Michigan State football announces extremely unique set of team captains
We are a week and a half away from Michigan State football. Can you believe it?
After one of the most intriguing offseasons in Michigan State history, we finally get to watch the program take the field under new head coach Jonathan Smith. Not only do we get to see Smith in action for the first time, but we get to see what this brand new team looks like as well.
With that comes a list of new captains.
If you remember during the Mel Tucker tenure, MSU had weekly rotating captains. And in all honesty, I hated that. It always took me back to the saying, “If you have two quarterbacks you have no quarterbacks.” So if Michigan State had rotating captains did they ever actually have a true captain in the locker room?
I rest my case.
None of that matters anymore and we get to watch Michigan State operate under their five new captains announced by Smith on Monday.
Proud to announce our captains for this season! It’s a big time honor, as voted on by their teammates, recognizing their hard work and impact on our team! pic.twitter.com/Afeb4q0l3A
— Jonathan Smith (@Coach_Smith) August 19, 2024
This set of captains could very well be the most unique in the entire country. The group is headlined by star sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles. It’s not super uncommon for a sophomore to be named captain, let alone a quarterback, but to be named captain without ever having started a game is extremely rare.
Along with Chiles, MSU also has two other newly-transferred players into the program who were named captains as well. This includes second-team All-Pac-12 offensive lineman Tanner Miller who is also from Oregon State and Wisconsin linebacker transfer Jordan Turner. Having three out of five captains being new players to a program is once again extremely rare.
Then you have star running back Nate Carter who is only entering his second season at Michigan State.
Last but not least we have defensive lineman Maverick Hansen, who is the only captain who has spent his entire career at Michigan State.
While this group is very unique, I think Smith and his staff made the right choices. They all will be star players at their respective positions and they’ve also been a huge presence in the locker room already.
Hopefully this is the start of a special season, and with these five leading the team I have that much more confidence in the season ahead.