The college careers of wide receivers Kyle Brown and Aaron Alexander are over. Now it's time for seniors Matt Trannon, Jerramy Scott, Kerry Reed and junior Terry Love to help the offense live up to the expectations as one of the Big Ten's best.
In 2005, the passing game was the deadliest attack for the Spartans. The offense averaged 295.5 yards per game through the air, 12.9 yards per catch and ranked second in the Big Ten in terms of passing offense.
But while last year's receivingcorps was deep, the youth of the backups is still a concern for MSU head coach John L. Smith.
"The wideout crew — getting the new guys into the mix," Smith said of offensive concerns. "T.J. (Williams), he's still swimming as Devin (Thomas) is still swimming."
The Spartans welcome back Scott and Trannon — two players that will be looked upon to provide more of a leadership role this season. Trannon and Scott each snagged four touchdowns last season and averaged more than 14 yards a carry.
"I know coming on in the fall and in the summer, I'm going to take that role," Scott said. "I'm helping a lot of players coming up to me and asking me a lot of plays. I'm just telling them the schemes, how the offense works."
Although Trannon suffered a broken jaw in the latter part of the 2005-06 MSU basketball season, the 6-foot-6 senior is back practicing in spring ball. Trannon said the jaw is feeling good, but that he's still adjusting back to the football style of play.
"I lost a couple pounds so I'm still working on my quickness and my feet work," he said.
Reed caught five touchdown tosses in 2005, averaged 14.1 yards per carry, and Love caught three passes for scores and averaged 15.4 yards per carry.
The only other current receivers to catch passes last season were sophomores Ryan Allison and Carl Grimes.
Junior Irving Campbell, sophomores Barre Mackie, Diego Oquendo, Jeremy McGinnis, Deon Curry and Thomas all have limited Big Ten experience at the position. Williams and redshirt freshman Blair White round out a group compiled with youth and inexperience.
"The new guys, it's just a lot for them to handle," Smith said. "Once they get it down, then you're throwing them in at another spot, and they have to play two spots; now it's compounded again."
First-year wide receiver coach Blaine Bennett has taken over the responsibility of helping develop the young guys while keeping the upperclassmen in check. Bennett came over in the offseason from Purdue and has already earned the respect of his senior class.
"He's fitting in just right," Reed said of Bennett. "He's doing what he's supposed to do as a wide receiver coach and as assistant head coach by being on us and telling us motivation about going up getting the ball, catch the ball and things in our nature."
When asked if the wide receiver play was going to be a sight to see come fall, Reed smiled and nodded his head.
