Uneven Lines: MSU’s Football Position Puzzle
Pat Fitzgerald has overhauled Michigan State football in record time, wrapping up spring practice and pivoting to summer workouts as he rebuilds everything from staff to roster. Despite bringing in 31 transfers, two position groups stand out as major question marks. On offense, the line lost center Matt Gulbin to the NFL and struggled all season, prompting Fitzgerald to load up the portal with top FCS center Trent Fraley, run-blocking ace Ben Murawski, and penalty-free stalwart Robert Wright Jr. But melding disparate backgrounds into a cohesive unit is no small task, and new O-line coach Nick Tabacca faces a ticking clock before the opener. On defense, the line generated almost no pressure—no lineman had more than 2.5 sacks last year—losing Jalen Thompson and Quindarius Dunnigan in the offseason. Fresh faces like Toledo’s Carlos Hazelwood, Trey Lisle, Keahnist Thompson, and Eli Coenen bring potential but lack proven Big Ten production. The Spartans may have depth, but can they turn it into consistent pass rush and run protection?
Congratulations, Coach Fitz: you’ve become the Improbable Matchmaker of the Transfer Portal, swiping right on 31 new recruits and praying for chemistry before kickoff. It’s like speed-dating offensive linemen—will Fraley and Murawski actually block in harmony, or will they ghost each other on third-and-long? Meanwhile, the defensive front looks like a cast of box-office flops desperate for a sequel that actually makes money. You’ve got potential, you’ve got numbers, but the only real stat that matters is “Wins.” Hurry up, Nick Tabacca, or this won’t be spring practice—it’ll be spring cleaning in East Lansing.
Coen Carr’s Last Dance: Dunks, Drills, and Deep Range
Coen Carr’s ceiling at Michigan State is sky-high—he led the Spartans with 67 dunks last season, drawing NFL scouts and 2.5 million social-media plays. Yet if he wants a serious NBA future, Carr must transform from rim-rattler to perimeter threat: his 27.6% three-point mark is a glaring weakness. Despite flirtations with the draft, he’s back for his senior year under Tom Izzo, who’s encouraging quicker wing threes in addition to the usual wide-open corner looks. Carr’s offseason mission: build confidence in practice, let it spill into games, and follow Jaxon Kohler’s footsteps (58 makes after zero in two years) to full-fledged sharpshooter. Beyond the threes, Carr’s improved rebounding, ball-handling, and defense already make him a versatile asset. Adding true long-range gravity could catapult him into first-round buzz and open up MSU’s entire offense.
Behold, the Basketball World: where dunk contests morph into three-point shoot-arounds overnight! Carr’s now a slam-dunking ninja with the range of a drunk at a carnival game—if only those triples would fall. Enter Tom Izzo, the mad scientist of Spartan hoops, mixing lateral drills and catch-and-shoot labs until even the rims squeak in protest. Carr’s offseason grind looks like an infomercial for “Confidence in 30 Days or Less!” Will he trade alley-oops for logo-deep swishes? If he does, he might just float into the draft lottery—if not, he can always sign with the Dunkers Anonymous tour.
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