2023 Michigan State Spring Football Practice | Spartans Show Promise in First Look for 2023

>>> FOR MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL, A RENEWED SENSE OF HUNGER, AND THEY LOOK TO PUT LAST SEASON IN THE REAR VIEW AND REPLACE IT WITH A VIEW FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP MOUNTAIN TOP. TODAY, THAT TEAM IS ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRONT OF SPARTAN NATION, CAPPING OFF A SPRING THEY BELIEVE HAS LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL FALL AHEAD. IT'S THE MICHIGAN STATE SPRING FOOTBALL KICKOFF ON BIG TEN NETWORK, NEXT. >>> FOOTBALL IS BACK IN EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN, AS WE WELCOME YOU INSIDE SPARTAN STADIUM. A GREAT CROWD FILING IN FOR THE FINALE IN FRONT OF THE SPARTAN NATION. THE NEW FRESHMEN COMING IN THE FALL, THEY ARE IN THE BUILDING. AN IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR FOOTBALL. 84 DEGREES. MATT SCHUMACHER, ALONG WITH ANTHONY HERON. WE KNOW LAST YEAR WAS NOT THE SEASON MICHIGAN STATE WANTED, GOING 5-7. WE CHATTED WITH MEL TUCK THEY ARE WEEK. HE SENSED AN UNDER CURRENT OF THE PROVEN MENTALITY THAT HE LIKENED TO THE TEAM OF 2021. >> THEY REALLY FELT THAT, THAT YEAR, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH CHATTER AROUND SPARTAN FOOTBALL, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE, TALKING CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND MEL TUCKER THIS WEEK, HE DOESN'T MIND THAT EXPECTATIONS AND THE NICE IS A LITTLE DAMPENED, BUT THE COMPETITION IS BETTER. >> COMPETITION AT EVERY POSITION. THE ONE THE FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT, QUARTERBACK. >> I REALLY THINK THAT PAYTON THORNE HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL MUCH OF HIS CAREER. HE WILL BE CHALLENGED, AND HE WILL GET CHALLENGED FROM NOAH KIM, AND THEY ARE ALSO HOUTED ABOUT KATIN HOUSER. >> THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE FOOTBALL. AN AREA THAT HAD QUESTION MARKS ABOUT. ONE GUY THEY DON'T HAVE QUESTION MARKS ABOUT, JACOBY WINDMON. >> PLAYED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. NOW HE WILL BE BACK TO HIS OFF LINEBACKER POSITION AND THE DEPTH ACROSS THE BOARD. AARON BRULE. >> PLENTY OF RETURNERES, 30 PLAYERS RETURN ON THE TEAM FOR MICHIGAN STATE, WITH STARTING EXPERIENCE FROM A YEAR AGO. AND LOTS OF NEWCOMERS AS WELL. WE WILL SEE THEM OFF THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE MICHIGAN STATE SPRING FOOTBALL KICKOFF. LANSING, MICHIGAN, FOR THE SPRING FOOTBALL KICKOFF. AS WE SEND IT DOWN TO THE THIRD MEMBER OF OUR CREW, DARIEN HARRIS WITH COACH MEL TUCKER. >> FOURTH OVERALL SEASON AS SPARTANS HEAD COACH. WHO DO YOU LOOK FOR FORWARD TO MOST? >> THIS IS PRACTICE JUST FOR US. AND WE WANT TO GET BETTER. WE WANT TO SEE OUR GUYS PLAY WITH TOUGHNESS. WE WANT TO SEE POLICE DIN. >> WE HAVE A COUPLE NEW COACHES THAT ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR FIRST GAME, THE SPARTANS, AND COACH SALGADO,AND COACH REYNOLDS. WHAT DO YOU LOOK TO GET OUT OF THEM TODAY? >> I WANT THEM TO ENJOY IT. IT'S SPECIAL. THE FIRST GAME AS A SPARTAN. YOU KNOW, TIME TO GET A CHANCE TO COME -- IT'S A SPECIAL EVENT. GET A CHANCE TO ENJOY OUR FANS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY WILL COACH OUR GUYS UP. BUT I WANT THEM TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AS WELL. >> 80 DEGREES. BUT YOU SAID IT'S LIKE THIS 80 DAYS OF THE YEAR FROM EAST LANSING. >> THIS IS JUST EVERY DAY FOR YOU. 80 DEGREES AND SUNNY, ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. >> THE FUNNY THING IS, WE WERE TALKING TO MEL TUCKER THIS WEEK, AND HE SAID WE FINALLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE DONE WITH SNOW IN EAST LANSING, SO THIS IS A BIT OF A SURPRISE. YOU WERE HERE LAST YEAR. IT WAS RAINY, IT WAS COLD. THIS IS PICTURE PERFECT. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A TRADITIONAL WHITE VERSUS GREEN. WE WILL SEE POSITION GROUPS. WE WILL SEE ONE ON ONES AND NINE ON NINE WITH TACKLING AS WELL. >> MEL TUCKER HAS BEEN DESCRIBING TO US AND IN PUBLIC APPEARANCES AS WELL, THE INITIATIVE WILL BE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PRODUCTIVE TODAY. YOU WANT TO KEEP BODIES PROTECTED. HE LOVES THE DEPARTMENT. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PUTTING GUYS IN COMPETITIVE SITUATIONS TO REALLY SUIT THEM. HE MADE IT A POINT NOT TO MATCH UP EXTREMELY YOUNG GUYS. THEY HAD A NUMBER OF TRUE FRESHMAN WHO SINCE JANUARY. NOT NECESSARILY MATCHING THEM UP WITH GUYS THEY ARE GOING TO BE MATCHED UP BY, AND IN PRACTICE TODAY, ONE THING THAT WILL REALLY STAND OUT THAT IS DIFFERENT FOR WHAT YOU REFERENCED LAST YEAR, THEY HAD HARDLY ANY OFFENSIVE LINEMEN LAST SEASON, THE SPRING SNOW CASE. FIVE GUYS AVAILABLE ON OFFENSE. THEY MOVED A COUPLE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN OVER, AND YOU KNOW, THEY MADE IT WORK. TODAY'S SITUATION COULD BE DIFFERENT. THE OFFENSIVE LINE, THEY HAD NEARLY 20 BODIES AVAILABLE TO THEM EARLY IN SPRING PRACTICE. THEY WILL GO WITH A LITTLE MORE TEMPO UP FRONT, ESPECIALLY WITH OFFENSE WHERE THEY WERE A YEAR EYE GO. >> THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, JAY JOHNSON TOLD US THAT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. HAVING A HEALTHY OFFENSIVE LINE, HE SAID WE LOOK NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO. >> WHEN YOU THINK THAT MEL TUCK ESCH AND JAY JOHNSON, THEY WORKED TOGETHER A LONG TIME. BUT MEL TUCKER, THEY ARE GOING TO RUN THE FOOTBALL. YOU WANT DEPTH AT RUNNING BACK. YOU WANT AN EXPERIENCED QUARTERBACK. YOU WANT THE DIRECTION OF THE RUN SCHEMES, AND ALSO DEPTH AND TALENT ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE. I THINK BARACK TO TWO SEASONS AGO WHEN THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL, AND KENNETH WALKER, A DIFFERENT STORY, THEY CAN HAVE SO MANY GUYS ROTATE IN, AND ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE, THEY COULD ROTATE MULTIPLE GROUPS THROUGH. EVEN IN GAME WHEN THEY NEEDED TO, AND THAT, HOPEFULLY FROM A SPARTAN PERSPECTIVE WILL DEVELOP BACK. >> WELL, CHRIS KPILOVIC BRINGS BACK ALL FIVE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, AND A COUPLE FOUR-STAR FRESHMAN, AND THE TOP RANKED LINEMAN OUT OF JUCO THIS YEAR, KEYSHAWN BLACKSTOCK. >> YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH, IN THE GAME, THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE ENDED UP HAVING PRESSURE ON THE O TACKLE, AS HE'S OPERATING. THAT WILL BE BIG FOR THE RUN GAME, TO FINAL NOT ONLY THE STARTER, BUT TO BE IN A SITUATION IN SPRING PRACTICE, IN FALL CAMP. BUT AS YOU GET IN THE REGULAR SEASON, TO PUT THEM IN A COMPETITIVE SCENARIO. THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEY CAN HANDLE IT IN THE GAME MOCH AND YOU NEED YOUR GUYS TO BE ABLE TO STEP FORWARD AND MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE BALL, AND WHEN YOU HAVE DEPTH, YOU CAN PRACTICE IT AT A HIGH LEVEL AND IT SUITS YOUR GAME BETTER. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A COUPLE MINUTES AGO. DEPTH AND OFFENSIVE LINE. THEY FEEL THEY HAD THAT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT LAST YEAR. IT'S A BACK REASON SOME OF THE RESULTS DIDN'T GO MICHIGAN STATE'S WAY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WERE MISSING PLAYERS DUE TO INJURY AND SUSPENSION. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS, THERE WERE THREE, MAYBE FOUR GAMES THE TEAM COULD HAVE WON. EVEN WITH THE INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS. THAT IS WHY THERE IS SO MUCH ANTICIPATION FOR THE 2023 CAMPAIGN. >> IT'S PART OF WHY MEL TUCKER HAS ADJUSTED TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO ENSURE MORE HEALTH GOING IN THE YEAR. AND YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T GUARANTEE IT. AND FOOTBALL IS A FAST BASED TEAM, A VIOLENT GAME, A COLLISION SPORT. YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT YOU CAN, AND ONCE YOU GET IN THE REGULAR SEASON, THE AMOUNT OF TEMPO THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU, WHEN YOU GO THROUGH FALL CAMP, THAT CAN PUT YOU IN A BETTER POSITION TO BE READY FOR GAME ONE, TO PLAY IN A HIGH TEMPO. >> WE CHATTED WITH MEL TUCKER EARLIER THIS WEEK. YOU ASKED HIM, WHAT TWEAKS HAVE YOU MADE THIS SPING? AND HE SAID, WE MADE IT LIKE NFL OT AS. THERE IS SOME CONTACT. THEY ARE PRACTICING LIKE PROS FRENCHTS AND IT WAS AN OFFENSIVE LINE THAT THE YEAR BEFORE, HE DIDN'T PLAY A HIGH LEVEL BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT CAME INS THE 2021 SEASON AND THEY ENHANCED THE DEPTH. THAT YEAR AND PART OF THAT, THEY COULDN'T RUN THE FOOTBALL, AND ALSO PASS PROTECTION BREAK BROKE DOWN MORE FREQUENTLY. YOU CAN EXPECT THAT GUY WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT TLLT FERKS AND INDIVIDUALLY, THE QUARTERBACK POSITION CAN BE MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BODIES THAT CAN ROLL 24RU, AND IT WILL FEET THE PROGRAM HAD THE A HIGHER LEVEL OF GAMES. >> WE WILL SHEEM AND THIS IS JUST THE SFLOEX AND FANS CONTINUE IN HERE TO SPARTAN STADIUM. YOU MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO ABOUT INCOMING PLAYERS. IT'S SOMETHING THE CALF HAS GOTTEN BETTER AT. HE SAYS THIS IS THE BEST TRANSFLOERM PAR TALL CLASS THEY EVER HAD. >> THAT'S NO, MA'AM AND AS MNL INS THE COUNTRY. AND WE MENTIONED WHEN THEY WON 11 GAMES, AND JACOBY WIND MOON, WHAT HE MEANT TO THEM, AND TO CALL THIS THE DEEPEST, THE BEST TRANSFER PORTAL CLASS THAT MEL TUCKER HAS BROUGHT IN SFLERKS AND THE TALENT THAT'S BEEN ADDED. >> IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN, THE GIPGS AND THEY MISS NOUMT AND THEY HAVE TWO REALLY STRONG SFRUNL THE DPREFS AND SFREMPL AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE ONE OF THE STRONG SUITS OF THE GAME IN 2023. >> IF THAT CAN BE THE STRENGTH FOR THE BALL CLUB, AND SCOTTIE HAZELLTON, AND WELL TUCKER, TO