Plenty of players saw action in No. 9 MSU’s win over Eastern Michigan last Saturday, topping the Eagles, 73-14.
The Spartans were able to play a total of 74 players on Saturday, some of which improved their stock quite a bit. As MSU (2-1 overall) enters this week’s matchup against Wyoming (3-1 overall) there are multiple notable changes on the depth chart including a few wide receivers moving into starter roles and an outside linebacker fighting for his No. 1 spot.
Kings Jr. and Burbridge move up
After all of fall camp and four weeks into the season, junior wide receivers Aaron Burbridge and Macgarrett Kings Jr. are finally pushing through into potential starting roles.
The updated depth chart, which was released on Tuesday, lists Burbridge as an “OR” starter with senior wide receiver Keith Mumphery at the starting Z position and Kings Jr. as an “OR” starter with sophomore wide receiver R.J. Shelton at the starting F spot.
“Aaron Burbridge has played very, very well and Macgarrett has played very, very well,” head coach Mark Dantonio said during Tuesday’s weekly press conference. “Both those guys are really interchangeable with R.J. Shelton and Keith Mumphery, so I just think we list them like that because we just don’t know who’s going to be playing there.”
Kings Jr. was a triple threat last week against EMU, finishing with 108 all-purpose yards through two rushing attempts, one reception and two punt returns. Burbridge had one reception for 14 yards last week to bolster his season total to 52 yards on four receptions.
Davis in battle for starting spot
Last week it was sophomore linebacker Riley Bullough, not junior linebacker Ed Davis, who got the start at the “Sam,” or outside linebacker, position.
Davis had held the starting spot all of fall camp, making the last second change a surprise to many. Dantonio isn’t ruling out that Bullough won’t get the nod this weekend, as well. Davis is still listed as the starter on the depth chart and will keep his spot if he “does what he’s supposed to do,” according to Dantonio. He did, however, add that Davis occasionally has not lived up to expectations this season.
Davis is tied for third on the team in tackles while Bullough is right behind him with one less tackle. However, Davis currently leads the Spartans with two sacks.
Kruse potentially returning
Injured senior offensive lineman Connor Kruse wasn’t listed on Tuesday’s depth chart but Dantonio said Kruse could see playing time this week against Wyoming.
“We’re going to find out what he can do here later in the week here on Wednesday and then we’ll make a decision by then,” Dantonio said. “He may be on the depth chart for game time, but I didn’t want to list him right now because I just felt not really quite sure — but he’s close.”
Kruse was the expected starter at right guard before going down with an undisclosed injury during preseason camp. Kruse appeared in 13 games in 2013 as part of the offensive line rotation.
