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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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Michigan State’s Kameron Allen runs after a catch during the spring football game on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210424 Msu Spring Game 071a
Michigan State’s Kameron Allen runs after a catch during the spring football game on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210424 Msu Spring Game 071a /

Wide receivers

Better or worse (than 2020): Better

Surprise, the Spartans are better at this position as well.

Michigan State brings back all of its leading receivers from last season. Jayden Reed, Jalen Nailor, and Ricky White are all returning. Tre Mosley had an off year but I expect a big jump from him in 2021 and CJ Hayes can never seem to stay healthy but he will be the veteran of the talented group.

The Spartans added Christian Fitzpatrick (Louisville) and Keon Coleman (four-star in the 2021 class), and both could be major contributors this season.

Neither talent nor depth should be an issue in the receiving corps this season which is a nice change of pace from what we’ve seen in years past.

Tight ends

Better or worse (than 2020): Better

If you’re not excited about the tight end group this season, you probably haven’t paid much attention to the developments this offseason.

Kameron Allen has been earning major praise from the coaching staff this offseason and Jay Johnson even said he was a leader in the tight end room as a true freshman, Maliq Carr was brought over from Purdue as a former four-star prospect in the 2020 class, and Connor Heyward has reportedly made a switch to the position group — or at least an H-back role.

Matt Dotson is gone, which hurts, but the former four-star was oft-injured and that was probably one of the main reasons he decided not to come back.

Trenton Gillison and Tyler Hunt are also back and Adam Berghorst and Parks Gissinger are hoping for major jumps in production.

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