BE ABLE TO BELIEVE WITH THEIR GUYS ON 12K3WRI678S AND LAST YEAR, THAT WAS AT THE BOTTOM, AND YEMTD AND TWO INTERCEPTIONS WAS THE LOWEST AMOUNT IN THE ENTIRE SEASON. YOU NEED TO IMPROVE, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE SECONDARY. HOW DO YOU CREATE GUYS UP FONLT. >> HE DOESN'T FLIK ON DEGS, BUT THEY SFLEMPL AND THE SECOND AND THIRD LEVEL, SO THEY THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET PRESSURE ON THE OPPOSING QUARTERBACK. >> WE WILL STEP ASIDE FOR THE FIRST COMMERCIAL BREAK. WE PROMISE FOOTBALL IS COMING. STAY WIT >>> SCAN THE QR CODE TO REGISTER NOW AT BIGTENK.COM. EARLIER TODAY, THE IZZO LEGACY 5K WALK AND ROLL TOOK PLACE. IT PROCEEDS THE IZZO LEGACY FUND THAT GOES TO CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. I THINK I SAW ANTHONY HERON RUNNING PAST BY HOTEL. >> I RACE-WALKED SO FAST, IT CAN LOOK LIKE I'M IN A FULL SPRINT. I'M A VERY EFFECTIVE RACE WALKER. MY KNEES ARE PAST THE POINT WHERE IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE OFF IN A FULL SPRINT. >> ADAPTABILITY IS KEY. >> YEAH, I GOT INVOLVED. >> STILL GOING THROUGH THE FLEX PERIOD HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE, AS PLAYERS ARE NOW HEADED TOWARDS POSITIONAL DRILLS, AND THIS ONE IS CALLED BALL SECURITY. BIG CROWD ON HAND THIS AFTERNOON. LOOK AT THIS. 83 DEGREES, BARELY A CLOUD IN THE SKY. IT IS ADMITTANCE WEEKEND FOR THE INCOMING FRESHMAN. THEY HAVE COME WITH THEIR FAMILIES. LOTS GOING ON CAMPUS. THERE'S A BASEBALL GAME, A SOFTBALL GAME, AND SPRING FOOTBALL GOING ON. >> THERE IS A LOT OF JUICE AROUND SPRING FOOTBALL. SINCE MEL TUCKER HAS TAKEN OVER. WITH THAT IN MIND, IT'S A GOOD COMBINATION OF EVENTS THAT ARE HERE. WITH THE TOM IZZO EVENT. WITH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL, AND EXCITEMENT AROUND THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM, ROBERT FRALIK HAS TAKEN OVER. WE WILL SEE WHAT IT ENDS UP -- YOU REFERENCED BALL SECURITY. AND SPECIFIC TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM HERE, IT WILL BE HUGE FOR THEM THIS SEASON. BECAUSE THEY CAN STILL BE VERY EXPLOSIVE, AND TO GET THE RUNNING BACK POSITION GOING, TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY AS THE BALL CARRIES BUT AS PASS RECEIVERS IN THE BACKFIELD, THEY'RE IN A POSITION TO CREATE EXPLOSIVE PLAYS, JALEN BERGER RETURNS AS A STARTER. BUT CAN YOU SEE ONE OF THE OTHER GUYS, LIKE JORDON SIMMONS, OR NATHAN CARTER, JAREN MANGHAM. TO ADD JUICE TO THE RUNNING BACK POSITION. >> WE TALKED ABOUT NATHAN CARTER COMING IN, OFF AIR, AND HE WENT VIRAL EARLIER THIS SPRING BECAUSE OF WHAT HE WAS DOING IN THE WEIGHT ROOM. HE LOOKS LIKE A BIG TEN BACK, AND THE REASON HE CHOSE MICHIGAN STATE, HE WANTS TO BE CHALLENGED AT THIS LEVEL OF DIVISION I FOOTBALL. >> HE IS A TALENTED FOOTBALL PLAYER, AND I HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE, AND PART OF THAT, YOU COULD HAVE SAY UCONN, CONTINUE TO BE THEIR LEAD BALL CARRIES THERE, AND TO BE CHALLENGED BY THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE. WE WILL SEE AS THE SEASON MOVES FORWARD. THE TAILBACK WILL GET THE BALL. >> TIM IZZO HAS BEEN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS SINCE 8:00 A.M. THIS MORNING. THE 5K ENDED IN THE STADIUM. THERE WAS A LINE LOOPED AROUND THE INFIELD TO GET PICTURES AND SHAKE TOM IZZO'S HAND. HIS BASKETBALL TEAM COMING OFF A GREAT RUN AT MARCH MADNESS EARLIER THIS SPRING, AND JUST A GREAT DAY FOR MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETICS. WE TOLD YOU BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, FOOTBALL GOING ON. THE CHANGE OVER FROM WOMEN'S BASEBALL. A LOT OF THINGS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IF YOU'RE A SPARTAN. >> TO HAVE A FOOTBALL FAN IN MEL TUCKER TO UNDERSTANDS, FROM TOM IZZO, AND TOM IZZO WILL READILY ADMIT, IF YOU ASK HIM, FOOTBALL IS HIS FAVORITE SPORT. BASKETBALL IS WHAT HE KNOWS, AND COACHES. BUT WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF PLAYERS THAT FROM CROSSED IN THE BASKETBALL ARENA. ONE IS KEON COPELAND, WHO IS NOW COMMITTED TO FOOTBALL. THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE ATHLETES TO BE VERSATILE. BUT IN THE END, WHICH PATH WILL MAKE THE MOST SENSE? WHICH WILL LEAD TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PLAYMAKERS THEY HAD ACCESS TO. >> THIS IS A DIFFICULT DECISION TOO FOR BOTH KEON COLEMAN AND MALIQ CARR. MALIQ CARR'S MOM PLAYED FOR PAT SUMMITT IN TENNESSEE. HIS DAD IS STILL A COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH. >> I LOVE BASKETBALL TOO. WE ALL JUST HAVE A CERTAIN PATH. BUT HOOPS IS MY FIRST LOVE. >> IF YOU'RE PLAYING AT THE BRESLIN CENTER IN FRONT OF THE SPARTAN NATION. I DON'T KNOW TOO OTHER ENVIRONMENTS THAT WILL GET YOUR JUICES FLOWING LIKE THAT. BUT THEY CHOSE FOOTBALL SO THEY CAN DIG IN THIS SPORT. THEY BOTH SEE FUTURES BEYOND COLLEGE IN FOOTBALL. >> EXCEPTIONAL SPORTS THEY HAVE. AND YOU COME BACK TO THE WOOD SHED, THE LAST COUPLE SEASONS, THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING ATMOSPHERE, ESPECIALLY FOR A BIG GAME, AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT IS INFUSED IN THE PROGRAM. JUST A WONDERFUL 2021 SEASON. SAW IT FLATTEN OUT A LITTLE BIT IN 2022 WITH THE EXPECTATIONS THERE, AND I DO LEAVE WHAT WE'RE SEES NOW, WHAT WE WILL SEE FROM THE COMPETITIVE DEPTH, THE WAY IT CAN ENHANCE HOW THE PROGRAM IS PREPARING FOR A GAME DAY, AND WHAT THEY HAVE HAVE ACCESS TO ON GAME DAY WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON THE FIELD. >> A LOOK AT THE OFFENSIVE LINE HERE A GROUP THAT RETURNS ALL FIVE STARTERS, AND KEYSHAWN BLACKSTOCK, HE IS WEARING NUMBER 54. WHEN YOU SEE HIM ON THE SCREEN, YOU KNOW HE'S A DUDE, READY TO PLAY. THERE HE IS, TRANSFERRING FROM JUNIOR COLLEGE LEVEL. >> YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT PLAY ACTION, EARLIER, AND THAT AIDS EVERYONE. WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL AND MAKE THE DEFENSE FEEL THREATENED, IT CAN SET UP A LOT OF EXPLOSIVE PLAYS ALL THE YARDS AND THE TOUCHDOWNS HE PET UP, AND THE AACTION, TO PAYTON THORNE. THEY PICKED UP HUGE CHUNKS IN THE PASSING GAME, AND WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT, THAT JUST ENHANCES THE WAY THE OFFENSIVE LINE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE. >> WE'RE GOT A SPECIAL TREAT FOR YOU. TOM IZZO IS ON THE FIELD. DARIAN? >> DOWN HERE WITH HEAD BASKETBALL COACH TOM IZZO. YOU HAVE SEEN MORE SPRING GAMES, NOT MORE THAN EVERYBODY IN HERE, BUT PROBABLY MOST IN HERE. FIRST, HAS IT EVER BEEN THIS NICE? >> NO. YOU MEAN THE WEATHER? >> THE WEATHER. >> YOU KNOW, I THINK I HAVE SEEN MORE THAN MOST HERE. MY FAVORITE SPORT IS FOOTBALL. IT'S BEEN GREAT. TUCK'S BEEN GREAT. I HAVE BEEN TO THREE OR FOUR PRACTICES, IN BETWEEN BEING ON THE ROAD. BUT THIS WEATHER, MAN, THIS IS -- THIS IS AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WEATHER. >> COACH TUCKER SAID, IT'S REALLY LIKE THIS 300 DAYS A YEAR IN EAST LANSING. >> ISN'T THAT -- HE'S LYING. >> PROBABLY SO. TALK ABOUT YOUR LEGACY RACE. THE IZZO LEGACY RACE THIS MORNING, UNBELIEVABLE, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE BACK. >> THAT'S WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE 13 DIFFERENT CHARITIES WE GIVE TO. WHICH IS PROBABLY TOO MANY. BUT IT'S ALSO TEACHING PEOPLE WHAT THE CHARITIES ARE ABOUT. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE TAKEN OVER AND I SHOW UP. WE WENT LIKE 1400 PEOPLE. AND LAST YEAR, WE HAD MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE TODAY, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I WAS IMPRESSED. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND OF COURSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK BASKETBALL. ONCE THE SEASON ENDS, EVERYONE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT. YOUR BEST RECRUITS ARE THE GUY YOU CAN GET BACK TO RETURN TO SCHOOL. YOU HAVE THREE GUYS FOR SURE THAT ARE COMING BACK THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY CONSIDERED FIVE-STAR RECRUITS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE THREE AND WHAT IT MEAN STROS THEM BACK? >> IT MEANS A LOT TO THE HAVE THEM BACK. WE HAVE A.J. BACK NOW. WE HAVE FOUR GUYS THAT I THINK ARE AS GOOD AS ANY AND WE HAVE RECRUITS THAT COME IN. YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE EXPERIENCE, AND THE COVID YEAR THAT'S EVERYONE'S HAVING YEAR. WE PLAYED AGAINST GUYS THAT WERE 23, 24, 25. AND WE PLAYED KANSAS STATE, AND THEY HAD GUYS THAT WERE OLDER. YOU NEED YOUR VETERANS, AS DO YOU IN FOOTBALL. YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE. FRESHMEN CAN HELP YOU WIN GAMES. NOT MANY FRESHMEN WIN GAMES FOR YOU. >> A TOP FIVE CLASS COMING IN, IT SHOWS YOU'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN. SO WHAT KEEPS YOU ENERGIZED GOING EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO RETURN AS HEAD BASKETBALL COACH? >> YOU KNOW, WHAT KEEPS ME GOING IS THIS. I HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO TO THE NBA. YOU'RE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS. I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT FOOTBALL. THAT IS ONE THING. BUT I THINK THE ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM, AND WE WENT THROUGH A WICKED THREE YEARS WITH COVID, AND NOW, THERE USED TO BE CARDBOARD CUTOUTS, AND NOW THERE ARE PEOPLE. PEOPLE CAN YELL AT THE OFFICIALS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR. IT'S LIKE A NEW BEGINNING. >> AND YOU'RE AT EVERY GAME. YOU'RE AT A LOT OF PRACTICES. BUT WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO BRING RECRUITS OUT TO SEE A FOOTBALL GAME, WHAT DOES IT DO FOR THEM AND WHAT DOES IT DO FOR YOUR PROGRAM? >> HAD PRETTY GOOD CLASSES WHEN YOU PLAYED. WHEN YOU GET IT GOING, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT, AND TUCK DOES THE SAME WITH US. HE GETS HIS TOP RECRUITS UP, AND WHEN YOU'RE WINNING AND THE CROWD IS GOING CRAZY, IT'S A WARM AND FUZZY FEELING. