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Michigan State Football: Previewing RB battle for 2022 spring game

By Emmett Matasovsky

Michigan State's Davion Primm, left, runs the ball as A.J. Kirk closes in during the Meet the Spartans open practice on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210823 Meet The Spartans Football 192a
Michigan State's Davion Primm, left, runs the ball as A.J. Kirk closes in during the Meet the Spartans open practice on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210823 Meet The Spartans Football 192a /
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Michigan State’s Elijah Collins scores a touchdown against Youngstown State during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210911 Msu Youngstown Fb 203a
Michigan State’s Elijah Collins scores a touchdown against Youngstown State during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210911 Msu Youngstown Fb 203a /

The case for Collins

Elijah Collins, the second Detroit native in the running back room, returns for his senior campaign looking to recapture the magic from his redshirt freshman season. Collins looked like the next Spartan great, ending just shy of 1,000 yards. Since then, he has dealt with a coaching change, COVID-19, injuries, and being in the same room and position as a generational talent. With all of these having passed and Collins having acclimated, I believe Collins can return to form this year.

In his limited touches last year, he looked explosive. If Kenneth Walker had not gone to Michigan State, I believe the 2022 Spartan season would have been in the hands of the Detroit Jesuit alum.

My biggest drawback with Collins in years past was his inability to show up in the big game. As a redshirt freshman, a majority of Collins’ yards came against four teams: Western Michigan, Illinois, Rutgers, and Northwestern. Those teams combined to finish 19-33, with the only team to have a winning record being the Broncos. This last year, Collins looked explosive against all opponents, whether it was his 20-yard catch and run against Youngstown State or his limited touches against Ohio State.

Outlook

Collins rushed for just over 100 yards last season, and I expect him to top that by the final whistle of the Akron game this year. He is no longer a player that will beat up on the small team and disappear on the team when they need him.

From what the media has seen and what his teammates have said, Collins is a hard worker and tremendous teammate, and I would not be surprised to see him as one of the primary captains of the team this season. The fact that Collins lost his starting job and stuck the course cannot be understated, as it speaks to the type of teammate he is as well as his locker room presence. His patient running style might clash with the less experienced offensive line, but I have faith Collins and the staff can work to utilize his talent.

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