Ted Gilmore: After '3-year process', Maliq Carr 'a complete player' for Michigan State

Michigan State tight end coach Ted Gilmore says redshirt junior Maliq Carr has fully embraced his role and is ready to make a big impact on the Spartans' offense...

After what Michigan State tight end coach Ted Gilmore described as a "three-year process", redshirt junior Maliq Carr appears poised to live up to all the potential we've heard about since his transfer from Purdue in 2021.

Carr — who fancied himself as a big receiver rather than a tight end when he arrived — has always had the size, speed and athleticism to be a mismatch for opposing linebackers and safeties. What kept him off the field was a lack of consistency and quality as a run blocker, but that has changed in 2023.

"Maliq is finally at a point where he’s truly embracing that he is a tight end and everything that comes along with that," Gilmore said. “I’m really proud of how much he has improved in the run game, as far as blocking. That’s been his biggest struggle. We all know he’s a big, athletic guy but he just wasn't’ ready, in my opinion, in certain situations. But, I think he is now.”

Getting to this point has not been a straight-line process for Carr. He and Gilmore both acknowledged that they've "butted heads" quite often during the prior two years.

“Back in the day, it was back and forth almost every other week," Carr said of his early relationship with Gilmore. "Now, we’ve got a better understanding of each other and where we’re coming from."

“That’s been a process for both of us," Gilmore added. "He’ll be the first to tell you he probably didn’t like me. And, I’ll tell you what, there’s days I didn’t like him. But, through it all, we found our way and we’re at a point where I think we understand each other."

It's not hard to see why Gilmore and Carr didn't hit it off right away. Gilmore is a straight-to-the-point, tell-you-like-it-is coach. Carr is a jokester who puts laughter and fun ahead of seriousness.

“Personalities just bumping heads at first," Carr said. "We both weren’t necessarily open to each other as far as, like, stuff outside of football. And that didn’t really help build the relationship. But, as time went on, we got to know each other a bit, outside of football, and it made the relationship better.”

The redshirt junior admitted to being frustrated with his lack of playing time, but Gilmore saw that frustration as the key to unlocking Carr's full potential.

“Make no mistake about it, Maliq had the ability Day 1, but it’s all the other intangibles that I had to get him to understand," Gilmore said. "That’s where we butted heads at times, because he can look and say, ‘Coach, I’m more athletic than this guy. I can do this. Why don’t I just do all the pass plays.’ No, you have to do everything, and if you’re not doing everything I’m not going to reward you.”

Now, after a renewed commitment to do everything required of a Michigan State tight end, Gilmore never wants to take Carr off the field.

“He’s in a position to be that main guy," Gilmore said. "In position where, hopefully, he doesn’t leave the field too much. We need to continue to work on endurance and that kind of thing now that he’s in that role, but I’m happy with where he’s at.

"It’s been a journey. Year 1 I think it was about Game 8 that he finally played a little bit, because he hadn’t earned it. Year 2, he still wasn’t a complete player, he was more of a role player for us. Whether he agreed with it or not – and, trust me, he did not agree with it – he hadn’t earned it. ...I think he appreciates it now because he knows it was not given to him.”

In an era where the 'player's coach' has become popular, Gilmore remains committed to his style of coaching, regardless of his popularity with his subjects.

"I’ve been doing this for a long time...and it’s not the first time a player disagreed with me or didn’t like me," Gilmore said. "I’m 56 years old, I don’t need a 22-year old friend."

Even Carr got a chuckle out of that — “I ain’t even 22, I’m 21.”

"I’m not trying to be his friend," Gilmore continued. "I’m here to tell him the truth. And, I think in the long run he’ll appreciate that because, hey, I’m telling you what you need to do. I’m telling you what I see...I’m trying to teach him how to be a professional.”

From the time Carr arrived in East Lansing, expectations for him have been high. It's been a while since Michigan State has had a true difference-maker at tight end, and his Carr's athletic ability, size and receiving skills figured to fit that mold.

Now, after two humbling years, Carr's focus isn't on making the highlight plays. It's on doing what is necessary to make the Spartans successful on the field.

“I’m done with expectations. I just want to have fun and win games," Carr said. “As far as myself, I don’t really expect anything. I just want the season to go well for the team. I really want our tight end group as a whole to be good, because as a leader that’s my job. That’s what I want. Outside of that, I don’t really care. Just have fun.”

It's been a long journey to get to this point, but Carr appears poised to unleash his full potential on the gridiron in 2023.

“He really has a chance, now that he’s going to be a starter, to really make a name for himself and really put himself in a position to do great things," Gilmore said. "I’m anxious to watch him.”