Michigan State Football: 3 players with most to prove this offseason

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Michigan State’s Elijah Collins runs for a gain as Ohio State’s Tommy Togiai attempts the tackle during the first quarter on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.201205 Msu Osu 072a /

If there was one player who I believed was the most disappointing in terms of drop-off of production from 2019 to 2020, it would have to be Elijah Collins.

What shocked me was the fact that he nearly reached 1,000 yards as a redshirt freshman and looked like the future but then had just 90 yards on 41 carries in 2020. He went from focal point of the run game to the third option behind a true freshman and a junior who entered the portal before ultimately deciding to return.

With all of the names that have hit the transfer portal following the season, it’s refreshing to see that Collins hasn’t given up on the new coaching staff despite seeing his carries limited.

Collins will be back for his junior season as one of the top backs on the roster, but he’ll have to fight for carries with guys like Jordon Simmons, Harold Joiner and Kenneth Walker III. Connor Heyward is also back, so that adds another threat to his production.

After a disappointing follow-up season to his breakout freshman year, Collins has a lot to prove to this new staff to show he belongs in the regular rotation.

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