8. Tight end production
The tight ends will be monitored closely this fall. Mark Dantonio’s tight ends are usually a big part of the offense, especially during the Josiah Price era, but the 2017 season was the least productive they’ve ever been.
In fact, Matt Sokol — the starter — finished with 21 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown and he was guilty of a plethora of drops. He needs to step up and prove that he’s better than the young guns making a run for that No. 1 job.
Speaking of young guns, Matt Dotson — a sophomore — is turning heads this fall. He’s added weight to his slim frame and already has the height, hands and athleticism to become one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the Big Ten. There was a reason he was highly sought-after out of high school and he might just swoop in and steal No. 1 snaps.
Those are the two favorites to earn time and increase that tight end production, but Trenton Gillison will be a name to watch as well. The incoming freshman has all the tools — literally all of them — to become one of the best tight ends in the nation. He may be a year or two away from working toward that, though.
If Noah Davis is healthy, he, too, could contend for some playing time.
Michigan State needs more production from these guys and it looks like the Spartans have the tools to make that happen.