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THE SPORT STICK TOGETHER. FIRST, NOT MANY UNIVERSITIES SURPRISE VISE WITHOUT FOOTBALL. WHEN YOU COME DOWN, ON FOOTBALL SATURDAY, AND YOU SEE THIS LINE HERE, IT'S SPECIAL. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, COACH. THANK YOU, DARIAN. IT'S FUN TOO HEAR FROM TOM IZZIE. THEY HAVE A STRONG, TIGHT RELATIONSHIP. THEY HAVE BEEN SHARING PLAYERS OVER THE YEARS, AND THEY SEE EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME IN THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES, AND TOM IZZO, A HUGE PROPONENT OF THE PROGRAM. NOW WE HAVE A LOOK AT QUARTERBACK, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BATTLE AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, ANTHONY, THIS IS THE BATTLE THAT EVERYONE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT OUTSIDE OF THE PROGRAM. PAYTON THORNE OF COURSE, THE TWO-YEAR CAPTAIN, THE TWO-YEAR STARTER. INCUMBENT. HE IS GETTING COMP POSITION. >> THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE DEPTH THEY HAVE AVAILABLE AT THE QB POSITION. WHEN YOU CAN FEEL LIKE THIS, HAVING A MULTIYEAR START, THIS MAY END UP BEING THE THIRD YEAR FOR PAYTON THORNE, WHO GOT BIG TEN RECOGNITION, AND LED THEM FROM BEHIND IN THE JANUARY 6th POLE GAME. HIS PRODUCTIVITY, HIS CONSISTENCY AND EFFICIENCY TOOK A STEP BACK LAST SEASON. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE LEADERSHIP THAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE AND THE PLAYMAKING HE CAN ACCESS. I LOVE THE FACT HE HASN'T FLINCHED AT THE THOUGHT OF BEING CHALLENGED. MEL TUCKER SAID EVERY JOB IS OPEN, INCLUDING QUARTERBACK, AND A MULTIYEAR STARTER, WHO WON A LOT OF GAMES. NOT ONE OF THE ALL-TIME LEADING PASSER, BUT TO SAY THAT NOAH KIM HAS EARNED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE HIM, AND THAT KATIN HOUSER WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THE PLAY, AND SHUT STEP HIS GAME UP. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS CHALLENGED ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, AND THE QUARTERBACK IS ONE WHO IS INCLUDED IN THAT CONVERSATION. >> THE BIG STAT THAT EVERYONE IS CIRCLING ON THE SCREEN IS THE RUSHING OFFENSE. 113 PER GAME, THE SECOND LOWEST FEHR THE PROGRAM SINCE 2003. YOU REFERENCED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PLAY ACTION. LAST YEAR, HE HAD A THIRD OF THE PLAY ACTION PASSES HE HAD, AND JAY JOHNSON, THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, WANTS TO CHANGE THAT THIS YEAR. >> TO KNOW THE QUARTERBACK IS EXPERIENCED, HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYSTEM. IT'S THE LEVEL OF AGGRESSION THAT JAY JOHNSON CAN CONTINUE TO CALL THE OFFENSE WITH IT. MEL TUCKER WANTS HIS OFFENSE CALLED AND YOU CAN SET UP THE OPPONENT, UTILIZING THE RUN GAME. YOU CAN DICTATE TERMS TO THEM, USING THE PLAY ACTION, USING THE FLEA-FLICKER THAT BECAME SO POPULAR. ONE THING THAT PAYTON THORNE HAS THE ABILITY TO DO, HE CAN BE A RUNNER AS A QUARTERBACK, BUT NOAH KIM, YOU CAN KIND OF HEAR THE LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT MEL TUCKER AND THE STAFF HAVE. FOR WHAT NOAH TIM WILL ALLOW THEM TO ACCESS. HIS ABILITY TO RUN AS A QUARTERBACK. NOAH KIM IS ONE OF THE FASTER PLAYERS ON THE TEAM. IN LIMITED REPS SO FAR LAST SEASON, WE HAVE SEEN HE HAS A TALENTED ARM, HE CAN THROW ON THE MOVE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS IN GAME YET, THE ABILITY TO TAKE OFF, TUCK THE FOOTBALL AND RUN IT. IT CAN GIVE HIM ADVANCED ADVANTAGE. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THE OFFENSE AND NOW IT'S TIME TO FOCUS ON THE DEFENSE. AS WE GET SET TO START PERIOD FOUR OF SPRING FOOTBALL. AND DEFENSE HAS BEEN A WEAKNESS AT TEAM, FOR THE MICHIGAN STATE TEAM. WE TALKED ABOUT THE PAST DEFENSE, AND RATED 85th OR DEEPER OVER THE LAST TWO SEASONS. THEY RETURNED, THOUGH, SIX SECOND-YEAR PLAYERS IN A DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF ALL THE INJURIES THIS TEAM SUFFERED A YEAR AGO. >> IF THERE'S A POSITION ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM WHERE COHESION MATTERS MOST, IT'S OFFENSIVE LINE. REALLY, IT'S UNDER RATED WHERE JUST A STEP BEHIND THAT IS THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD. YOU WANT A SECONDARY, THAT AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, CAN COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, AND SCOTTIE HAZELTON, THEY WILL BE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR, AND THE BACK END, THE LINEBACKER, IF YOU DO HUDDLE, THEY ARE MAKING THE INITIAL CALL. BUT THE DIFFERENT MOTIONS, FORMATIONS AND TEMPOS THAT YOU SEE, YOUR SECONDARY HAS TO COMMUNICATE. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN A POSITION WHERE THE DBs CAN FLOW. I THINK IT WILL BE COACHED HERE BY HAZELTON, AND KNOWING WITH TERNCY, THE MOST COMFORTABLE POSITION FOR HIM, AND THE LEADING RETURNING PER GAME TACKLER, AVERAGED TEN TACKLES A GAME, IS CAL HALLADAY. YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE PRODUCTIVITY. I HAVE VERSATILITY. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE LINEBACKERS BRING TO THE TABLE THIS YEAR. >> AND ALSO, I WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T MENTION DARIUS SNOW RETURNING. THIS IS A GUY IN 2021 STARTED NINE GAMES. A BIG PART OF THE DEFENSE THAT WON THE PEACH BOWL. WENT 11-2. HE WENT OUT LAST YEAR AFTER THE FIRST HALF OF THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON. THEY MISSED HIM THE REST OF THE YEAR. GETTING HIM BACK JUST ELEVATING THAT POSITION GROUP TO ANOTHER LEVEL. YOU SEE HIM NOT PARTICIPATING IN THESE DRILLS, AND HE WILL BE READY TO GO COME FALL. >> WHEN YOU CAN SAY THAT A GUY AS TALENTED, AS GIFTED AS DARIUS SNOW, MAY NOT BE ONE OF YOUR STARTERS, AND TO GET A SENSE WHERE IT SUITS HIM BEST TO BE A GUY WHO CAN PLAY AT THE SECOND AND THIRD LEVEL, IT GIVES YOU VERSATILITY WITH THE WAY YOU CAN DEPLOY THE TALENT THAT IS THERE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT WITH JACOBY WINDMON, AND THIRD DOWN, YOU MOVE HIM UP TO THE EDGE, AND ABLE TO TURN THE CORNER FOR YOU. THEY HAVE SOME PIECES, CHESS PIECES, THAT HAZELTON AND TUCKER WILL DO FOR THE SEASON. LAST YEAR, THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT, AND THERE ARE GROUPS THAT GUYS ARE NICKED UP, AND IT'S NOTHING SERIOUS. IT'S A BIG REASON WHY WE ARE HAVING GLORIFIED PRACTICE, AND GUYS ON THE D. LINE, NOT PARTICIPATING, AND OVERALL, ANTHONY, THE TEAM IS DEEPER AND CERTAINLY HEALTHIER. THIS TIME THIS YEAR, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. >> WITHOUT A DOULT, AND WHAT THAT KIND UP DOING, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO MEL TUCKER ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY, ON BIG TEN TODAY. THE FACT THEY DIDN'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL BOWL PRACTICES, WHICH CAN BE KEY. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A BOWL GAME. THEY DIDN'T MAKE A BOWL LAST YEAR. YOU DIDN'T GET THE EXTRA 15 MINUTE PRACTICES TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE IT ON THE FIELD DEVELOPMENT FOR SOME OF THE YOUNGER TALENT. BUT YOU CERTAINLY UTILIZE THE WINDER CONDITIONING, AND A GUY LIKE KEON COLEMAN, HE WASN'T WITH THE BASKETBALL TEAM. YOU CAN DEVELOP YOUR BODIES, AND YOU CAN GET BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER. YOU CAN GET THEM OFF THE BAT. IT'S GOING TO BE A NEGATIVE, ANY TIME A PROGRAM HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS DOESN'T MAKE A BOWL GAME, THAT'S A NEGATIVE. HOW DO YOU TURN IT IN A POSITIVE TO MAKE SURE YOU -- THE APPROACH THAT MEL TUCKER TOOK, GET THEM INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. START TO INGRAIN THEM IN THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE PROGRAM. TO USE IN WORKOUTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. >> DIRON REYNOLDS, THE NEW DEFENSIVE LINE COACH. THEY ARE LOADED AT THIS POSITION. THEY BROUGHT IN THREE TRANSFERS ON THAT SIDE OF THE FOOTBALL. TWO OF THEM, HUGE TRAS FEHRS. WE WON'T SEE THEM TODAY. JARRETT JACKSON AND BUTLER. >> A GUY HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET ON THE STAFF FOR 15 YEARS. GOING BACK TO THE TIME IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, HE HAS BEEN LOOKING TO HIRE DIRON REYNOLDS BECAUSE OF THE DEFENSIVE LINE TEACHER THAT HE IS. HE HAD SO MANY GUYS MOVING ON TO THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. HE COACHED IN THE PRO AND COLLEGIATE LEVEL AND YOU LOOK AT THE RUSH DEFENSE, AND ALL THE NUMBER, DOWN DEFENSIVELY LAST YEAR, TO GET MORE PRODUCTIVITY UP FRONT, WILL END UP BEING HUGE. THEY WANT HIT BLOCKS, FIRST AND SECOND DOWN, GET AFTER THE QB ON THIRD DOWN. >> AND MEL TUCKER'S A DEFENSIVE GUY TOO. YOU KNOW THIS YEAR, GOING IN THE NEW SEASON, DEFENSE, A POINT OF EMPHASIS. WE WILL STEP ASIDE, AND WE WILL HAVE SPECIAL TEAMS WHEN WE COME BACK, COMING YOUR WAY NEXT IN EAST LANSING. >>> CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF THE PANTHERS. FANTASTIC SEATS, NEXT TO THE ACTION. START AT JUST $10. ANTHONY HERON WILL BE UP AND CLOSE FOR THE NEXT SEASON OF THE USFL. SHOULD BE FUN. A COUCH MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS, AND JARED HORST WAS JUST DRAFTED. