logo
Jonathan Smith provides interesting update on MSU O-Line depth

Jonathan Smith provides interesting update on MSU O-Line depth

USA Today3 days ago
Depth within the offensive line was a concern last season for the Spartans, but that doesn't appear to be the case anymore.
Michigan State is in the midst of fall preseason camp, with the Spartans kicking off week three of practice earlier on Monday. As part of progressing into week three, Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith met with the media on Monday to discuss a number of topics surrounding his team. One of those was the depth he's seeing at offensive line.
According to a post from Emmett Matasovsky of Spartan Shadows, Smith said there's a battle for the starting five spots on the offensive line, with "close to 10 guys" still in the mix. This quote is particularly interesting because, to me, this suggests they feel pretty good about essentially their entire two deep at offensive line.
Michigan State's offensive line has been a weakness for the Spartans for what feels like a decade at this point. Sure, there have been bright spots along the way, but it hasn't been a unit that has given the fan base much faith over at least the last few seasons at a minimum.
If Michigan State can put together an average Big Ten offensive line, I feel very confident in what they can achieve this season on that side of the ball. The skilled position groups all seem to be upper-tier in the league, with the offensive line being the biggest question mark. However, it's starting to sound like we should be putting more faith and expectations into that unit as we inch closer and close to the start of the 2025 season.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Oklahoma Sooners true freshman running back impressing in fall camp
Oklahoma Sooners true freshman running back impressing in fall camp

USA Today

time29 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Oklahoma Sooners true freshman running back impressing in fall camp

The Oklahoma Sooners made a big splash in the transfer portal with the addition of former Cal running back Jaydn Ott. Ott is expected to be the Sooners' feature back in 2025, but he's battling a sprained shoulder in training camp and has been limited. Sophomore running backs Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum have also been limited at times, which has opened the door for true freshman running back Tory Blaylock to get some first-team snaps. And Blaylock has taken advantage of his opportunities. Nothing's set in stone when it comes to the running back rotation, but the former four-star running back has given the coaching staff a lot to think about in the first couple of weeks of fall camp. Blaylock has impressed his head coach. Speaking to reporters after practice on Friday, Venables heaped praise on the young running back (via John Hoover media). "His physical maturity, his explosiveness, his durability. He's taken a lot of snaps," Venables said. "Tory Blaylock has been as impressive as a freshman as I've been around. We'll see what the season brings, but he's been fantastic." Blaylock was a star at Atascocita High School in Texas, showing off blazing speed and contact balance to finish as the No. 17 running back in the 2025 recruiting class. He helped set records in the 4X100 relay and ran a 10.62 100-year dash as a junior. Though he has elite speed, Blaylock's gotten bigger in his short time with the Sooners in order to hold up to the rigors of carrying the football at the SEC level. He's done all the right things to work his way into the lineup this season. With the 2025 season right around the corner, the Sooners will be forced to find opportunities for Blaylock in the offense. He's a big-play threat waiting to happen. As Oklahoma looks to rebound on offense, Blaylock's big-play ability is something the Sooners will want to get on the field. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Could Notre Dame be finding another way to get the ball to star RB Jeremiyah Love?
Could Notre Dame be finding another way to get the ball to star RB Jeremiyah Love?

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Could Notre Dame be finding another way to get the ball to star RB Jeremiyah Love?

After today's media session, it looks very much like Notre Dame football could be trying to get its star running back Jeremiyah Love extra touches. It won't come in the way that we are all thinking, as he isn't expected to get more carries, but instead could get a handful of opportunities to return kickoffs. Special teams coach Marty Biagi met with reporters today and discussed the fact that Love and Jadarian Price could both be in line to see some opportunities on his unit. Biagi complimented the star back saying that anytime 'you see a guy that is presumed a Heisman candidate starting on our punt team, which often goes overlooked, but when you have one of the best players in the country willing to go out and be a gunner on our punt team, it sets the standard for no job is too small for anybody on our team. It sets a standard for what we really want to be.' Love being a team-first player isn't surprising, as he battled through injuries at the end of last year to help the team wherever he could. If he's able to take a few of those kickoffs for scores, it should elevate his Heisman status and we could very well be seeing him in New York City in December. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X:@MikeFChen

Former Spartans star signs with Polish basketball club
Former Spartans star signs with Polish basketball club

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Former Spartans star signs with Polish basketball club

A pair of former Spartans are linking up in Poland. Former Spartans big man Kenny Goins has reportedly signed with the Polish club Trefl Sopot. According to 247Sports' reporter Stephen Brooks, Goins will be joining the same club as former Spartans big man Szymon Zapala. Goins played for the Spartans from 2015 to 2019, where he played a big part in the Spartans winning a pair of Big Ten titles and reaching the Final Four in 2019. It was his shot against Duke in the Elite Eight that propelled the Spartans to the Final Four that season. Since leaving Michigan State, Goins has primarily played in Europe. According to Basketball Reference, Goins has played a pair of seasons in the Greek Basketball League and one year in the France LNB Pro A. He will now be heading to Poland and play alongside a fellow former Spartan. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store