Michigan State Football: 5 breakout candidates vs. Western Michigan

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EAST LANSING, MI – SEPTEMBER 02: Matt Sokol #81 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to escape the tackle of Cameron Jefferies #18 of the Bowling Green Falcons at Spartan Stadium on September 2, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 35-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Filling the shoes of Josiah Price wasn’t going to be easy, and Matt Sokol knew it. Returning as the top tight end for his junior season, Sokol was tasked with being the leader of a young position group which included freshmen Jack Camper and Matt Dotson and redshirt freshman Noah Davis.

How did he go from having two career catches to being the No. 1 tight end and a leader on offense? That’s what happens when the four-year starter before him graduates. Oh yeah, and his backup, Jamal Lyles, also exhausted his eligibility in East Lansing. Still, Sokol has embraced his new role, and he’s excelling.

In his first start, the junior tight end showed flashes of Price. He caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. He was a reliable target, for the most part, for Brian Lewerke. However, there was one major gaffe: a dropped pass in the end zone with no defenders in sight. Yes, a nightmare come true for Sokol, but he rebounded later to score his first touchdown.

Sokol stands 6-foot-6 and weighs in at around 250 pounds, making for the ideal Price replacement. He’ll look to bully his way through the Western Michigan defense this Saturday.

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