“We want to help this team win,” Wozniak said in a media availability on Tuesday afternoon. “Is it a day we’re going to have 20 receptions and we win, great. Is it a day we’re going to have three receptions and win, great. We want to help this team score one more point than another team.”

It’s a simple message for a not-so-simple task: MSU tight ends are required to help in all facets of the offense, from run and pass blocking to being prepared to catch balls downfield.

Even with so much responsibility, the Spartans have a talented group of tight ends. The room is led by senior Jack Velling, who is playing his second season in the green and white after following head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State.

Velling arrived in East Lansing coming off a sophomore season in which his eight touchdowns were tied for most by a tight end in the FBS. He hasn’t come close to that number since joining the Spartans, but the addition of transfer receivers like senior Omari Kelly and redshirt junior Chrishon McCray could help Velling find himself open more often.

“He [Velling] was easy to hone in on for us offensively and for them defensively,” Wozniak said about last year’s offense. “Getting some of those pieces on the outside kind of frees them [the tight end] up in the middle.”

On paper, the 2025 season presented a perfect situation for Velling to regain his role as a top tight end in college football, until the injury bug took him out most of fall camp with a foot injury.

“I’ve never really had that, where I’ve kind of been out of a full camp, and it was tough,” Velling said. “Every day I was coming in, ‘What am I allowed to do today? Is there anything more I can do?’”

Simple actions like asking those questions daily speak to the work ethic and character of the senior tight end, who spent all his time off the field this summer coaching his teammates and improving their game.

“All camp he [Velling] hasn’t really been able to go, but he stayed mentally locked in helping some of the younger guys,” redshirt junior tight end Michael Masunas said. “He stayed through it mentally the whole time, which was just awesome to see.”

Mentoring teammates may be overlooked on gamedays, but just like catching a touchdown pass, it is an action that helps the team win — embodying the standard Wozniak has set for his players to do whatever they can to achieve victory.

“I just try to be a good teammate,” Velling said. “You’re going in to watch film, but none of it’s going to be of you. But just try to learn from the other guys and take mental reps every day at practice.”

This season, Velling has not missed a beat, practicing normally and playing 47 of 70 snaps in MSU’s week-one matchup against Western Michigan. His playtime can only be expected to increase.

“On Friday, I didn’t run many routes. I think in general we weren’t sure where I was going to be with how I was feeling, but I felt great,” Velling said. “So, I’m excited to go, hopefully they [Boston College] play us a lot of man [coverage] this week, and we’ll see what we can do.”

Velling has reason to be excited for this week’s matchup against Boston College. The last time the two teams met, he played a pivotal role in the offense, leading the team with six receptions for 77 of the Spartans’ 241 passing yards.

Michigan State will take on the Eagles Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Spartan Stadium. The game will also be aired on NBC/Peacock.