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Michigan State Football: Way-too-early 2-deep depth chart projection for 2021

By Connor Muldowney

STATE COLLEGE, PA - DECEMBER 12: Payton Thorne #10 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on December 12, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - DECEMBER 12: Payton Thorne #10 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on December 12, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State’s Noah Harvey closes in on Rutgers’ Isaih Pacheco, right, during the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.201024 Msu Rutgers 132a
Michigan State’s Noah Harvey closes in on Rutgers’ Isaih Pacheco, right, during the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.201024 Msu Rutgers 132a /

Linebackers

Mike linebacker: Noah Harvey
Backup: Cal Haladay

The linebacker spots are tough to judge because the Spartans are losing so much from the 2020 team and the departure of Luke Fulton might hurt the worst because it was so unexpected at the start of last season. But Noah Harvey returns even though I believe the Spartans could hit the portal to upgrade this position. He was second on the team last season with 54 tackles and five tackles for loss, but this is not a strength. Cal Haladay is really the only backup option right now.

Outside linebacker: Chase Kline
Backup: Ma’a Gaoteote

And this is where we’re going to see a team that misses the leadership and production of an Antjuan Simmons. With the new 4-2-5 defense that Scottie Hazelton uses, Simmons became a star and led the defense, but now that he’s gone, I think Chase Kline has the highest ceiling of the outside linebackers. He had 29 tackles with 0.5 tackles for loss in 2020 which was good for fourth on the team.

Ma’a Gaoteote could be that backup option as a true freshman because, well, he’s the most talented incoming player on the defensive side of the ball for 2021. The former USC commit is Mel Tucker’s best recruit so far and I could see him start to rely on “his guys” this season and Gaoteote is one of them.

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