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Michigan State Football: Projected Spartans’ 2-deep depth chart for 2019

By Connor Muldowney

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on November 3, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on November 3, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 08: Wide receiver Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans catches a 31 yard touchdown reception past cornerback Langston Frederick #18 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 08: Wide receiver Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans catches a 31 yard touchdown reception past cornerback Langston Frederick #18 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Receivers/Tight Ends

Starting receivers: Cody White, Darrell Stewart Jr., Jalen Nailor
Backups: Cam Chambers, Laress Nelson, CJ Hayes OR Julian Barnett

Being the No. 1 receiver isn’t easy, but Cody White has been prepping his entire Spartan career for this. He showed flashes of being that guy as a freshman and again last season along with Felton Davis III and then was forced into the role when the senior went down with an Achilles tear. Now he could be that 1,000-yard receiver Michigan State has missed since Aaron Burbridge.

Darrell Stewart Jr. will be the shifty receiver who is the yards after catch machine. He’s basically the Golden Tate of the Spartans’ receiving corps. And Jalen Nailor has plenty of speed and could be a big-play threat in this offense as a sophomore.

Cam Chambers is coming off a career year and seems poised to build on that — the potential is there, and we saw it in 2018. Laress Nelson has earned praise from Brian Lewerke as a guy who is making a splash and is deadly in the open field. And CJ Hayes, too, has been talked up this offseason as maybe turning a corner while freshman Julian Barnett has moved over from the secondary and could be an explosive weapon.

Don’t overlook guys like Tre Mosley and Weston Bridges because they, too, will see plenty of time at receiver this season.

Starting tight end: Matt Dotson
Backup: Trenton Gillison OR Noah Davis

Matt Dotson received plenty of criticism last season for dropped passes, but in reality, he didn’t have a bad year, by any means. Sure, he dropped some passes, but what tight end doesn’t? Not everyone can be Rob Gronkowski. He finished with 14 catches for 159 yards and a score. Him and Lewerke must get on the same page because he can be a valuable weapon in this offense.

The popular pick for backup tight end may be former four-star Trenton Gillison, and he certainly has the frame and sneaky athleticism for the position. He’s entering his redshirt freshman season so he doesn’t quite have the experience that Noah Davis has, even coming off an injury year.

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