MSU's Jonathan Smith, Keith Bhonapha Talk Spartans' Special Teams

Michigan State's Jonathan Smith and assistant head coach/co-special teams coordinator/running backs coach Keith Bhonapha discussed the Spartans' special teams during spring practice...

Michigan State had a tough football season in just about every way in 2023, but the Spartans made a vast improvement in one facet of the game a year ago — special teams.

After a disastrous season in the kicking game in 2022, MSU added North Carolina transfer kicker Jonathan Kim from the portal, who solidified that position for the Spartans. Kim, with a long of 58 yards, went 13-for-18 on field goal attempts, with one attempt being blocked.

While that kicking improvement was going on, MSU also had to transition from arguably the nation's top punter from the year prior in Bryce Baringer, who is now with the New England Patriots. However, redshirt freshman Ryan Eckley had a very strong season in 2023 and the dropoff from the All-American Baringer was minor. Eckley averaged 46.7 yards per punt on 56 attempts, with 24 punts exceeding 50 yards and 24 downed inside the opponent's 20 yard line.

The early reports out of the Spartans' spring practice are that Kim and Eckley are continuing to elevate MSU's kicking and punting game.

"We punted today, and Eckley was dropping bombs," MSU coach Jonathan Smith told media members last Tuesday, April 2. "I mean, that guy has a big leg. We're pleased [with] not just him but that whole group. On the field goal side, we've done that almost every day and our percentage of makes is way up there. So, with Kim and Eckley being veterans, I think the snapper has helped as well."

MSU's special teams coordinator role will be split between running backs coach Keith Bhonapha and rush ends coach Chad Wilt.

"It's nice having veteran guys and guys that are actually really good," Bhonapha told reporters on Tuesday, March 26. "Kim is a really good kicker and, obviously, Eckley is a really good punter, as well as a holder. Which, you come in, you're like, 'This is awesome.' We've got really skilled specialists. Being able to help, continuing to build these guys fundamentally with Coach Wilt is awesome."

While those aspects of special teams were performed at a high level last season, the Spartans now need to improve in the return game. MSU struggled on kickoff return especially, and Bhonapha described what he's looking for in kick return and coverage.

"From a coverage standpoint...you just want guys that are fast, aggressive and willing to get the ball down," Bhonapha said. "That's what our whole kickoff team will be based on. Then you go from the kickoff return side, we just want to make sure we're efficient and we get our opportunities to go and be explosive once the ball is kicked to us. We want to make sure we take advantage of those."

MSU has not settled on who will return kicks and punts yet, but there are clear traits that need to be shown in order to win that job.

"Being smart," Bhonapha said. "Because you don't want guys taking the ball out when it's five yards deep, or teams that are hitting high winds and we're still trying to catch it but the kickoff team is barring down on you. So, we want to be efficient there. Obviously, get the ball down on kickoff team, get the ball back to the offense on kickoff return."

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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