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE FOOTBALL YEAR ROUND, RIGHT? >> IT'S ONE OF THE EXAMPLES. GUYS WHO TRANSFERRED IN, AND CAME OUT OF THE COLLEGE RANKS AND PLAYED A HIGH LEVEL FOR THE SPARTANS. YOU SEE A NUMBER OF GUYS, RIGHT NOW. IT'S REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING INVOLVED IN THAT, SPRING FOOTBALL COVERAGE, AND INVOLVED IN SPRING FOOTBALL LEAGUES, AND EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT THE RELUNCH OF THE USFL. YOU HAVE THAT BRAND THAT HAS BEEN AROUND AND IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFTED FOOTBALL PLAYERS OUT THERE, AND THERE IS JUST SO MANY NFL ROSTER SPOTS TO GO AROUND, AND NOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE GUYS CAN END UP MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE AND THEY CAN PURSUE CAREERS AND ENJOY PLAYING SPRING FOOTBALL FOR YEARS. >> GREAT DAY FOR THE SPRING FOOTBALL FINALE HERE IN EAST LANSING. LEAPT GEESE BACK DOWN TO DARIAN HARRIS WITH BENNY FOWLER. >> OUT HERE WITH SUPER BOWL CHAMP, AUTHOR, ON AND ON, BENNY FOWLER. YOU ARE GOING TO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE WIDE RECEIVER POTENTIAL, RIGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHERE YOU MAKE THE RUN, AND THE RECEIVER ROOM. YES, IT WILL MANAGE THAT ALL DAY TODAY. >> WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN SO FAR? YOU HAVE SEEN OUT OF THE GUYS RETURNING ON THE TEAM -- >> I THINK WE WILL SEE CONSISTENCY. AND KEON COLEMAN, I LOVE HIS PLAY MAKING ABLE TIP, AND I THINK CONSISTENCY, ALL THE WAY AROUND, SIMILAR TO THE TEAMS WE HAVE WON WITH. IT WILL BE DONE BY COMMITTEE. AND IT WILL BE DONE BY COMMITTEE. I'M SUPER HAPPY WITH THE CONSISTENCY OF WHAT I SEE. >> NOW, AGAIN, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. WE GO DOWN YOUR RESUME OF QUARTERBACKS WE HAVE PLAYED WITH, AND TOM BRADY, ELI MANNING, AND DREW BREES, AND MICHIGAN STATE, KURT COUSINS AND CONNER COOK. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO ALL THREE OF THE GUYS AND LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR, AND HOW TO GALVANIZE A COMMANDING TEAM. >> I THINK ABOUT THAT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THAT IS WHAT ALL THE QUARTERBACKS WERE GREAT AT. BRINGING A TEAM TOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD UNCOURAGE THEM TO DO, AND YOU ARE THE LEADER OF THAT TEAM. AND STAY CONSISTENT FOR WHO YOU ARE, AND THAT IS WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE. HAVE A TEAM, PUT IT TOGETHER, AND ON AND OFF THE FIELD. AND FOR PRACTICE, THAT IS WHAT THE QUARTERBACKS DID WELL. >> AND LASTLY, YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF FINE MEMORIES FROM YOUR TIME HERE. AND WE WERE ABLE TO WIN A ROSE BOWL. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT TEAM. SOME OF OUR TEAMMATES, WHAT DID THAT TEAM MEAN TO YOU AND HOW SPECIAL IS THAT YEAR? >> THAT TEAM IS EVERYTHING TO ME. THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE. AND IT'S JUST AN UNBREAKABLE BOND AND THE MOMENTUM WE HAVE THE ENTIRE SEASON, IT'S LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE, AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, THE SPARTAN STADIUM, ALL THE MEMORIES, DIDN'T LOSE A GAME HERE, AND GOING ON THE ROAD, AND DIDN'T LOSE ANY BIG TEN GAMES, AND YOU WIN A ROSE BOWL, THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS AND IT'S ONE OF THE MEMORIES OF MY LIFE. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. >> WIDE RECEIVER ROYALTY IN THE BUILDING AS WE GET A LOOK AT THE WIDE RECEIVERS GETTING WORK AGAINST THE DEFENSE. IT'S A WIDE RECEIVER ROOM, NOT UNLIKE MANY OTHER POSITIONS THAT COURTNEY DAWKINS SAID, WE DON'T HAVE A DEPTH CHART IN THE WIDE RECEIVER ROOM. AND KEON, JADEN REED IS GONE, AND THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO EMERGE ADDS NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LIST. >> TO HAVE THAT IN THE OFFENSE, IT MAY NOT GIVE IT WHERE YOU CATCH MULTIPLE GUYS, AND PUT THE BALL IN THE END ZONE, AND DOING SO, WITH EXPLOSIVE POTENTIAL IS WHAT YOU CAN GET A LOT OF, IN THE WIDE RECEIVER POSITION. AND THE CATCHABILITY, AND YOU ARE EXPECTED TO SEE THE RECEIVERS ON THE FIELD AND HOW PREDICTABLE THEY CAN BECOME, AND ALLOWS THE VERSATILITY, AND THE EXPLOSION YOU WANT FROM THE WIDE RECEIVER POSITION. >> YOU JUST SAW TYRELL HENRY, A SOPHOMORE THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, AND MORE OF A SPECIAL TEAMER, BUT ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DEPTH, AND I THOUGHT THAT IS ONE INTERESTING QUESTION YOU ASKED MEL TUCKER ABOUT IN THE MEETING EARLIER IN THE WEEK. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE DEPTH OF WIDE RECEIVER WITH REED GOING IN THE NFL? FORMER ALL AMERICAN? HE SAID I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT POSITION, BECAUSE OF THE EXPLOSIVE PLAYMAKERS WE HAVE ON THE OUTSIDE. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- WHEN THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN AT ITS BEST, WE SAW SPECIAL TEAMS WORK A MOMENT AGO. WHO OUT OF THE GROUP WILL EMERGE AS A PUNT RETURNER, A KICK RETURNER? THAT'S A ROLE THAT HAS BEEN ASSUMED SO WELL. AND THEY WANT GAMES. WITH HIS RETURN-ABILITY ALONE, AND THEY SHOW THEY HAVE SKILL WITH THE FOOTBALL IN THEIR HANDS, IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO LINE UP WIDE OUTSIDE OF THE X AND BE ONE OF THE 80 PLUS CATCH GUYS. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU BE A PLAYMAKER TO WINNING ONLY THE FOOTBALL TEAM. >> HENRY, ONE OF YOUNG GUYS IN THIS WIDE RECEIVER ROOM. YOU THINK ABOUT ANTONIO GATES JR., THE SON OF THE GREAT NFL HALL OF FAMER ANTONIO GATES, HE'S IN THE MIX OF A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON, AND OF COURSE, KEON COLEMAN WEARING NUMBER ZERO. NO HELMET ON FOR THIS GRILL. HIS FIRST SPRING BALL AT MICHIGAN STATE, HE WAS PREVIOUSLY PLAYING WITH THE BASKETBALL TEAM, AND AS WE KNOW, TOM IZZO'S TEAM USUALLY MAKE DEEP RUNS IN MARCH. FIRST TIME HAVING A FULL SPRING OFF SEASON, A FULL SPRING PRACTICE, LEADING UP TO THE SPRING GAME. THEY LOVE WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN OUT OF HIM OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. >> SEE HIM ALL TATTED UP THERE, AND USE IT AS AN EXTENSION OF WHO HE IS AS A COMPETITOR, AS A PERSON WHAT MOTIVATES HIM. AND YES, NOT BEING ON THE BASKETBALL COURT IN RECENT MONTHS HAS JUST ALLOWED HIM TO HONE HIS SKILL AS RELIEVER AND POTENTIALLY BECOME BETTER AT THE BULK OF THE ROUTE, AS OPPOSED TO BEING A GUY WHO CAN RUN FAST, AND THE JUMP BALL TARGET. CAN YOU BE SOMEONE WHO RUNS THE ROULT EFFECTIVELY, AND IF HE BECOMES THE MAIN FOCAL POINT, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE KEON COLEMAN AROUND AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GET A FEED ON HIM. >> WE ARE MOVING ON TO PERIOD SEVEN, TALKING RUNNING BACKS AND THAT IS CERTAINLY ANOTHER POSITION GROUP WHERE A BATTLE IS EMERGING, AND JALEN BERGER, LAST YEAR'S LEADING RUSHER, RETURNS, AND NATHAN CARTER HAS COME IN, AND JARREN MANGHAM, FROM FLORIDA. AND M THIS IS A WIDE OPEN RACE, AND THE TRANSFERS HAVE GARNERED A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM, AS WE HAVE GOTTEN SPRING BALL GOING. >> ELIJAH COLLINS, A PLAYER THAT I BELIEVE ON A HOLE HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR THINGS AND THINK ABOUT JALEN BERGER, AND WHAT JALEN BERGER WAS LAST SEASON, AS THE LEADING RUSHER, AND THE GROUND GAME. BEING SOMETHING THAT YOU HOPE HE CAN LEAN ON THIS SEASON, AND HE HAS BEEN UP AND DOWN, AND THE WISCONSIN TRANSFER, A LITTLE UP AND DOWN IN HIS PRODUCTIVITY THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, AND THE TALENT IS THERE, NOT ONLY THE TALENT AS A PURE RUNNER, BUT TALENT AS REASON WHO CAN RECEIVE THE BALL OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. AND ALMOST AN ALL PURPOSE GUY IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE HAS PAST RECEIVING SKILLS. YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE OFFENSE CAN POTENTIALLY BECOME. WE TALK ABOUT RECEIVERS BECOMING EXTENSIONS OF THE RUN GAME, AND MAYBE YOU CAN HAVE BERGER BECOME THE EXTENSION OF THE PASSING GAME AS WELL. >> SO INTERESTING AS WE GET TO FALL CAMP AND LEADING UP TO THE BEGINNING OF THE FALL SEASON, ANTHONY, HOW WILL THE RUNNING BACK POSITION SHAPE UP FOR MEL TUCKER? WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS, THEM TRYING TO DEVELOP A ONE BACK WHO WILL BE THE GUY. WE SAW HIM WITH KENNETH WALKER. HOE WAS A STUD AND A HORSE ON THE TEAM AND ALSO SHIFTING AROUND LAST YEAR, AND JALEN BERGER REALLY EMERGED AS THE GUY. HOW WILL IT PLAY OUT THIS FALL? THAT IS ONE STORY LINE IN ADDITION TO QUARTERBACK? >> THE WAY THAT RUNNING BACK GETS YOU, I WAS JUST DESCRIBING, NOT ONLY A RUN FOR THE PAST RECEIVER AND YOU THINK ABOUT A PASS PROTECTOR, AND YOU'RE LOOKING A BIT EARLIER. AND CARTER, AND ACTUALLY, IT'S BEEN A PLEASANT SURPRISE, AND A LOT OF TIMES, YOU SET UP PLAY ACTION, AND ONE THING DO YOU AS RUNNING BACK, YOU COME OFF THE MESH POINT, YOU DON'T HAVE A FOOTBALL. YOU NERMLY HAVE A SCHEME FOR WHETHER IT'S A BLITZER OR RUSHER THAT IS ALLOWED TO COME THROUGH, BECAUSE YOU ARE SHOWING A RUN WHEREON THE SCHEME, AND SHOW YOU CAN BE PASS PROTECTOR AS WELL. >> CERTAINLY COMPETITION, THE BUZZ WORD FOR MEL TUCKER. HE TOLD US, WE WANTED COMPETITION AT EVERY POSITION. NOT JUST QUARTERBACK BUT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LONG SNAPPER. BRINGING IN ANOTHER WALK ON LONG SNAPPER, JUST TO GIVE HANK PEPPER COMPETITION, AND TIGHT ENDS IS ANOTHER GROUP. MALIQ CARR IS THE MOST EXPERIENCED TIGHT END. HE'S A REDSHIRT JUNIOR. THEY ALSO BROUGHT IN A HOST OF TRANSFERS, AND I LOVE WHAT THE TRANSFER FROM BOISE STATE SAID. THE MOTTO. YOU BLOCK, YOU GET THE ROCK. THAT'S WHAT THEY LOVE. >> YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO EARN THE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, WE ARE TAUGHT YOU EARN THE RIGHT TO RUSH THE PASSER. AND TIGHT END, YOU GET IN A SCHEME LIKE THIS, YOU ARE SO BLOCK ON FIRST AND SECOND DOWN. YOU NEED BLOCK IN THE RUN GAME. EARN THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME A PASS CATCHER AS WELL. I LOVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY ENGRAINED IN TYNEIL HOPPER. