom Coach Smith brought in from Oregon State, will serve as co-special teams coordinator and handle play-calling duties, while rushing ends coach Chad Wilt, who was transferred from Indiana, will also serve as co-special teams coordinator. Serves as team coordinator.
Michigan State's special teams roster has been reduced slightly due to the transfers of Henry (Wisconsin), Pepper (University of Southern California), and O'Shaughnessy (Charlotte). The Spartans added scholarship long snapper Cayden Schickel (James Madison) and released 2024 standout kicker Martin Connington from Oregon State University to the Spartans, who entered on a bye. Become.
With Henry gone, Michigan State will need to find a new key returning player, and spring practice will be the first opportunity to consider that option. It's unlikely the Spartans will have a game-changer like Reed next season, but he should have a decent kicking game.
