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Michigan State Football: Post 2022 National Signing Day depth chart projection

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 27: Jayden Reed #1 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on November 27, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 27: Jayden Reed #1 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on November 27, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State linebacker Cal Haladay scores a touchdown after intercepting the ball from Pittsburgh quarterback Davis Beville during the second half of the 31-21 win over Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
Michigan State linebacker Cal Haladay scores a touchdown after intercepting the ball from Pittsburgh quarterback Davis Beville during the second half of the 31-21 win over Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. /

Linebackers

Starters: Cal Haladay, Jacoby Windmon
Backups: Ma’a Gaoteote, Tank Brown, Aaron Brule, Quavaris Crouch

The linebackers were a major question mark heading into the 2021 season with Quavaris Crouch coming in and no one really looking like the clear No. 2 linebacker in that 4-2-5 scheme.

Crouch got the start, obviously, and Cal Haladay got the start as a breakout star alongside him. He was a Freshman All-American and really stole the show on the defensive side of the ball, finishing the season with 96 tackles, five tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and two huge pick-sixes which helped seal the Indiana and Pittsburgh wins. He’ll be back as the top starter this year.

Will we see Crouch start again? He had his moments in 2021, but wasn’t consistent and disappeared near the end of the season. I think the staff hit the portal hard because of the uncertainty surrounding Crouch.

I see UNLV transfer Jacoby Windmon taking over next to Haladay and there’s always a possibility that Michigan State employs a 4-3 front with three linebackers. Windmon could be a star on defense and he was an All-Mountain West player for the Rebels, finishing with 119 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks last season.

Ma’a Gaoteote will be a solid option as a backup as the former four-star announced he’d be leaving the team via transfer about a month ago and then took his name out of the portal to return to East Lansing. Mel Tucker clearly likes him enough to convince him to stay.

Tank Brown could be an edge rusher or linebacker, depending on need, and Aaron Brule is another solid transfer coming from Mississippi State. Both of these guys also have enough talent to start.

And you can’t forget about Noah Harvey and Ben VanSumeren behind these guys.

This linebacker group is incredibly deep.

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