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF GUYS, AND MALIQ CARTER, A BIG, ATHLETIC PLAYER, THEY CAN UTILIZE. BUT HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY ON THE FIELD? AND THE MANUFACTURE YOU CAN DO EFFECTIVELY, AS A BLOCKER AS WELL, GIVES YOU MORE OPPORTUNITIES, PACKAGES THAT THE OFFENSIVE COACHING STAFF HAS. >> CARR GOT MORE AND MORE PLAYING TIME AS THE SEASON WENT ALONG. HE SCORED A TOUCHDOWN IN THE LAST TWO GAMES, LAST YEAR'S REGULAR SEASON FOR MICHIGAN STATE. AND THE NICKNAME MALIQ THE FREAK. WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER. FOREGOING BASKETBALL, SO HE CAN FOCUS SOLELY ON FOOTBALL. AND FROM WHAT WE HAVE HEARD, IT HAS TRANSLATED INTO BETTER TECHNIQUE OR LEADERSHIP. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR COLEMAN AT WIDE RECEIVER. >> BEFORE TRANSFERRING HERE, PLAY TIGHT END. AND GROW INTO ON A FULL TIME BASIS. AND CERTAINLY WHAT HE HAS BEEN SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN EAST LANSING. AND 245 POUNDS. >> WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS PASS RUSH. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT. THEY WANT TO SEE A BETTER PASS RUSH AND BETTER PASS DEFENSE AS A HOLE THIS YEAR. JUST 17 SACKS A SEASON AGO. THEY DO LOSE A COUPLE GUYS IN JACOB SLATE AND JALEN HUNT. BUT THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN A MONSTROUS CLASS. IT'S PROBABLY THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE TRANSFER PORTAL CLASS. AT THE DEFENSIVE LINE POSITION, AND THE RETURNERS, SUCH AS AVER DUNN, WEARING NUMBER 98. AND MAVERICK HANSEN COMING OFF A CAREER HERE. AND ANTHONY, THE COACHES FEEL IT'S PRIME FOR A BREAKOUT SEASON. >> YOU WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE NOT ONLY ENOUGH HEALTHY BODIES, WHICH THEY DON'T ON THE PRACTICE FIELD AT THE MOMENT. AND THEY EXPECT ALL THE GUYS THEY HOPE WILL MAKE CONTRIBUTORS, AND PLENTY OF TIME FOR FALL CAMP. BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE SEASON, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EFFECTIVE BODIES TO ROLL PLAYERS THROUGH ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE. YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU KEEP THEM FRESH THROUGHOUT THE GAME. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS THE DEFENSIVE LINE TAKES SO MUCH PHYSICAL, AND FRANKLY, I PLAYED THE LEAST MENTALLY TAXING POSITION ON THE FIELD. AND IT'S THE MOST PHYSICALLY TAXING POSITION TO PLAY, SO WHEN YOU CAN ROLL BODIES THROUGH, KEEP THEM FRESH, WITH THE TEMPO, AND THE SNAPS THAT GET RUN THROUGHOUT THE GAMES TO HAVE A VARIETY OF FRESH BODIES, GIVES YOU AN ADVANTAGE. WHEN YOU GET TO THE FOURTH QUARTER OF GAMES, YOU STILL WANT TO BE PLAYING DOWNHILL, IMPOSING YOUR WILL ON THE IMPOSING OFFENSIVE LYNN. IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE DEPTH TO GO THROUGH THE GAME. >> THAT'S WHAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE LAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY LATE IN THE SEASON, INJURIES, SUSPENSION. THEY WERE ROTATING GUYS IN AND OUT AND WE SAW JACOBY WINDMON AT THE PAST EDGE POSITION AND THEY WANT TO THE UTILIZE HIM AT THE LINEBACKER SPOT AND NOW THEY HAVE THE DEPTH TO DO THAT. >> TO HAVE A PLAYER THAT IS AS TALENTED AT JACOBY WINDMON AND TO HAVE HIM OFF THE BALL, AND JUST BRING IN OTHER BODIES, AND YOU REFERENCED EARLIER, WITH DARIUS SNOW, THIS SHOULD BE A MUCH DEEPER GROUP AT EVERY LEVEL THIS SEASON, AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A JACOBY WINDMON, TO SHOWCASE, NOW IT'S NOT A FULL GAME, AND THE GAME PLANNING AROUND THAT, AND IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, WHERE WINDMON EARLIER IN THE SEASON WAS LIGHTING UP THE OPPONENT IN THE PASS RUSHER, AND YOU START TO GET A LOOK ON THE GUY, AND SAY, HERE'S THE MOVES HE LOVES BEST AND YOU GAME PLAN AROUND THAT, AND IT DID DECREASE HIS PRODUCTIVITY, AND THIS SEASON, HE CAN USE IT SITUATIONALLY. >> YOU ARE GETTING A LOOK THERE, NUMBER 52, AND THE LAYUP OUT OF TEXAS A&M. THE STARTING DM, AND SUFFERED A HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN. DIDN'T PLAY AGAIN FOR THE AGGIES, LOOKING FOR A FRESH START. HE'S A GUY THEY EXPECT TO CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR OPPOSING BIG TEN TEAMS THIS YEAR. >> WHEN YOU CAN GET THEM IN POSITIONS WHERE YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE HIT THEM EFFECTIVELY, STOPPED THE RUN ON FIRST AND SECOND DOWN, AND HAVE TALENTED PLAYERS COME IN, AND ONE THING THAT MEL TUCKER SAID, HE WANTED TO GET BIGGER ACROSS THE BOARD. NOT ONLY HAVE DEPTH OF TALENT, BUT A SPECIFIC BODY TYPE THAT HE WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO ADD TO THE DEFENSIVE LINE. AND HE IS ONE OF THE GUYS THAT GIVES YOU MORE, NOT JUST PURE SKILL AND ATHLETICISM, BUT SIZE AND A POSITION YOU WANT. YOU WANT -- YOU DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY HAVE A JACOBY WINDMON. >> A GUY LIKE YOU? >> WELL N THEORY, SURE. >> STOUT. >> YEAH. >> BEEFY. >> CERTAINLY LIKE THE GUY I USED TO BE, WITHOUT A DOUBT. >> YEAH, YOU KNOW, MEL TUCKER AND SCOTTIE HAZELTON, THEY ECHO EACH OTHER'S SENTIMENTS. WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, YOU LOOK LIKE BIG TEN DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, AND CERTAINLY, TO MAKE IT ACROSS MIDFIELD. >> I IMAGINE SCOTTIE HAZELTON WILL MAKE IT ACROSS THE FIELD AND THE TEMPERATURES ARE CLIMBING, AND IT WENT UP TO THE 80s TODAY. AND AIM GROWING A BEARD. I IMAGINE THAT TAKES THE HEAT ON YOUR FACE A LITTLE MORE INTENSE. >> WE WILL SEE A TEAM RUN, VERSUS TEAM DEFENSE HERE. PROBABLY THE CLOSEST THING WE WILL SEE TO A QUOTE UNQUOTE SCRIMMAGE TO THE MICHIGAN STATE SPRING KICKOFF, AND OUR FIRST LOOK AT THEY TAN CARTER IN LIVE ACTION. THE UCONN TRANSFER IN THERE. RECEIVING THE FOOTBALL. KATIN HOUSER, THE QUARTERBACK. WE TALKED ABOUT A GUY WHO WAS A PHYSICAL RUNNER AT UCONN. >> HE DOES HAVE SOME WIGGLE, AND MORE AS A ONE-CUT TYPE OF BACK. NOT SOMEONE WHO WILL SPEND A BUNCH OF TIME, AND A BUNCH OF MOVES -- >> A LITTLE MISCOMMUNICATION, AND HOUSER, LAST YEAR WAS THE TRUE FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK TO GET GAME EXPERIENCE, AND NICK FOLES, 2007, HE IS YOUNG AND HE IS IN THE COMPETITION AT QB, AND CARTER IS SWALLOWED UP. BY MICHIGAN STATE'S DEFENSIVE LINE. >> NATHAN CARTER, HE HAD BEEN IN THE SOMEONE. AND THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH LANDMARKS, WITH THEIR FOOTWORK AND HOW AND WHERE AND TIME UP TO RECEIVE THE FOOTBALL. AND THAT'S KEY IN HOW THE RUN GAME WILL TIME UP. SO THESE ARE STILL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT FULL TILT, BUT EVERY REP THAT A GUY LIKE HIM GETS WILL ALLOW HIM TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE. >> THERE IS JARREN MANGHAM, THE USF TRANSFER, AND THEY HIT MALIQ CARR OVER THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. MICHIGAN STATE FANS SAW THAT A COUPLE TIMES IN THE END OF LAST SEASON, TOUCHDOWNS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES TO CLOSE IT OUT. >> HE'S GOT REALLY QUIET HANDS, DOES MALIQ CARR. IT ENHANCES YOUR CONFIDENCE, AND NOT ONLY A BIG BODY LIKE MALIQ CARR, BUT WHEN THEY MAKE IT LOOK EASY AND COMFORTABLE CATCHING THE FOOTBALL. >> PAYTON THORNE, HANDING IT OFF TO MANGHAM AND A WIGGLE THERE, AND PICKUP, AND MANGHAM IS A GUY WHO HAD A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH MEL TUCKER, WHEN MEL TUCKER WAS HEAD COACH AT COLORADO, HE RECRUITED JAREN MANGHAM, AND CADE McDONALD, THE FIFTH YEAR SENIOR FROM ILLINOIS. HE HAS BEEN A PUNT RETURN GUY AT TIMES. >> AND THE NAPERVILLE AREA TALENT. AND THE ROSTER IN RECENT YEARS. AND THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. >> JALEN BERGER ON THE CARRY. LAST YEAR'S LEADING RUSHER. ANOTHER LOOK. >> EVEN A SMALL LOOK AT WHAT I MEANT THERE. JUST THE TIMING OF THE RUN GAME, AND THE SLIGHT HESITATION FOR BERGER, AND A SIDE SHUFFLE AND THEN ATTACKING DOWNHILL. THE RUN GAME, AND JUST TIGHTENING UP BETTER AND MORE ACCUSTOMED TO HOW THE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. >> I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING FULL CONTACT HERE. BUT THEY SEEM TO BE RUNNING THE BALL PRETTY WELL ON THIS SET. >> CERTAINLY LOVE THE COHESION MADE UP FRONT ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE. IT ENDS UP MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE. YOU GO THE ZONE BLOCKING SCHEME. THE OUT BLOCKING SCHEME. YOU WANT THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER. SOME OF THAT IS THE PRESNAP COMMUNICATION, TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING, AND YOU ARE GOING ZONE, AND YOU SEE THE OFFENSIVE LINE, POINTING AT THE OPPOSING DEFENDERS, AND THE LANDMARKS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HIT. >> NOAH KIM, HANDING IT OFF TO DAVION PRIMM AND HE IS STRONG OUT. NOAH KIM OF COURSE ONE OF THREE QBs IN THAT POSITION BATTLE, AND DAVION PRIMM COMING BACK OVER FROM DEFENSIVE BACK. HE WAS A RUNNING BACK TO START HIS CAREER. WENT TO D BACK AND NOW BACK AT RUNNING BACK AND HAS ELEVATED THE DEPTH IN THAT POSITION GROUP. