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Michigan State football: Playing time odds for 2022 class defensive signees

By Emmett Matasovsky

Michigan State's head coach Mel Turner gives encouragement to players during football camp on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, on the MSU campus in East Lansing.210817 Msu Football Camp 121a
Michigan State's head coach Mel Turner gives encouragement to players during football camp on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, on the MSU campus in East Lansing.210817 Msu Football Camp 121a /
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Groves’ Jaden Mangham hauls in a fourth quarter touchdown.Farmingtongrovesfootball17
Groves’ Jaden Mangham hauls in a fourth quarter touchdown.Farmingtongrovesfootball17 /

Jaden Mangham, DB

DB room:

Losing: Spencer Rowland, CJ Hayes, Emmanuel Flowers
Returning (safety): Xavier Henderson, Angelo Grose, Darius Snow, Tate Hallock, A.J. Kirk
Returning (corners): Charles Brantley, Ronald Williams, Chester Kimbrough, Khary Crump, Marqui Lowery, Justin White, Kendell Brooks, Antoine Booth
Bringing in: Dillon Tatum, Caleb Coley, Ade Willie, Malik Spencer, Quavian Carter, Malcolm Jones, Ameer Speed (transfer)

Jaden Mangham (No. 296 nationally, No. 13 athlete) is another talented recruit brought in by Mel Tucker that is expected to play defensive back.

As mentioned before, the Spartan pass defense was atrocious last year. While they did face some quarterbacks who will play on Sundays (Bailey Zappe, CJ Stroud), there would also be drives where it appeared the Spartans could not stop a nosebleed. Mangham also brings impressive length (6-foot-3) to the defensive backfield.

Mangham will see the field this year unless a few of the defensive backs turn into the 2013 No Fly Zone out of the blue.

Prediction

Solid playing time. Mangham is in the same boat as Tatum, as he is too talented and athletic to not see the field this year. Additionally, if the Spartans are anywhere near as bad against the pass this year, due diligence requires he sees the field.

As argued on the previous page, there are very few assured spots for the Spartans this year and Mangham has a full offseason to make a splash for the Spartans. He is another player I will be watching the spring game for and scouring Tucker’s press conferences for mentions.

This will be an interesting position group to watch throughout the year, as the best among Snow, Kirk, Magham, and Tatum will likely get the first crack at Henderson’s vacant spot for 2023.

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