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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 Ricky White, left, celebrates his touchdown with teammate Jayden Reed against Michigan during the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.201031 Msu Um 048a
Michigan State’s Ricky White, left, celebrates his touchdown with teammate Jayden Reed against Michigan during the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.201031 Msu Um 048a /

Receivers

Starting receivers: Jayden Reed, Ricky White, Jalen Nailor
Backups: Tre Mosley, CJ Hayes, Terry Lockett

If the season started right now, I’d have to go with Jayden Reed, Ricky White and Jalen Nailor as the starters although I could also see Tre Mosley taking one of those spots.

Reed transferred in from Western Michigan before the 2019 season and had to sit out but played a major role in the offense this past season, catching a team-high 33 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns. He’ll be back along with the team leader in receiving yards (Nailor) who had 515 yards and four touchdowns on 26 receptions. White is my favorite young wide out on the team and I think he’s on the verge of becoming a star. He finished with 223 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches and he only played in three games.

Mosley has potential here and he could also be a top target but he was hurt for half the year and had just seven catches for 71 yards. CJ Hayes missed last season but will be back and hopefully at full strength and Terry Lockett could be a nice slot-type speed receiver. Losing Tre’Von Morgan hurts here, though.

Tight ends

Starter: Trenton Gillison
Backup: Tyler Hunt OR Tommy Guajardo

Will Matt Dotson be back? No one knows just yet, but if he is, he’ll likely retain that starting job while Trenton Gillison and Tyler Hunt back him up. If Dotson decides to move on, Gillison is the favorite to start along with Hunt and I could see Tommy Guajardo having a big role. Don’t sleep on Kameron Allen, though, as the true freshman is an early enrollee and a talented tight end.

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