Spartan Avenue
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
MADISON, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 02: Jalen Berger #8 of the Wisconsin Badgers warms up before the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Camp Randall Stadium on October 02, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. Michigan defeated Wisconsin 38-17. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 02: Jalen Berger #8 of the Wisconsin Badgers warms up before the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Camp Randall Stadium on October 02, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. Michigan defeated Wisconsin 38-17. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

Running Backs

Starting running back: Jarek Broussard OR Jalen Berger
Backups: Elijah Collins, Jordon Simmons, Harold Joiner

Kenneth Walker IIIs don’t just grow on trees. The Doak Walker Award winner was a godsend in 2021, finishing as the nation’s top running back, putting up well over 1,500 yards. He sat out the Peach Bowl and it was obvious that the running back position needed to be addressed as Elijah Collins, Jordon Simmons, and Harold Joiner all struggled.

What did Mel Tucker do to make sure he doesn’t have a running back issue again? He went to the portal immediately and landed Jalen Berger (well, he landed Berger before the Peach Bowl). The Wisconsin back was a four-star recruit out of high school and showed some promise in Madison.

Tucker wasn’t content with just one new back and he hit the portal again after the season and landed Jarek Broussard, a Colorado transfer who was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2020.

Michigan State’s backfield is deep with these two leading the way and it’s hard to say who will get the start but I’d almost lean Broussard right now.

I have a feeling there will be a transfer from this room and we’ll see Joiner play more of a pass-catching back role like Connor Heyward.

Home/Spartans Football