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Michigan State Football: Way-too-early 2022 depth chart projection

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 30, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) and quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrate after a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the 2021 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) and quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrate after a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the 2021 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the 2021 season in the books and Michigan State football finishing with an 11-2 record, what could the depth chart look like for 2022?

What a season it was for Michigan State football. Just one year after going 2-5, Mel Tucker led the Spartans to an 11-2 record and a New Year’s Six bowl win over No. 12 Pitt. It was a fantastic ride and it’s sad that it’s over, but this feels like just the beginning.

With NFL draft decisions and transfer options being weighed, now is a great time to think about what the depth chart may look like in 2022.

Offensive Line

Starting tackles: Jarrett Horst, Spencer Brown
Backups: Brandon Baldwin, Geno VanDeMark

This is more of a hopeful projection at tackle. I’m hoping that Jarrett Horst returns for one final season at left tackle, but nothing is for sure after he missed a month and was “questionable” for the Peach Bowl after rejoining the squad. Rumors swirled about some personal reasons for not playing, so we’ll see if he returns despite that forgettable finish to the season.

Alongside Horst, I could see Spencer Brown who I thought played relatively well in the bowl game. He’s going to need some polishing up, but he got some quality experience against a talented Pitt defensive line that will go a long way.

Behind them, I see JUCO transfer Brandon Baldwin and freshman Geno VanDeMark who both impressed during bowl practices.

Starting guards: JD Duplain, Geno VanDeMark
Backups: Jacob Isaia, Dallas Fincher

Remember when I said VanDeMark impressed during bowl practices? You better, because I just said it one sentence earlier, but I think this end to his freshman year will have him in line to win a starting guard job next year with Kevin Jarvis and Blake Bueter gone. He’ll be joined by JD Duplain who has plenty of experience as a starter as he was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2021.

There’s very little experience returning as depth pieces so I wouldn’t be shocked to see some freshmen push for snaps, but Jacob Isaia is a veteran who might see the field finally and I liked Dallas Fincher as a recruit so don’t be shocked if he’s a backup.

Starting center: Nick Samac
Backup: Jacob Isaia

All season long, it looked like Nick Samac was the best option to start at center for the Spartans over Matt Allen and now he won’t have to worry about the veteran breathing down his neck and stealing snaps. The job should be all his. It’s tough to pinpoint a backup to Samac, but my early choice would have to be Jacob Isaia because he has experience at the position.

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