So far, the season for the production from the Spartan secondary hasn’t gone as planned. The defense currently ranks 115th overall in college football in passing yards allowed per game with 275. They also lost their leader when fifth-year safety Xavier Henderson went down with an injury in the season opener against Western Michigan. 

The timetable for his return is uncertain, but he’s made sure to use his time on the sideline to coach the younger players, including helping Mangham through his first start. After not making the trip to Washington, Henderson traveled with the team to Maryland, an encouraging sign toward his recovery.

“He just told me to use my eyes, just key everything, make sure I’m staying on top and just think little things that we go over all the time,” Mangham said.”

Despite the loss, Mangham came to impress. He finished with six total tackles, a season high in his young career.

“It was a good start for him,” Tucker said. “He played hard and he was into it. I didn’t see any hesitation from him and he’s shown that in practice and so his best football is in front of him.”

Mangham and the rest of the MSU defense will have to be at the top of their game this Saturday with the undefeated No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes coming to town. Junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender C.J. Stroud will pose the biggest challenge the struggling MSU secondary has seen all season.

Stroud and the Buckeyes' offense torched Michigan State in Columbus last year. In the first half alone, he threw for 393 yards and six touchdowns as OSU raced out to a 49-0 halftime lead. It was rock bottom for Michigan State's defense.

Being sent out onto the field against two very strong offenses in back-to-back games is definitely a challenge for any true freshman, espeically when one of them is the mighty Ohio State, but it’s one Mangham embraces wholeheartedly.

“It’s a great challenge,” Mangham said. “It’s definitely a big thing but I just have to stay ready, just stay calm because all of the training my coaches have helped me with I know that it’s good for me and when I get out there I’ll be prepared to do what I have to do.”

The Buckeyes are coming off a 49-10 victory over Rutgers in which Stroud had an off-day for his standards, but was still able to throw two touchdown passes while relying on the run game to pump up the score.

“They like to take a lot of shots, you know they’re a big shot team,” Mangham said. “They’re gonna always go to somebody and you know who they’ll probably go to, so being able to pick up on that and key in on that when it’s coming, take advantage of that.”

With Ohio State being as strong as it is in every aspect of football, particularly the passing game, the Spartans will need someone like Mangham to step up and slow the Buckeyes if they hope to keep this game close.

Kickoff against the Buckeyes is set for 4 p.m. on ABC.