The MSU offense heads into this season knowing that it has one of the top group of big receiving targets in the nation.
Senior Charlie Gantt, junior Brian Linthicum, junior Garrett Celek and sophomore Dion Sims combine to put together one of the deepest groups of tight ends in the country and add potency to an already good passing unit for MSU.
How that group is used with regard to the passing attack will go a long way to determining how much the offense can score this season.
“It’s very nice because you can use them in different places and different pieces,” tight ends coach Mark Staten said. “We’ve stepped up our game in the room in terms of knowledge because now they can play so many different positions.”
The group of returners combined for 55 catches and eight touchdowns last season, and will only get better with another year of experience.
Staten said Gantt is the best run-blocker of the bunch right now, but said the players are getting better at that everyday.
The fact that each player offers a slightly different approach gives the team the ability to match skills at the position, which will make defending it harder.
“It’s a very good problem to have,” Staten said. “(They could) be able to be a decoy route. When everybody says he’s in the game, then Mark Dell or BJ (Cunningham) makes a catch, everyone is falling back on (Gantt) or (Sims).”
Gantt is the leading returner as he caught 22 passes for 348 yards last season and has been the starting tight end for most of the past couple seasons.
Linthicum caught 20 passes last season in his first year since transferring from Clemson.
Celek appeared in 10 games last year and started five games in 2008.
The sophomore Sims appeared in every game last year and was a big play option.
The challenge will be creating enough playing time for each player, but Staten said the tight ends will be used however they can help the team best.
“We’ll continue to use them and put them at places to help us succeed,” Staten said. “It’s important that they block, whether at this level or the next level.”
Linemen improving
Several offensive linemen have stepped up as they hope to earn playing time and help the Spartans against tough Big Ten defensive fronts.
Redshirt freshman Micajah Reynolds has improved significantly since last season and is at a point where offensive line coach Dan Roushar said he believes Reynolds will be a future starter for the Spartans.
“He’s reshaped his body and mind,” Roushar said. “To see where he was a year ago at this time and to compare him now, it’s night and day. His mental toughness has really improved.”
Roushar also mentioned that sophomore guard Chris McDonald, who played sparingly last season but is in contention for playing time this season, has improved significantly.
McDonald is vying for time at right guard, where he started the preseason listed as the starter.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Senior center John Stipek, senior tackle J’Michael Deane and sophomore guard Ethan Ruhland have also improved, Roushar said.
Freshmen defensive backs stepping up
A pair of freshmen defensive backs, Darqueze Dennard and Isaiah Lewis have been competing with the second-team secondary and are doing a solid job, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said.
Dennard, a cornerback, and Lewis, a safety, are hoping to give the Spartans much-needed depth at a position that has experience with the starters but not much after that.
Junior safety Trenton Robinson and senior Marcus Hyde return experience, and at cornerback, the Spartans return senior Chris L. Rucker and sophomore Johnny Adams, but need some young players to step up for depth.
“They’ve been mature and haven’t hit the wall,” Narduzzi said. “They’ve both done a great job.”
