WATCH: Michigan State RBs Coach Keith Bhonapha Addresses the Media
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State running backs coach Keith Bhonapa has quite the position battle on his hands, with a group that doesn't have a whole lot of experience in a Spartan uniform.
Coach Jonathan Smith said at Big Ten Football Media Days that the battle is as deep as five backs, which is a lot of talent to separate for a position battle, though the Spartans plan to utilize multiple players in the backfield.
This Saturday's team scrimmage is going to be telling of where that battle is at as players look to gain ground in the fight for that first-string spot.
Bhonapha spoke on his room and more when he addressed the media on Thursday.
You can watch below:
Below is a partial transcript:
Keith Bhonapha
Q: How do you keep passion all the time?
Bhonapha: "That's a great question. I think for me, I enjoy coaching football. I was fortunate enough to do a couple of other things in life, with criminal justice and things like that. And I really feel like me being able to influence, develop and just kind of teach some life values is really important to me.
"And I've kind of found my groove in college football and with these players being able to do that with these players (on the) day-to-day. And I think about the guys that have influenced me, it's been coaches. So, I really feel fortunate to be in this position."
Q: How different of a fall is it when you have running backs who haven't been proven yet at the Big Ten level?
Bhonapha: "It's huge. I think you hit a couple things. I think guys that are unproven -- I think right now, if we talk about the right guys in the room, we got 14 reps of offense between all eight for Michigan State. And it just puts a higher level of urgency on the detail. I say higher level of urgency, but at the same time, having to scale back for some of it to level 1, level 2. And then, some of these guys haven't experienced a fall camp -- I think about Makhi (Frazier) and Brandon (Tullis) -- experienced a fall camp where it's a true competition where I'm trying to take the next step.
"I think about Jace Clarizio, where this is his first college fall camp, and just like Zion Gist. So, these guys are kind of learning, but at the same time, they're in the middle of it, so we need them to learn at an urgent pace as well."
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