Michigan State Football: What will Harold Joiner’s role be in 2021?

Raise your hand if you remember Mark Dantonio and Michigan State making a strong push for Harold Joiner out of high school before he committed to Auburn.

Joiner was high on the Spartans out of high school, but he decided to stay close to home and he committed to Gus Malzahn and the Tigers in 2018.

The former top-150 prospect played in just two seasons for Auburn, accounting for a total of 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. He also added six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. He was more of an electrifying runner instead of a Kenneth Walker III type which is more of a downhill runner who also possesses great vision.

Michigan State picked up both in the portal this offseason, adding them to a running back room which already has Elijah Collins, Connor Heyward, and Jordon Simmons.

So where does that leave a guy like Joiner who’s not as experience a runner as any of those guys?

How Joiner fits in Michigan State football offense

An outsider might look at Michigan State’s running back room and think that there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Honestly, that’s not too far off, but Joiner can be used in certain situations.

Walker III and Collins will probably form a 1-2 punch as the starting running backs, Simmons will likely fight for carries as RB3, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Heyward’s snaps take a hit with all of the new and returning faces. But Joiner could be the perfect pass-catching back or an H-back type that could elevate the ceiling of this offense.

Basically, the Spartans could run some plays with him on the field as more of a slot-type of receiver who runs quick routes and screens while also fielding Walker, Collins, or Simmons.

Joiner might catch a lot more passes than he has in his career to this point in 2021 because of the loaded backfield rotation, but don’t be surprised if he beats out Simmons as the No. 3 running back who finishes the season somewhere in the 50-100 carry range.

I see him more involved in the passing game, but he’s such an impressive athlete with great size that I wouldn’t count him out of that 1-2 rotation.

College football hasn’t seen what Joiner is capable of just yet.