It goes without saying that the quarterback is the most important player not only on offense, but on an entire football team. It’s the reason that they wear different colored jerseys during practice as to avoid getting hit by defenses during scrimmages and drills.
Michigan State has a pretty good quarterback at the helm for Pat Fitzgerald’s inaugural season, but it doesn’t much matter how good the QB1 is if he doesn’t have any help around him.
The offense is filled with important players from the receiving corps to the tight end room to the backfield to the ever-critical offensive line. Michigan State doesn’t have insane depth, but the Spartans don’t lack important offensive weapons.
These are the most important offensive players not named Alessio Milivojevic.
1. Cam Edwards, RB
Cam Edwards is in the driver’s seat of the deepest running back room that Michigan State has featured in years and that’s a testament to how talented he is. The Spartans added two other running backs in the portal and returned Brandon Tullis and Jace Clarizio so this offense could legitimate go five backs deep.
While there is depth, there’s no one quite as talented as Edwards who’s rushed for over 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns over the past two seasons at UConn. He’s primed for an All-Big Ten season.
Fitzgerald and Devon Spalding even half-joked earlier during fall camp when Edwards made a wild play during practice that they should shut him down until the regular season. It’s just not worth risking an injury to let the most gifted offensive weapon take a beating during practice.
It’s pretty clear that he’s the most important offensive player not named Alessio.
2. Chrishon McCray, WR
After putting up 1,315 yards and 13 touchdowns on 81 catches in two years at Kent State, Chrishon McCray transferred to Michigan State to be the WR3 alongside Nick Marsh and Omari Kelly.
He struggled early in his first season with Michigan State before coming on late thanks to the emergence of Milivojevic under center. The two had a strong connection and they hooked up through the air eight times for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the final two games of the regular season. With the entire receiver room looking different, it’ll be up to McCray to lead that group.
McCray is also going to be looked at as the WR1 this season with Kelly and Marsh both gone and Rod Bullard still fighting for eligibility in court. If he can’t go for whatever reason, the offense is in trouble.
3. Ben Murawski, LT
The left tackle spot is the most important position on the offensive line because this is the guy who protects Milivojevic’s blindside. Ben Murawski is assuming that role this season and he happened to be one of the better run-blockers in the Group of Five last season. Now, he’ll be paving the way for his former UConn teammate (Edwards) who’s aiming for another 1,000-yard season.
If Murawski goes down with an injury, Michigan State will have to rely on a young guy to take over at left tackle and it’s just too early to tell if Rustin Young is ready for that responsibility.
Right now, Murawski is the most important guy on that offensive line.
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