After sitting out all of last year and catching only nine passes for 64 yards in the first five games this season, sophomore receiver Matt Trannon finally busted out of his shell last weekend.
And his coaches and teammates couldn't be more excited.
"First of all, you got to remember he hasn't gotten very much time on the field, and I think you'll see him begin to continue to steadily improve each week," senior quarterback Jeff Smoker said. "That kid is a heck of an athlete, and he's got a couple more years here and he's going to be good."
The sophomore receiver had six receptions for 82 yards Saturday to lead all receivers in the Spartans 31-3 thumping of Indiana.
"It was very exciting (to break out)," Trannon said, "it was just my time."
Trannon said he was having trouble grasping the offense earlier because he was playing too anxiously.
His struggling and lack of production could have led to a disaster in the fifth game against Iowa on a third-and-goal play in the fourth quarter.
When MSU's lead was only seven points at 17-10, Trannon couldn't hold onto what would have been his first Spartans touchdown as he was pressured by Iowa cornerback Antwan Allen. MSU settled for a field goal to stretch its lead by only three points with 10:27 left in the game.
"I wasn't getting impatient," Trannon said, "I was just trying to rush things. I was starting to wonder to myself (when I would break out). The coaches were just telling me to be comfortable and stay focused and (my) time is going to be there."
One possible explanation to Trannon's eagerness to get involved this season is because he couldn't last year. The NCAA ruled the Flint native academically ineligible his freshman year.
"I was real disappointed in myself, because I let the team down," he said.
But the young receiver didn't waste his time on the sidelines.
Trannon was mentored by the older receivers - not just by Biletnikoff winner Charles Rogers but all the wideouts - forming a family of sorts.
"I learned a lot last year from guys teaching me stuff," Trannon said.
One thing his teammates couldn't teach Trannon was size, because he already has it - a lot of it.
Ask anyone on the team about the advantages Trannon has as a receiver and they'll automatically respond with an answer relating to his massive 6-foot-6, 228-pound frame.
"Obviously his size and being physical is something that he brings to the table," receivers coach Jim McElwain said. "The thing he needs to do is make sure on every single play he concentrates and plays to his full ability."
McElwain said as long as defenses allow for it and Trannon keeps improving, MSU fans will "see a ton of him."
"Matt is just practicing hard and playing hard and getting an understanding of what's expected and what you need to do to be successful in this system," McElwain said.
Head coach John L. Smith said the team is trying to help Trannon adapt to the Spartans' system by encouraging him and coaching him in all the aspects of receiving, not just catching the ball.
"We try and give him that boot in the butt," Smith said. "He's starting to understand the route running, moreso than he has. We still have to work a lot on our blocking.
"Sometimes big guys have more trouble than little guys with the blocking and being able to drop their hips and to play with some leverage - we're working on that."
