Michigan State Football: Ranking Mel Tucker’s 3 best staff hires

2. Chris Kapilovic, Offensive Line

If there is one thing to take away from watching Michigan State football the past two seasons, it’s one thing: the offensive line play needs to be much, much better.

The offensive line was more like no-line under Mark Staten’s leadership, but he has since departed to the university of Toledo. There were, and still are, talented football players on the Spartan offensive line, and the fantastic hire of Chris Kapilovic should help maximize that potential.

Kapilovic is the new offensive line coach and run game coordinator, two things the Spartans have not done well in recent years under Jim Bollman’s lackluster system. Kapilovic previously coached at North Carolina, setting school and conference records as their offensive coordinator and putting three offensive linemen in the NFL. He joined Mel Tucker in 2019 at Colorado, and the Buffaloes allowed the third fewest sacks in the Pac-12.

With an experienced line and a star running back, Kapilovic’s beginning to his MSU coaching career could be an easy one. He has three seniors — two of which are viewed as potential NFL draft picks, AJ Arcuri and Jordan Reid — who will be important to the offense, so long as they can stay healthy.

Running back Elijah Collins looks to become the next great Spartan running back after a breakout sophomore campaign. Kapilovic could be the key to a return to glory in the run game and the trenches, for which Michigan State football has always been notorious.