Michigan State Football: Can Matt Dotson bring the tight end position back?
![EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Matt Dotson #89 of the Michigan State Spartans battles for yards after a second half catch while being tackled by Pete Werner #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Matt Dotson #89 of the Michigan State Spartans battles for yards after a second half catch while being tackled by Pete Werner #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/90453e17e52056c81a1553c15362fdd50ef611490525958ea74b0cb3c82c814f.jpg)
Matt Dotson can do something to Michigan State football that would greatly benefit its immediate future. He can bring the tight end position back.
For the past two seasons, Michigan State has gotten little production from the tight end position. Josiah Price was headed off to the NFL, leaving a vacancy at the position for an unproven Matt Sokol to fill. While he had a decent 2017 season, 2018 was more than forgettable.
The tight end position seems to have been forgotten by Michigan State football and there could be one kid tasked with bringing it back and making it great again: Matt Dotson.
The junior tight end from Ohio was one of the highest-rated players in Michigan State’s 2017 recruiting class, but has yet to really break out and take over the spot. He had spent time behind Sokol but the former four-star is the projected starter heading into 2019 and his athleticism sets him apart.
Dotson can run routes like a receiver and he’s put on enough muscle in East Lansing to make him a valuable blocker while absorbing contact well.
Michigan State needs its tight end position to steer back toward relevancy and it starts with Dotson who could become one of the best in recent memory if he lives up to his sky-high potential.
Will he, though?
While he had struggles with drops last season and Brian Lewerke wasn’t exactly on the same page as him, Dotson can be something special in East Lansing. Maybe all he needed was the opportunity to start. He’s getting his biggest opportunity yet and just needs to seize it, because he has all the key pieces needed to become a star.
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As the summer wears on and camp begins, all eyes will be on Dotson at the tight end position as he could finally make it relevant again in East Lansing.