Michigan State football will get "big-time running backs", says RBs coach

Michigan State assistant head coach Keith Bhonapha looks on during the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Michigan State assistant head coach Keith Bhonapha looks on during the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Kickoff is just weeks away and if you're anything like me, you can't wait for the return of Michigan State football, especially since we finally get a chance to see what the new coaching staff can do.

Jonathan Smith took over last November and has been building the roster and filling out the coaching staff ever since. His first roster in East Lansing may not be the most talented, but he's done a great job of adding quality pieces both from the 2024 recruiting class and the transfer portal.

Some of his best additions have been in the backfield.

In fact, Smith landed Makhi Frazier and Brandon Tullis from the 2024 class along with Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams from the transfer portal after he rushed for 1,000 yards with Temple in 2023.

Running backs coach Keith Bhonapha is high on his running back room, which he told the media on Thursday, and he believes that the Spartans can turn into a 'RBU', of sorts, in the future.

Michigan State has had some elite running backs over the past 10-15 years from guys like Javon Ringer and Le'Veon Bell to Jeremy Langford and Kenneth Walker III. This program has produced some elite talent and all of those guys got to play in the NFL at some point and Walker is still making a name for himself after his Doak Walker Award-winning MSU career.

Hearing the staff say something like this is refreshing, though. What made Michigan State such a successful program under Mark Dantonio was the run game and it's great to hear that the staff is trying to bring that elite rushing attack back.

I think Nate Carter will push for Doak Walker this year and the staff will see immediate recruiting returns at the running back position in 2025 and beyond.