Michigan State Football: Maliq Carr move to tight end looks likely

Team bonding is so important in the offseason and it’s always good to see the coaching staff getting position groups together for fun off-field activities. During the Mark Dantonio days of Michigan State football, you’d see the staff taking their position groups to dinner or hosting them for a barbecue and that’s continued in the Mel Tucker era.

Guys are getting to know their coaches better and this is critical after having no real offseason or preseason a year ago. COVID-19 really ruined bonding opportunities between players and coaches.

New coaches like Tucker, Scottie Hazelton, Jay Johnson, Courtney Hawkins, and Ted Gilmore are excited to get off the field with the players and have some fun.

And sometimes hints are dropped during these team outing pictures.

On Thursday, Gilmore (tight ends coach) posted a picture on Twitter of himself and his group of tight ends on the golf course. Just a harmless picture, right? Well, it looks like it gave away a position change for one of the newest Spartans who was a former four-star receiver.

Maliq Carr was pictured with the group of tight ends.

Not only is Carr pictured, but he looks like one of the biggest guys in the group. He’s got plenty of height and the bulk is evident as he looks like a true tight end — and that’s a good thing.

Carr is listed at 6-4, 230 pounds and he’s an impressive two-sport athlete. He can use those basketball skills to run some quick routes with good footwork. Joining the tight end group may be his quickest way to the field as the receiving corps is loaded.

Where Carr may sit on Michigan State football’s depth chart

If Carr is truly making the switch to full-time tight end, he could be in that two-deep when the season starts. He has a year of experience at Purdue already and although he was a receiver, he has a leg up at this level over a guy like Kameron Allen who may just be a breakout freshman.

And then there’s Trenton Gillison who could be a star if he lives up to his sky-high potential. He will be battling with Allen and Tyler Hunt, a converted punter.

Adam Berghorst could make a leap this season and crack that two-deep, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Carr rise to the starting spot or maybe even TE2. He has an uphill battle to climb but has all the talent to break out here.

This is going to be a good move for Carr and we should see plenty of him in 2021.