Michigan State Tight Ends: One Thing I Like, One Thing I Don't

College football season is approaching fast, as we are eight days away from Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis and inside a month from the start of fall camps around the country.

Michigan State's roster appears to be set for the 2023 season, and that makes this the perfect time to take a look at every position group on the team. In this exercise, I'll point out one thing I like, one thing I don't and one thing to watch.

Up next is a position Mel Tucker and his coaching staff hit hard via the transfer portal: Tight End

One Thing I Like

Michigan State has a lot of options to choose from in the tight end room this fall. The Spartans added three veteran transfers at the position this offseason in Tyneil Hopper (Boise State), Jaylan Franklin (Wisconsin) and Ademola Faleye (Norfolk State).

Targeting sixth-year guys like Hopper and Franklin was smart, as they can help fill a positional need for one year without stunting the future of redshirt freshmen Jack Nickel and Michael Masunas, as well as true freshman Brennan Parachek. Faleye, meanwhile, is heading into his junior season with a couple years of eligibility remaining.

Throw in redshirt junior Maliq Carr, and that's a ton of experience that MSU is returning at this position. Carr still has to prove an ability and willingness to run block, but he's a matchup problem for defenses. He's too fast for most linebackers, and too big for most safeties to cover on pass plays. Hopper might be the most complete tight end of the group, in terms of run blocking and receiving. He's expected to be heavily involved this season.

One Thing I Don't

The fact that Michigan State went out and added three transfer players at one position group, especially a position like tight end, is a bit telling and concerning.

While I noted above that I liked the strategy of bringing in one-year guys who won't stunt the growth of the high school prospects that MSU has added in each of the last two recruiting cycles, it kind of feels like using duck tape as a temporary fix. If it holds together long enough for the Spartans to get through the 2023 season, no one will complain. But, what if it doesn't hold up?

Franklin is a converted linebacker who barely got on the field in four years at Wisconsin. He has two career receptions. Meanwhile, Faleye had just nine career receptions at Norfolk State. Is he ready for Big Ten competition? Even Hopper, who I like and think will make an impact, has just 22 career receptions.

Michigan State needs to the guys they recruited out of high school — Nickel, Masunas and Parachek — to grow up fast and be the real deal, so that Tucker and Gilmore don't have to scour the transfer portal again next offseason for additional help.

One Thing To Watch

We've heard about Maliq Carr's potential for the better part of two and a half years now. Is 2023 the season in which it finally all comes together for the former four-star recruit out of Oak Park (Mich.)?

Carr has shown flashes of his ability over the past two seasons, but his single-game career high in receptions is four. The problem for the redshirt junior is that he hasn't been good enough (or willing enough) as a blocker to consistently stay on the field. First and foremost, Carr is a receiving tight end, but if he can't block then its a tell to the defense every time he's on the field that Michigan State is throwing the ball.

It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Jay Johnson utilizes Carr's skillset this fall. Michigan State needs playmakers on offense, and the redshirt junior has the ability to be one of those if he can put all the pieces together.

In Case You Missed It

This article is part of a series examining every position group on Michigan State's 2023 roster. You can find the other position groups that Spartan Nation has already covered here: (Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Offensive Line)

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