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE COMPETITIVENESS OF NUMBER 14, NOAH KIM. HE WENT 41-2 AS A HIGH SCHOOL STARTER. THE GUY'S A WINNER. >> IN THE TIME, NOAH KIM, HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO BACK-TO-BACK UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS. HE BROKE HIS LEG DURING HIS JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL IN THE PLAYOFF, ABLE TO RETURN, HE BROKE HIS FEMUR AND HE WAS ABLE TO PLAY, AND STILL HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL SEASON. YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, HOW THAT CAN NEGATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FOOTBALL PLAYER, IN FORMATIVE YEARS, AND NOT REALLY THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. >> AND A GOOD, PHYSICAL RUN, AND PICKING UP A PSEUDO FIRST DOWN FOR THE MICHIGAN STATE OFFENSE. AND THE CLOSE OUT THE POINT, THE NICKNAME FOR NOAH KIM. HE CALLS HIM SLIM SHADY. HE IS ONE OF THE TOP 15 FASTEST GUYS ON THE ROSTER. >> YOU WONDER IF THERE IS A PACKAGE OF PLAYS HE MAY END UP INSTITUTING. >> WE SEND IT BACK DOWN TO HARRIS AND TUCKER, AND THE FOOTBALL KICKOFF. >> AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THE FIRST HALF OF ACTION, AND GOT IN A LITTLE MORE 11 ON 11 THERE. WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE FIRST HALF THAT HAS YOU OPTIMISTING GOING FORWARD? >> I LIKE THE WAY OUR GUYS COMPETED. WE HAD A REALLY OFFICIAL POSSESSION, AND VERY CULTURED, VERY FOCUSED. THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET BETTER IN A PRACTICE LIKE THIS. >> THANK YOU, COACH, WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE SECOND HALF. >> THANK YOU, DARIAN, THANK YOU, MEL. FIRST HALF OF ACTION IS ALL DONE. WE WILL SEE MORE OF WHAT WE SAW TO CLOSE THE FIRST HALF IN THE START OF THE SECON >>> SPRING FOOTBALL RETURNS TO DETROIT. BRING THE HOLE FAMILY, TO WITNESS PRO FOOTBALL HISTORY, IN THE MAKING. USFL.COM. WE HAVE SPRING FOOTBALL COOKING HERE IN EAST LANSING. ONE HALF DOWN. ONE HALF TO GO. HE IS ANTHONY HERON. >> IT IS COOKING. >> DARION HARRIS MAY BE COOKING ON THE SIDELINE. IT'S 85 DEGREES HERE IN EAST LANSING. GREAT TO SEE A HUGE CROWD ON HAND. WE'RE NOT SEEING A TON OF TRADITIONAL SPRING GAME, 11 ON 11, WE ARE SEEING GOOD POSITIONAL BATTLES, ONE-ON-ONES. WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU? >> SOMETIMES YOU GET LIP SERVICE. WE'RE SEEING THEM MIX THE QB WZ DIFFERENT POSITIONS, AND FIRST WE'RE SEEING PAYTON THORNE AND THE OFFENSIVE LINE, AND HOUSER, NOAH KIM. ALL THE DIFFERENT GUYS BEHIND CENTER AND THEY ARE MEDICALING AND MIXING DIFFERENT GROUPS TOGETHER AND IT'S SHOWING, THEY ARE GIVEN EVERYONE THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> IT IS TRULY A POSITIONAL BATTLE FROM QUARTERBACK DOWN TO LONG SNAPPER. WE WILL HAVE MORE FOOTBALL AFTER THE BREAK HERE IN SPARTAN STADIUM. >>> WELCOME BACK. THORNE RUNNING A LITTLE REP OFFENSE AGAINST DEFENSE HERE, AS WE GET A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE THEY WILL PLAY WASHINGTON, AND A TIGHTLY CONTESTED GAME, MICHIGAN STATE FELL SHORT THERE. AND WHEN WE GET IN BIG TEN PLAY, REALLY WHAT EVERYONE WATCHING THIS CHANNEL CARES ABOUT. AND THE BIG TEN, AS OFFENSE, ANTHONY, A DEEP LEAGUE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN COMPETE IN A HIGHER LEVEL THAN WE SAW LAST YEAR. >> GOING BACK TO SEATTLE LAST YEAR, AGAINST THE HUSKIES, AND THE SECONDARY, THEY WILL HAVE IN THE SECONDARY. AND THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, AND OUT THERE FOR THE HUSKIES. THEY HAVE SEEN THEM IN THE PAST AND I IMAGINE THAT COULD CIRCLE UP TO THIS SEASON. >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING A NUMBER ONE OFFENSE, PLAY ACTION PASS FROM THORNE, SHOWING A LITTLE WIGGLE. AND RECEIVER IN THE FLAT, NOT LOOKING FOR THE PASS. >> WHAT THE MENTAL HURDLED MAY BE FOR THORNE A COMPETITIVE GUY, AND SON OF A FOOTBALL COACH. AND HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL SCHAGE AND GOING THROUGH THE SPRING, TOWARDS THE FALL AND DOES HE FEEL LIKE THE MORE EXPERIENCED QB TO SHOWCASE IT. >> AND THERE WITH THE PASS RUSH. HE'S ANOTHER GUY THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT A LOT WITH REGARD TO LINE MACKERS, AND DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF WATCHING THE EYES OF THE QUARTERBACK. >> THE LINEBACKER, HIS ASSIGN'T WASN'T TO BLITZ, AND ONCE NOAH IS ABLE TO TURN IN AN EXTENDED PLAY. >> OHIO STATE, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW DEEP THE LINEBACKER POSITION IS. AND A LINE BACK HAS BEEN HERE A COUPLE SEASONS NOW. JORDAN HALL, AS A FRESHMAN. SHOULD HAVE YOUNGER GUYS PUSHING, CAL HALLADAY, AND USING THE TERM COMPETITIVE DEPTH A LOT. THAT IS WHERE IT ENDS UP MATTERING. HOW PHYSICAL CAN YOU BE, AND MAKING SURE THAT IS JORDAN HALL CAN BE AS PREPARED. AND READING AND ONE TERM THEY USE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYER LIKE HALL, LOUD AND WRONG. JUST COMMUNICATE LIKE A BANSHEE. MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE, AND AS A LINEBACKER, THEY ARE NOT TELLING THEM THE RIGHT THING DO DO YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE AT SUCCESS. >> A RETURNER, THE SENIOR FROM MARIETTA, GEORGIA. SOMEBODY WHO IS ALSO IN THE MIX, IN THE RUNNING BACK ROOM, AS THEY REPLACE A COUPLE RESERVES, AND MOVING ON THE NFL, ELIJAH COLLINS, TRANSFERRING OUT. THERE IS HOUSER. LOOKING FOR PARACHEK, ONE OF THE FRESHMAN COMING IN, A TOP TEN TIGHT END. ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON, DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD. THEY ARE YOUNG, REPLACING A NUMBER OF GUYS, AND FOUR MOVING ON TO THE NFL DRAFT. THEY DO BRING IN JIM SALGADO, WHO WAS WITH THE BUFFALO BILLS. THEY FEEL HE WILL REALLY BOLSTER THAT ROOM. >> ANOTHER ONE OF THE POSITION COACHES ADDED TO THE STAFF, AND MEL TUCKER HAS KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME. HE AND SALGADO HAD A RELATIONSHIP THAT GOES A WHILE BACK AND HOW THEY GO IN THE BACKFIELD. >> HAD IT BOUNCE OFF HIS HANDS THERE, AND WRAPPED UP FOR CAL HALLADAY. XAVIER HENDERSON, KENDALL BROOKS, THOSE TWO MOVING ON, AND NICHOL AND SAFETY, BIG QUESTION MARK ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE, WHO WILL PLAY WHERE? A WILL THE OF TIME LAST YEAR. >> YOU LOSE HENDERSON WHO WAS THE LEADER, THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD. SEVERAL SEASONS. AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT MAN, WHO CAN BE THE GUY FOR THE DBs TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP EVERYONE ON TASK, TO BE THE ADDITIONAL COACH ON THE FIELD. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. AND JACK NICKEL. WE ARE LOOKING AT TREY MOSELEY ON THE COACH. >> AND MADE LAY OF THE PLAYS AND WE ARE SEEING WHERE RIGHT NOW, EVEN THOUGH THE BODIES ARE ON THE FIELD ARE 11 VERSUS 11, AND NOT DOING LIVE TEMPO. IT'S ALMOST A 7 ON 7 AND YOU CAN STILL GET HIGH SPEED REPETITION FOR THE QUARTERBACK AND PASS CATCHERS VERSUS THE LINEBACKERS AND DBs AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE THINGS WE TOUCHED ON EARLIER. THAT IF THEY ARE A LITTLE THIN IN THE SPRING, IT'S THAT DEFENSIVE FRONT. WE DON'T WANT TO OVERTAX YOUR D. LINE. A GUY. MAKING SURE, THE POTENTIAL OF INJURY. THERE IS PAYTON THORNE, THE CAPTAIN, CLIPS IT OUT FOR PRIMM, TO THE EVERYONE. IT WAS FUNNY. YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING CALLED LIP SERVICE EARLIER. HE HAVE SAID THERE IS NO LIP SERVICE ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK COMPETITION. AND PAYTON THORNE, TWO-YEAR CAPTAIN, TWO-YEAR STARTER, AND RECORD BREAKING 2021. HOE TOLD US AN INTERESTING STORY I LOVE THE FACT, WITH THE PARTICULAR GUYS, I NEED THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP AND SHOW THEY ASK STILL GET IT DONE. THEY HAVE TO EARN IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WHEN YOU HAVE PLAYERS ACROSS THE BOARD, PLAYING WITH UNGENESEE. THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN CONTINUE TO NURTURE THE MOST DEVELOPMENT. >> TOLD US ONE PARTICULAR STORY. HE AND REAM OWE WERE CHATTING AND THERE WAS ONE NFL VETERAN. HE HAD BEEN IN THE LEAGUE A LONG TIME AND HE SAID, I WANT TO SEE HIM GET EXTRA REPS. HE WANTS TO PROVE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AT THIS LEVEL, AND THAT REALLY STUFF WITH MEL TUCKER AND THEY REALLY HAD COMPETITION, AT EVERY POSITION. AND JACKSON TAKES THE PASS. YOU CAN TELL HE'S GOT A REALLY LIVE ARM. WHAT DO I LIKE, THE ERRANT PASSES, YOU CAN SEE THAT HIS EYES ARE GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACE. HE IS GETTING THROUGH HIS READ PROGRESSIONS IN AN E CONSECUTIVE MANNER, NOT AS EFFICIENTLY AS THE OTHER GUYS THAT'S WHERE THEY TAKE OVER. DEVELOPING MENTALLY. >> NOAH KIM, AND NOAH KIM HAS BEEN IN THE SYSTEM FOR THREE YEARS, JUST LIKE HE HAS. THIS IS ONE OF THREE SPRING GAMES, AND COMING OFF THE ROSE BOWL, THEY ARE PLAYING THEY ARE WRAPPING UP IN COLUMBUS. >> QUARTERBACK BATTLES, AND QB JOB OPENING UP IN COLUMBUS, QB JOB OPEN IN ST. COLLEGE. THIS IS THE PROGRAM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG TEN EAST DIVISION THERE ARE FEW PLAYERS FRANKLY AROUND THE COUNTRY, CERTAINLY THE BIG TEN THAT ARE EXPERIENCED TO THE LEVEL THAT PAYTON THORNE HAS, AND TO HAVE A RESUME OF SUCCESS IN THEIR REAR VIEW LIKE PAYTON THORNE. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED BY MICHIGAN STATE FANS. EVERYONE LOOKING AROUND AND WONDER WRITING DO WE GET THE NEXT HOT COMMODITY? IT'S BECOME A THING, LIKE, AFTER SOMEONE HAS SEEN THEIR QUARTERBACK FOR A COUPLE SEASONS, WE SAW IT PLAY OUT FOR A COUPLE SEASONS. >> WE HAVE CHANGED PERIODS. WE HAVE SEEING NUMBER ONE OFFENSE AGAINST NUMBER ONE DEFENSE. READ INTO IT WHAT YOU WILL. >> THERE IS A GLIMMER I FEEL LIKE WE DETECT, AND IT DOES SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED. THE EARLY TIME HERE AS A SPARTAN. >> I KNOW YOU'RE IMPRESSED AND I CAL HALLADAY. HE BLEW IT UP. >> WE HAVE GOTTEN IN A LIVE PERIOD YA HERE. DEFENSIVE LINE. AND NOW THEY ARE COMING UP, AND RUNNING AROUND AND PUTTING BODIES ON THE GROUND. HE WAS DEALING WITH A FRACTURE IN HIS FOOT. HAD THE SCREWS REMOVED THIS OFF SEASON. FEELS LIKE A TOTALLY NEW GUY. >> THAT'S GREAT. THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS WITHIN THAT, THEY CAN HAVE FRUSTRATION, AND TRY TO BATTLE THROUGH A FEW THINGS, AND WORK BACK IN THE LINEUP, AND ONE OF THE PLAYERS, WENT THROUGH THAT, FITZ PATRICK, ANOTHER RECEIVER, BATTLED THINGS, AND TRIED TO WORK THROUGH THE LINEUP. PLAY ACTION, GOING DEEP FOR FOSTER AND OVER ON THE NEAR SIDELINE. >> NOAH KIM, CERTAINLY NOT AS STATUESQUE OF THE AS OTHER PLAYERS AND HE DOES HAVE REALLY LIVE ARM. YOU PREFER A GUY WHO IS A LITTLE MANUFACTURE SLENDER, AND HE HAS A LIVE ARM, AND HE WILL IS NOT SOMEONE WHO WILL FORCE THE ISSUE, LOOKING TO TAKE AFTER IT. HE WILL EXTEND THE PLAY, AND WHILE HE IS ON, THEY HAVE SEEN IT ALREADY, AND THEY CAN THROW IT EFFECTIVELY. >> A PICK UP OF DOUBLE DIGITS, GETTING REPS WITH THE NUMBER