Big Season is Needed From MSU Tight End, Can Charles Take Charge?
With the departure of Kellen Davis, MSU coaches are looking for “the-guy†that can pick up the lost productivity at the tight-end position. When Mark Dantonio arrived it was clear that the TE would be utilized a lot in his pro-style offense. A well-rounded, athletic tight end has the potential to be the difference in a big ball game. What is a well rounded tight end you might ask? Well in non-coaches speak it is quite simple. It is a 240- 270-pound man with excellent hands and good blocking skills at the point of attack. He must be fast enough to engage a linebacker, big enough to block a defensive lineman, quick enough to separate from his defender on passing downs and athletic enough to gain yardage after the catch. Michigan State has known many of them over the years as MSU has always had strong productivity from the TE minus the JLS years.
Kellen Davis should have been more of a star during his tenure at MSU. He was clearly a physical mismatch and one of those guys that left an impression upon most anyone when he walked bye. Luckily for Kellen, Mark Dantonio arrived just in time to save his NFL stock and show the football world that he had some football skills. We no sooner got used to Davis making big plays before he finished his eligibility and moved on to the professional ranks leaving a big opening in MSU’s offense.
I must confess, I expected #83 to emerge sooner than he did. Charlie Gantt came out of Brother Rice High School very highly touted. To have read the recruiting publications three years ago, you’d have thought he would have challenged Davis for his job the last two years. Charlie was rather silent. It is time for Charlie Gantt to step up and become a louder part of MSU’s offensive machine. At 6'4" and 255-pounds, Charlie Gantt fits the profile. The question remains as to whether he can become that well balanced, every down player that MSU so desperately needs this season.
The third year sophomore (redshirted rookie year) has now emerged from the shelf and appears ready to claim his spot in the starting line-up. Few will walk by him and gush the way they did at the mere sight of Davis. Hopefully a few of us will talk about Charlie Gantt and the positive contribution he makes weekly to the stat sheet this season. He could be Brian Hoyer’s best friend on third down when the blitz package is in and MSU needs to move the chains.
History has a funny way of repeating itself. By most football analysts, MSU is a school that produces exceptional wide receivers. Once upon a time we had a pretty darn good tradition of producing high quality tight ends. Chris Baker was the last one that really left much of an impression on the fan base. Davis reminded us all last year what a well-rounded TE can do for an offense. Charlie Gantt now needs to seize the reins and continue to restore MSU’s TE tradition.
I am not going to go as far as anointing Charlie Gantt as the next exceptional TE to play the position at Michigan State. What I will say about him is that he plays a very critical position in MSU’s offense and he will be counted on to play a lot of snaps. MSU has more depth at most positions than it did a year ago, but TE is not one of them. The early indications are that Gantt is one of the most improved players this past off-season. His numbers in MSU’s first scrimmage were impressive and the coaches have given Charlie consistent praise. We will all take a deep breath and hope for Charlie’s sake that it translates into production on the field in a couple weeks. So on August 30th, draw a circle around #83 on your roster and watch him closely. When Ringer turns the corner due to a big block or Hoyer moves the chains on a critical 3rd and 3, look for Charlie. I am calling him both a key player this season and someone that needs to have a breakout year if MSU is going to have an exceptional season.
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