Michigan State's Jack Velling Talks Spartans' TE Room

Michigan State landed a huge piece in transfer tight end Jack Velling, and the second-team All-Pac-12 selection likes what he sees in his new position group teammates...

It hasn't felt like Michigan State football has had an impact-level player at tight end since the days of Josiah Price in the mid-2010s, but that is expected to change in a major way under new head coach Jonathan Smith.

Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren prioritize the tight end in their offensive scheme, and they brought an excellent one with them from Oregon State in transfer Jack Velling. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder was a second team All-Pac-12 selection a year ago after recording 438 yards and eight touchdowns on 29 receptions.

Now participating in spring practice in East Lansing, Velling is fitting in well with the tight ends already on Michigan State's roster, and helping them get up to speed on the system Smith and Lindgren want to utilize.

"Especially in the playbook side, I'm trying to get them all up to speed and help them out as much as I can," Velling told reporters on Tuesday. "Not just the tight ends. Guys come up to me and ask so what's practice like, what's this like, what's that like and I'm trying to make it feel like its home to them as well."

In addition to adding Velling, Michigan State's tight end room returns graduate senior Tyneil Hopper, redshirt junior Ademola Faleye, redshirt sophomores Michael Masunas and Jack Nickel, and true sophomore Brennan Parachek. Velling has liked what he's seen from the Spartan tight ends, despite the position group not being at full strength. Hopper is still recovering from a season-ending leg injury suffered in Week 3 against Washington last year, and Parachek is also working through an injury that has held him out of spring practice.

"Everyone's doing a great job," Velling said. "We're pretty banged up in the tight end room right not. There's six of us, but there's only four of us out there playing, obviously. But, everyone's doing a great job — Mola, Mike and Jack. They're all picking things up and each practice they're just getting better. They're great guys to be out there with, and having four guys is tough but they're great guys to do it with."

The Michigan State Spartan Football Spring Green and White Game (Spring Showcase) will be held at the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation, Spartan Stadium, on April 20, 2024, at 2 p.m.

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