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EAST LANSING – Among the few constants over the last five decades in the Michigan State football program, producing high-quality specialists remains at or near the top of the list.
Punter Ryan Eckley and kicker Jonathan Kim are the latest in that lineage. And a welcome sigh of relief for new coach Jonathan Smith to inherit their talented legs.
“We feel solid with the specialist end of it,” Smith said recently.
However, the Spartans are looking to juice up their return game that has languished in recent years.
Michigan State place kicker Jonathan Kim (97) attempts a field goal against Maryland during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
MSU ranked 88th in the nation last season at 6.85 yards per punt return and 106th at 17.76 yards per kickoff return. And the primary return man for both, Tyrell Henry, transferred to Wisconsin after the coaching change.
It remains to be seen who will emerge in the return game before the Aug. 30 opener against Florida Atlantic (7 p.m./BTN). Smith did not give any names away after last Saturday’s first scrimmage of preseason camp, with the second one scheduled for Saturday, but the former Oregon State leader said the Spartans “have options” that will come down to a few key criteria.
“Whoever’s going to return for us, we have deep trust in them that they’re gonna field the ball and make great decisions with it,” Smith said Monday. “And then, yes, want to be dynamic, so we’re going to put a dynamic, good decision-maker back there.”
MORE MSU FOOTBALL: Jack Velling, tight ends look to mesh with new QB Aidan Chiles
Seniors Alante Brown and Montorie Foster each have experience on both return units. But they also will be counted on to guide a young receiving corps, and Brown suffered a concussion on the opening kickoff of the 2023 season…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/amidst-mass-turnover-michigan-state-100930434.html
Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2024-08-15 10:09:30
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