ONE OFFENSE. >> ADDING THE PHYSICALITY TO THE RUN GAME. >> HE'S A GUY THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT. SOUTH FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA. PART OF HIS TIME WITH THE BUFFALO, MEL TUCKER WAS HEAD COACH. >> NOT EVERYONE QUARTERBACK CAN PIVOT AND TERN THEIR SHOULDERS AND HIPS AND THROW COMFORTABLY, AND PAYTON THORNE CAN DO IT EFFECTIVELY, AND AS FAR AS JUST EXPANDING YOUR PLAYBOOK, TO HAVE A QUARTERBACK, PHYSICAL ABILITY, AND IT'S SOMEONE ELSE THEY HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE GAME. >> CAM OVER THE MIDDLE AND WELL PLAYED DEFENSIVELY. I BELIEVE THAT WAS ANGELO GROSS WITH A PASS BREAK UP. THE NICKEL AND THE SAFETY SPOT. >> OUT CUT. TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THE DRIVING ON THE ROUTE. ONE THING TO GET THE GREAT PASS DEFLECTION. AND YOU WON'T EVERY, WHAT IS THE NEXT PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT. AND DOWNHILL, TURN IT INTO AN INTERCEPTION. AND HITTING MANGHAM, WITH A FLAG, AND ONE OF THE POSITIONAL BATTLES, AND NOT GETTING THE SAME INTENTIONAL BATTLE AND RUNNING BACK, BETWEEN NOW AND THE START OF THE FALL FOOTBALL. >> YOU CAN ROLL A LOT OF BODIES THROUGH, SO WHEN YOU HAVE DEPTH THERE, DEPTH YOU ADDED FROM THE TRANSFER PORTAL, THEY RECOGNIZE IT. AND AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A VARIETY OF GUYS, AND YOU CAN GET THE JOB DONE. NOW WE WILL GET TO SEE KATON HOUSER, AND ACTION AS NOAH KIM HEADS TO THE BENCH. HOUSER, REDSHIRT FRESHMAN. TOP RANKED QUARTERBACK RECRUIT AT MICHIGAN STATE SINCE 2013. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LIVE ARM. COACHES RAISE THEIR EYE BROWS A LOT WHEN HE'S THROWING THE FOOTBALL IN SPRING PRACTICE. >> I WONDER IF WE WILL SEE THAT IN THE LIVE SETTING, CAN KATON HOUSER ATTACK VERTICALLY? WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT MUCH IN BRACKET. >> AND READ OPTION FOR BERGER. TAKEN DOWN AT THE 30. >> BACK TO THE STADIUM, O. LINE AND D. LINE. >> THAT IS ACTUALLY ME. I WAS CALLING FOR A PASS RUSH. >> MY GUY NEXT TO ME. ANTHONY HERON, HERE ALL AFTERNOON. >> THIS IS ANOTHER CONTROLLED WAY YOU CAN GET PLAUSIBLY LIVE REPS. AND IT SHOULD BE ADVANTAGE DEFENSE. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THAT OFFENSIVE LIEMEN ON AN ISLAND AND YOU CREATE SPACE. HAVE A TWO WAY GO. BACK TO THE INSIDE. >> ONE ON ONE, O. LINE, D. LINE, AND 7 ON 7 WITH THE SKILL PLAYERS GOING ON ACROSS THE FIELD. NICE RUSH THERE FROM NUMBER 51. TUNMISE ADELEYE. WE WILL STEP ASIDE. WHEN WE COME BACK, MORE SPRING FOOTBALL ACTION IN EAST LANSING. >>> THE MICHIGAN STATE SPRING FOOTBALL FINALE COMING TO A CLOSE IN EAST LANSING. IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY. LOTS OF FANS ON HAND, AND SPARTAN NATION EXCITED ABOUT WHAT 2023 WITH BRING FOR A FOOTBALL TEAM THAT WAS DISAPPOINTING FOR HOW IT UNFOLDED WITH INJURIES, SUSPENSIONS, GOING 5-7, MISSING A BOWL GAME, NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AROUND HERE A LOT. AND THEY RETURN 30 PLAYERS, ANTHONY, WITH STARTING EXPERIENCE, AND BRING IN THE BEST TRANSFER PORTAL THAT HE HAD. >> HE IS THE FACE FOR THE TRANSFER PORTAL THE LAST COUPLE SEASONS FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL. HE SAID THIS IS THE BEST TRANSFER PORTAL CLASS HE HAS BROUGHT IN. AND SOME OF THE YOUNGER ENROLLEES SHOW UP IN JANUARY. YOU HAVE A LOT OF BODIES ON CAMPUS. NEW TO SPARTANS FOOTBALL. AND YOU SAW THE PASS RUSH THERE, AND JACOBY WINDMON, LAST YEAR, EFFECTIVE RIGHT OFF THE BAT. >> A GUY WHO LED THE NATION WITH SIX FORCED FUMBLES, AND ONLY PLAYED EIGHT GAMES LAST YEAR, AND LED THE COUNTRY. HE ALSO WAS NAMED THREE TOOF HIM DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK, AND FIRST TIME EVER IN SPANISH TANS HISTORY, HAVING A PLAYER NAMED THREE TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK. >> IF THAT WERE THE ONLY THING, HE DOES HAVE A COUNTER -- THE WAY HE CAN GET UP THE FIELD, PUTS SPEED IN THE FEET OF THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE AND CAN JUST FORCE THE QUARTERBACK TO FEEL THAT PRESSURE OFF THE EDGE. HE HASN'T HAD MANY OTHER GUYS HERE IN RECENT SEASONS THAT CAN BRING THAT SPEED AROUND THE CORNER. THE BEST IN MEL TUCKER'S TENURE. THEY HAD EIGHT FOUR-STAR GUYS IN SES. YOU SAID SEVEN OF THEM ARE HERE. HOW BIG OF A DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE, FOR A FRESHMAN TO COME IN, IN SPRING BALL, VERSUS JUST COMING IN IN FALL CAMP. >> IT CAN ALLOW TO YOU GET A CLASS SCHEDULE TOGETHER, TO GET COMFORTABLE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO OPERATE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT, AND GETTING IN SPRING PRACTICE, YOU'RE APPROACHING FALL, YOU HAVE CAMPUS LIFE AND YOU TRY TO FOCUS ON FOOTBALL, YOU ARE CAPABLE OF MULTITASKING IN A WAY YOU ARE NOT OVERWHELMED BECAUSE YOU JUST SHOWED UP. >> GOOD RUN HERE FROM JALEN BERGER. WE HAVE SEEING TWO OFFENSE VERSE TWO DEFENSE, AND COACHES HAVE TOLD US TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THE DEPTH CHART IS NOT SET IN ANY POSITION. YOU HAVE SEEN NOAH KIM HERE RUNNING THE OFFENSE FOR THE SPARTANS. ONE OF THE TOP FIVE PASS CRASHERS. >> AND HE IS PLUCKING THE FOOTBALL OUT OF THE AIR, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BE THE WAY THAT THE OFFENSE EXPANDS IN A WAY THEY USE BERGER. >> AND DOWN ON THE FIELD. GRIPPING THE LEFT ARM. DIDN'T QUITE SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT SOMETHING SERIOUS, AS PLAY RESUMES. HE'S A GUY WHO FIGURES TO BE IN THE MIX IN THE LINEBACKER POSITION, AND A NUMBER OF SNAPS THERE LAST YEAR, AND KIM AIRING IT OUT, AND A CATCH. NO, IT'S OUT OF THE HANDS OF MONTORIE MOST FOSTER. >> NO WHAT KIM MOST FREQUENT LIP TRIED TO ATTACK, AND TRY TO PUT IT IN, IN THE CORNER, THE SAFETY. THEY'RE IN ATTACK MENTALITY, AND MEL TUCKER, JAY JOHNSON REALLY VALUES, AND TO GO BACK, TO WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE TACKLE IN JALEN BERGER, EXTENDED THE LEFT HARM OUT, ENTER TO TAKE IT TO THE SIDELINE FROM THERE. AND IT MAY HAVE LOOKED ODD. I'M SURE FANS AT HOME NOTICED THEY JUST BEGAN TO RUN THE NEXT PRACTICE SNAP WHILE THEY WERE ON THE GROUND, AND THIS IS NOT A TRUE -- CERTAINLY NOT A REGULAR SEASON GAME, AND THAT IS FREQUENT LIP HOW IT GOES IN FOOTBALL PRACTICE WHEN THE OFFENSE IS MOVING AWAY FROM WHERE A QUARTERED PLAYER IS. YOU JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE 15 YARDS AWAY AWAY AND THEY HELP HIM OFF THE FIELD TO THE SIDELINE. >> 54 SNAPS, AND FINDING ELUSIVENESS, AND McDONALD ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. >> SOMETHING TO THE GAME OF NOAH KIM. THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A KNACK FOR FINDING SEAMS, LANES TO EXTEND THE PLAY, AND WILLINGNESS TO ATTACK VERTICALLY, AND THE ABILITY TO CHANGE HIS ARM SLOT AND DELIVER THE BALL IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. I LIKE WHAT I HAVE SEEN, THE PHYSICAL TBLTY, AND WHERE HE IS AT MEANTYLY. >> HOUSER OFF THE PLAY ACTION. WHAT A CATCH. TYRELL HENRY RIPPING IT DOWN WITH ONE HAND. DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE CATCH LAST YEAR. MAINLY PLAYED ON SPECIAL TEAMS. LOOK THAT GRAB. >> THIS WILL ACCOUNT FOR TWO GRABS. HE SNATCHES IT OUT OF THE SKY WITH ONE HAND. IT'S ONE OF THE OLD SCHOOL STICK 'EM GRABS. MADE IT LOOK EASY. >> EXTRA STICK ON THE GLOVES THIS SPRING. HE HASN'T WORN THEM OUT TOO MUCH. A BALL ON THE 10 YARD LINE FOR HOUSER, AND HAND OFF TO PRIMM, AND HE SCAMPERED FOR ABOUT THREE, AND HE IS HEADED TO THE LOCKER ROOM NOW. THEY HAVE BEEN HEALTHY ALL SPRING LONG. NOBODY OUT FOR A LONG TIME. >> YOU JUST HOPE THAT HE IS GOING 20 BE OKAY. >> JUST TO GIVE THE GUYS A MORE REAL I.C.E..IC LOOK. ONLY 15 SPRING PRACTICES, INCLUDING THE SPRING GAME. AND WE GET A LOOK THERE AT THE TRANSFER FROM TEXAS A&M. YOU GOT TO MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT IN SPRING BALL. IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY MEL TUCKER OPTED TO USE THIS FORMAT, VERSUS A GREEN SCRIMMAGE, SPLITTING A CREAN DOWN THE MILT, AND TO REALLY MAKE IT AS COMPETITIVE AS THIS IS RIGHT HERE. >> AS SYSTEMATIC AS THEY WANT IT TO BE. >> THIS IS THIRD DOWN. HOUSER TO THE END ZONE, AND IT'S OVERTHROWN. >> IT'S ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THEY HAD THE INTENDED TARGET, DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE, AND EXPECTING MORE ON OF AN INCUT THERE, FOR WHATEVER REASON. IT SAILED ON HIM. >> ALL RIGHT, NOW, CAN THEY CONVERT ON FOURTH DOWN? THIS IS A SCRIPTED FOURTH DOWN HERE. FOUR WIDE RECEIVER SET. IN THE BACKFIELD. HOUSER, OVER THE MIDDLE AND HE FINDS PARACHEK FOR A FIRST DOWN. AND HOUSER, MAKING SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS HE GOT THE FIRST DOWN THERE. >> PART OF THE REASON YOU PUT IT, ESPECIALLY A YOUNG PLAYER IN THAT SCENARIO, FOURTH DOWN BUT NOT FOURTH AND GOAL. FOURTH WHERE YOU CAN STILL PICK UP A FIRST DOWN AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE HE IS GOING TO ATTACK BEYOND THE STICKS TO MOVE THE CHAINS. >> SO THIS IS THE LAST PERIOD. IT'S A TWO MINUTE DRILL. 