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Mel Tucker Remains Confident As Michigan State's O-Line Depth Tested Early

Projected starting center Nick Samac was sat out of the Spartans' first fall camp practice...
Matthew Lounsberry|
Mel Tucker Remains Confident As Michigan State's O-Line Depth Tested Early
Mel Tucker Remains Confident As Michigan State's O-Line Depth Tested Early

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Michigan State Spartans

Perhaps the biggest notable difference in Michigan State football's spring practices earlier this year was the amount of bodies the Spartans were able to rotate and get reps at offensive line.

The year prior, Michigan State barely had enough healthy bodies up front to get through spring practice.

The Spartans open fall camp ahead of the 2023 season with their first team practice on Thursday, and the added depth at offensive line is already being tested. Redshirt senior and returning starter center Nick Samac was at practice, but did not participate in practice according to a eye-witness account from the Detroit Free Press' Chris Solari.

In Samac's absence, redshirt junior Dallas Fincher slotted in at center alongside what appeared to be the first team offensive line to begin camp, with Brandon Baldwin at left tackle, J.D. Duplain at left guard, Geno VanDeMark at right guard and Spencer Brown at right tackle. With the second-team unit, redshirt sophomore Kevin Wigenton took the snaps at center.

At his first press conference of fall camp, head coach Mel Tucker described what he saw from Fincher and Wigenton in Thursday's opening practice in the absence of Samac.

“They’re good players. We brought them here to play," Tucker said. "Geno [VanDeMark] can also play in there [at center]."

Tucker has been bullish on the Spartans' added depth and size in the trenches over the past week, first at Big Ten Media Days and again on Thursday with the onset of fall camp. The head coach said MSU offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic has done a good job cultivating and preparing younger guys to step into increased roles in 2023.

“Coach Kap, as you know, is a really good coach," Tucker said. "He can really develop players, and guys have to learn multiple positions so I feel good about our depth there. You’re talking about Nick being out, but you’re talking about three guys who can play his spot, and I’m not sure we were in that position a year ago.”

It's uncertain what held Samac out of practice on Thursday, or how long he will be sidelined. Injuries along the offensive line have been a concern for Michigan State going back several seasons, but the Spartans do seem better poised to manage any adversity that pops up along their front this season.

Samac has appeared in 38 games over his four-year career with the Spartans, making 22 starts at center including all 12 games last season. Fincher has appeared in 11 games so far in his Michigan State career, while Wigenton appeared in four games. VanDeMark, meanwhile, played in 10 games in 2022 with two starts at right guard.

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Matthew Lounsberry
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