Michigan State Football: Jahmyr Gibbs would be game-changer in 2022

Mel Tucker has been incredibly busy this week even though the regular season has come to an end for Michigan State football.

When he was hired last year, he made it clear that recruiting was going to be a priority of his and he wanted a staff around him that felt the same way. So far, that seems to be the case as they relentlessly recruit transfer portal players on top of top recruits in each cycle.

On Monday, the Spartans landed their first portal player of the cycle in Wisconsin running back Jalen Berger who happens to be a former top-150 recruit.

Even though they landed a running back who is likely to help fill the void Kenneth Walker III is most likely going to leave behind (he has not announced his decision yet), the Spartans look to be interested in adding another running back via the portal or in the 2022 recruiting class.

Reports came out on Monday that Michigan State was gauging interest from Georgia Tech’s Jahmyr Gibbs, a former top-100 running back who entered the portal on Monday.

And after watching some of his highlights and reading up on him, it’s pretty clear that he would be a game-changer for Michigan State. Maybe not quite a Walker-level player, but he’s borderline elite in the backfield and I think William Peagler could work his magic to make him an All-Big Ten back and make him and Berger the best 1-2 punch in the conference.

Gibbs would be ‘that dude’ for Michigan State football

It’s unfair, but from this point on, every running back Michigan State fields will be compared to Walker. Berger is a different type of player and has a different skillset but could be a special running back for the Spartans and Gibbs also brings something to the table.

I like Berger’s physical running style and I think he could have some success in East Lansing, but I truly believe that Gibbs is going to be one of the nation’s best backs before his collegiate career is over — no matter where he goes.

Gibbs was buried from the national eye at Georgia Tech, but Michigan State could change that like it did with Walker. Alabama will be the main competition here, but Gibbs will likely listen to what the Spartans have to say, seeing as they gave Walker a chance and he’s a Heisman finalist.

The former top-100 recruit is a special player as he has some breakaway speed and he can catch passes at a high level.

All you have to do is watch about 10 seconds of his freshman year highlights and it’s evident that this kid is special. He’s got some incredible speed, can contribute in the run game, pass game, and return game, and he’s tough. He’s not known for lowering his shoulder to pick up extra yards, but he absolutely can.

Michigan State needs to put the full-court press on with Gibbs because he’s a game-changer and would immediately lift the ceiling of this offense.

Imagine Payton Thorne with an elite receiving talent flying out of the backfield on wheel routes.