57 SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME. YOU NEED A TOUCHDOWN. THIS IS THE STUFF WE USE DOD IN THE BACKYARD, RIGHT? >> OH, MAN, YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR OFFENSE IN THIS COMPETITIVE POSITION. YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR DEFENSE IN THIS SCENARIO AS WELL. AND SO MANY SITUATIONS, A TWO-MINUTE DRILL, WE USUALLY THINK END OF HALF, END OF GAME, AND NOW, THE VOLUME OF PASSING THAT COMES UP, AND BECAUSE OF THE TEMPO, IT'S THERE FOR SO MANY TEAMS, THAT ARE NOT HUDDLING ON A REGULAR BASIS. A LOT OF THE GAME FEELS LIKE A TWO MINUTE DRILL. BENEFICIAL TO THE OFFENSE AND ALSO TO THE DEFENSE AS WELL. >> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CLOSE GAMES LAST YEAR THAT MICHIGAN STATE WAS IN. AND IN THIS LEAGUE, THE BIG TEN, WITH A MARGIN OF ERROR SO THIN, HOW MANY GAMES HAVE WE SEEN COME DOWN TO A SUCCESSFUL TWO MINUTE DRILL OR A DEFENSE CONVERSELY STOPPING IT? >> LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF THE PRESUMED STARTERS. >> BERGER AND THORNE IN THE BACKFIELD, AND THORNE FINDS FITZPATRICK FOR A YEAR FIRST DOWN. REMEMBER, 57 SECONDS. YOU NEED A TOUCHDOWN. ON THE OUTROUTE, CONNECTS WITH CARR, A PRESEEMED STARTER, A TIGHT END. THEIR ONLY RETURNING TIGHT END WITH GAME EXPERIENCE. HAD TWO TOUCHDOWNS IN THE LAST TWO GAMES OF THE SEASON LAST YEAR. >> TOP OF YOUR SCREEN IS A DEFENSIVE PASS RUSH, AND JACOBY WINDMON BACK IN THE SUBGROUP, AN OFF BALL LINEBACKER. >> THEY MOVED HIM ALL OVER THE FIELD LAST YEAR. WREAKED HAVOC IN THE EIGHT GAMES HE PLAYED. THORNE OVER THE MIDDLE, AND BERGER TAGGED. NO HITTING IN THIS PERIOD. JUST TAGGING FOR THE DEFENSE. AND A TIME-OUT TAKEN BY THE OFFENSE. >> DEFENSE IS BACK IN THE ZONE COVERAGE, AND CAL HALLADAY, SECURING THE TACKLE, SHORT OF THE STICK. OFFENSE HAS TO USE A TIME-OUT. THAT IS WHERE SITUATIONALLY ON DEFENSE, YOU MAKE SURE YOU ATTACK AT AN ANGLE WHERE YOU CAN SECURE THE TACKLE IN BOUNDS, FORCING THE OFFENSE TO USE A TIME-OUT. >> A REAL WATER BREAK, LIKE WE'RE PLAYING IN AN ACTUAL GAME HERE. TV TIME-OUT ON THE FIELD. THERE ARE 34 SECONDS LEFT IN THIS FINAL PERIOD. WHICH IS A "YOU HAVE TO SCORE WITH 57 SECONDS LEFT." YOU SEE PAYTON THORNE THERE WITH THE COACH AND OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAY JOHNSON. >> YOU WANT IT TO FEEL MATCHUP. IN A GAME SETTING, YOU WANT YOUR BODY, YOUR MIND TO FEEL LIKE IT'S KBN HERE BEFORE. THE PRESSURE AND INTENSITY. >> SECOND AND FIVE FOR THE OFFENSE. THORNE, WIDE OPEN SIDE OF THE FIELD AND CAUGHT BY TRE MOSLEY, AND A FOOT RACE, AND HE IS DOWN TO THE 15. >> A GREET BALL FROM PAYTON THORNE. MOSLEY WAS ON THE OUT AND HE LED MOSLEY AWAY FROM THE CORNER AND ALLOWED THE RUN AFTER CATCH. GREAT PLACEMENT ON THE FOOTBALL, TO THORNE, AND MOSLEY, SNAGS IT WITH BOTH HANDS AND HE CAN CONTINUE UP THE FIELD. >> THORNE ALMOST TAKINGEN DOWN AND THROWS IT AWAY, AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT TRE MOGSLY, HE SAID HE'S GOT THE BEST HANDS EVER SEEN. >> THAT IS HIGH PRAISE. >> COMING FROM A GUY WHO CAN GO TO THE NFL. >> JADEN REED IS GOING TO BE A HIGH DAY TWO DRAFT PICK IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, A COUPLE WEEKS FROM NOW. >> THEY CALL HIM OG, TRE MOSLEY. HE'S 21, THE MOST VETERAN GUY IN THE WIDE RECEIVER ROOM. HARD TO BELIEVE IN THIS ERA OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS WHERE YOU HAVE 23 AND 24-YEAR-OLDS AT SOME POSITIONS. THORNE WITH 22 SECONDS. USING HIS LEGS. THORNE TO THE END ZONE AND A TOUCHDOWN FOR THORNE. SHOWING OFF THE MOBILITY. THAT GOT THE CROWD OUT OF THEIR SEATS. >> YOU CAN SEE THE GAPING LANE THAT OPENED UP AND THE CROWD AS THORNE TOOK OUT. I'M SURE THERE IS A DEFENDER OR TWO WHO CLAIM IN A LIVE SETTING, HE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO GET DOWN. >> YOU TOUCHED A GUY WITH A RED JERSEY. YOU MAY NOT SEE THE FIELD FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. DID YOU EVERY MAKE THAT DISTAKE? >> I HAVE A TIME OR TWO. >> WAS IT A TRUE MISTAKE? >> IN PRACTICE, IT WAS A TRUE MISTAKE. WOULD I HIT MAYBE A BACKUP QUARTERBACK IN COLLEGE, NOT SO MUCH. >> BOY, HE HAD TO BE HARD TO TACKLE, MIKE VICK. MAN. >> THAT'S A MISTAKE YOU TRY NOT MAKE. >> YEAH, RIGHT. PAYTON THORNE SHOWING OFF THE LEGS WITH A 15-YARD SCAMPER TO THE END ZONE, AND NOW SAME TYPE OF DEAL HERE. IT'S NOAH KIM'S CHANCE. 57 SECONDS TO SCORE, AND AGAIN, DEFENSE NOT GOING FULL GO. JUST A TAG, LIKE A TWO-HAND TOUCH AT RECESS. AND MANGHAM IN THE BACKFIELD. AND DUMPS IT OVER THE MIDDLE TO JARON GLOVER. >> I LIKE THE DEFENSE, HE IS NOT HELTER SKELTER. >> ON THE PLAY, KEMP, AND A DIVING INTERCEPTION ATTEMPT, JUST OUT OF THE HANDS ON THAT PLAY. EXCELLENT EFFORT BY KHALIL MAJEED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN NEGATED BY THE FLAG. SO THEY REPEAT THIRD DOWN HERE ON A FIVE-YARD PENALTY. AND HIS BROTHER BEN ENTERING THE NFL DRAFT. >> GOOD TO SEE. ABLE TO STROLL OFF THE FIELD UNDER HIS POWER, AND SUB IN FOR HIM. WE TALKED A FEW TIMES HERE, ABOUT THE VERTICAL PASS, A WILLINGNESS TO ATTACK DOWN FIELD, AND NOAH KIM IS THE QUARTERBACK WHO HAS DONE IT MOST FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT OUR TIME HERE, AND IT'S ONE THING TO DIAL UP THE PROGRAM DEEP BALL SHOTS. IT'S FLEA-FLICKER TIME. SAIL IT DOWN THE FIELD AND SEE WHAT YOU GET. AND IN THE FRAME WORK OF THE DESIGNED OFFENSE, YOU CAN SEEING NOAH KIM, WILLING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE SECONDARY, AND NOT ONLY WITH HIS LEGS, BUT PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE SECONDARY WITH HIS ARM. >> KIM, OVER THE MIDDLE, CONNECTS AGAIN WITH HIS WIDE RECEIVER. >> BALL COMES OUT HOT TOO. IT'S CATCHABLE, AND YOU SEE A QUICK ACTION WITH HIS THROWING MOTION. IT'S A CATCH AND A TIGHT SPIRAL. >> AND FRANKLIN, THE WISCONSIN TRANSFER, AND HITS ANTONIO GATES JR., AND PICK UP OF FIRST DOWN. CLOCK STOPS, 18 SECONDS LEFT, AND A TOUCHDOWN, AND JAY JOHNSON WANTS A TIME-OUT. >> I TELL YOU, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, YOU GAUGE THINGS THROUGH A CERTAIN PRISM, AND WATCHING A SCENARIO IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL. I'M IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I HAVE SEEN TODAY, FROM NOAH KIM. AND MOVEMENTS WITHIN THE POCKET. AND DECISIVE, WHERE HE WANTS TO DELIVER THE FOOTBALL, AND WHERE HE WANTS TO EXTEND THE PLAY, WHERE HE CLIMBS THE POCKET VERTICALLY, WHERE HE EXTENTS LATERALLY. HE IS DOING IT WITH A PURPOSE. >> WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT NOAH KIM HAS HAD THAT PROVEN MENTALITY THAT MEL TUCKER TALKED TO US ABOUT SO MUCH LEADING IN THE SPRING GAME. HE JUST KIND SOME SAID BRING IT ON. BRING ON THE COMPETITION. FEELS LIKE HE CAN REALLY BE THE STARTER FOR THIS TEAM IN 2023. >> IT'S FUNNY. MEL TUCKER TOLD US THE OTHER DAY THAT NOAH KIM, A COUPLE QUARTERBACKS WERE AT THE ACADEMIC EVENT, AND NOAH KIM'S MOM GOT OVER NEAR MEL TUCKER, AND SAID WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE. AND HE SAID, I LIKE YOUR SIGN. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE. I LIKE WHAT YOUR SON'S DOING. >> HE'S GOT 17 SECONDS HERE. AIRS IT OUT, AND ANTONIO GATES JR. IT'S A TOUCHDOWN. THE SUN OF THE GREAT NFL HALL OF FAMER ANTONIO GATES. AND WHAT DID MEL TUCKER TELL US? JUNIOR'S IN THE MIX THIS YEAR AT THE WIDE RECEIVER POSITION. THAT IS A HECK OF A CATCH AND THROW. >> AND SOFT HANDS AND THE PLACEMENTS OF THAT FOOTBALL FROM NOAH KIM. >> NOTHING LIKE GOING TO COMMERCIAL BREAK IN A SPRING PRACTICE WITH A BEAUTIFUL 30-YARD TOUCHDOWN. NOAH KIM >>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ALL AFTERNOON IN EAST LANSING. WE ARE WATCHING UP SPRING FOOTBALL. THE FINAL OF 15 DAYS OF SPRING FOOTBALL, AND SPARTANS FOOTBALL, FEELS GOOD ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE THIS SPRING, AND JAY JOHNSON ECHOED THE SENTIMENTS, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO, AND HE LIKENED IT TO THE VIBE HE GOT FROM HIS TEAM, GOING TO 2021. WE KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT WAS FOR THE SPARTANS. >> THAT IS A BIT MORE UNDER STATED THAN IT WAS GOING TO NEXT YEAR, AND THERE IS A CONFIDENCE ABOUT IT. AND THE NOISE AROUND THE PROGRAM ISN'T AS LOUD. IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S ALLOWING MEL TUCKER, HIS STAFF, THE PLAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE AND THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO SPARTANS FOOTBALL, IN THE OFF SEASON, TO OPERATE UNDER THE RADAR. YOU CAN REALLY SENSE THE CONFIDENCE AND CERTAINLY THE PLAYERS YOU KNOW COMING IN, AND THEY HAD IT ON THE SIDELINE TODAY. BUT EVEN THE GUYS ON THE FIELD HERE, THERE IS A LOT TO BE IMPRESSED WITH. >> MEL TUCKER TOLD US HE THINKS THE IT'S THE BEST TRANSFER PORTAL CLASS HE BROUGHT IN. THE BEST FRESHMEN RECRUITING CLASS HE HAS BROUGHT IN SINCE HE STARTED HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE. THIS IS THEIR SCHEDULE, AND IT ALL KICKS OFF ON SEPTEMBER 2nd AGAINST CENTRAL MICHIGAN. THE BIG NONCONFERENCE GAME, AND REMATCH WITH THE WASHINGTON HUSKIES. THAT WILL HERE AT THE WOOD SHED ON SEPTEMBER 16th AND THE GAUNTLET OF ALL GAUNTLETS, AND BIG TEN FOOTBALL STARTS FOR MICHIGAN STATE. HOMECOMING, 9/23 AGAINST MARYLAND. >> WE'LL SEE. NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE YET, IF THIS ENDS UP BEING ONE OF THE LAST SEASONS THAT THERE'S AN EAST AND A WEST IN THE BIG TEN. MICHIGAN STATE OPERATING IN THE DEEPEST DIVISION IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. IT CAN BE AN UPHILL CLIMB. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE OHIO STATE AND MICHIGAN AND PENN STATE. THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT IN A POORLY COMPETITIVE WAY, AND THIS COMING FALL SHOULD BE IN DIFFERENT. >> YOU CAN TELL BY THE TURNOUT TODAY. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE 2023 TEAM IS ALL ABOUT. THEY FELL SHORT LAST YEAR, 5-7. THEY HAVE THE TALENT, THE DEPTH THIS YEAR, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE AWAY? >> OUT OF EVERYTHING, THERE ARE A LOT OF PLAYERS AND PLAYMAKERS WE SAW ON THE FIELD, AND REALLY EXCITED. HE WAS NOT PART OF THE LIVE ACTION, AND FLOW WHAT KIM, HE GIVES ME AN ENHANCED BELIEF THAT WHAT MEL TUCKER IS TALKING ABOUT, WITH THE QUARTERBACK BATTLE, BEING OPEN, OH, IT'S HARD TO SIT A GUY WHO STARTED FOR MULTIPLE SEASONS AND MADE PLAYS, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY NOAH KIM GIVES THEM PAUSE IN THERE. >> AND PAYTON THORNE. WE SAW NOAH KIM GO VERTICAL FOR A 30-YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS TO CAP OFF THIS SPRING FOOTBALL FINALE. MEL TUCKER'S GROUP EXCITED ABOUT THE 2023 BALL COULD BRING TO EAST LANSING. FOR THE ENTIRE BIG TEN CREW, I'M MATT SCHUMACHER SIGNING OFF FROM THE WOOD SHED IN EAST LANSING.