Michigan State Football: Midseason report card for 2021 Spartans

Special Teams: B+

I know you’re probably thinking that special teams should receive nothing less than an A this season thanks to Jayden Reed’s emergence in the return game, Matt Coghlin’s broken records, and Bryce Baringer’s rise to stardom. But inconsistency in field goal kicking brings the grade down a bit.

The Spartans have been great in the return game as Reed leads the way with two punt return touchdowns and 215 punt return yards on seven tries. He also has 164 yards on six kick returns and he constantly gives Michigan State solid field position.

Now onto Baringer. The senior punter has been one of the Big Ten’s best this season and is sixth in the nation in yards per punt at 50.7. Baringer has been flipping field position all year.

Coghlin has become the school’s all-time leader in field goals made, but his make percentage this season is a career-low at just 61.5 percent. He’s made all of his extra points, but is just 2-for-7 from 30-plus yards. Not great.