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Michigan State Football: How do 2021 position groups compare to 2020?

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, runs with the ball as Xavier Henderson closes in during the opening day of fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, on the MSU campus in East Lansing.210805 Msu Fball Camp 028a
Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, runs with the ball as Xavier Henderson closes in during the opening day of fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, on the MSU campus in East Lansing.210805 Msu Fball Camp 028a /
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Tennessee linebacker Quavaris Crouch (27) tackles Texas A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer (85) during a game between Tennessee and Texas A&M in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.
Tennessee linebacker Quavaris Crouch (27) tackles Texas A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer (85) during a game between Tennessee and Texas A&M in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. /

Linebackers

Better or worse (than 2020): Better

I’m a big fan of what Mel Tucker did with the linebacking corps this offseason with the additions of Ben VanSumeren, Itayvion Brown, and Quavaris Crouch in the transfer portal as well as the late flip of four-star linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote from USC.

Although Michigan State does lose All-Big Ten linebacker Antjuan Simmons, these three additions should make the unit that much better this season.

Plus, in a 4-2-5 scheme, having four starting-caliber linebackers is more than good enough.

Brown, a Minnesota transfer, may be delegated to the defensive line as an edge rusher, but in a pinch, the linebacking unit could use him. He’s a former four-star and the prized recruit in PJ Fleck’s 2020 class. Crouch is the projected starter at linebacker along with Noah Harvey but I could see VanSumeren pushing him for that job along with Gaoteote and Chase Kline.

This unit should be much better, bigger, and faster and it’s going to help Tucker get one step closer to getting his type of guys.

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