Too Early Look at 2015 - Offense

With National Signing Day complete, let’s take a look a very early look at the 2015 offensive depth chart, and what the playing group is projected to look at, position-by-position.

QUARTERBACK

There is no doubt that the job is Connor Cook’s, as he seeks to take the Spartans into the National College Football Playoff.  With another strong year, Cook could potentially be the best QB in the history of the program, and is already projected by some services to be the top QB prospect for the 2016 NFL draft class.  The real competition will be between Tyler O’Connor and Damion Terry to not only be the backup this year, but to succeed Cook for next year.  Incoming freshman Brian Lewerke is all but guaranteed to redshirt.

RUNNINGBACK

Jeremy Langford has left some huge holes to fill after rushing for 2944 yards and 40 touchdowns in the past two years.  Delton Williams is the only active player who has taken meaningful carries, which is why I predict he will be the starter going into the season opener at Western Michigan.  Madre London was a highly touted recruit who had coaches whispering in fall camp that he may not redshirt.  Although he did ultimately end up spending the season on the scout team, I predict London will shine in the spring game and form a one-two punch with Williams at the start of the year.  L.J. Scott will prove that he’s just too good to keep off the field, and look for him to push his way to more carries as the season moves on, much like how Leveon Bell earned carries when the team was playing Edwin Baker and Larry Caper in 2010.  Bell did enroll early, so Scott may take a little bit longer to earn significant carries early in the year.  This spring is very important for Gerald Holmes to show that he can compete with Williams and London.  You also have Gerald Owens, who needs to stay in shape, or he’ll likely find himself at another position.

FULLBACK

This position is Trevon Pendleton’s, no question about it.  When Pendleton is out, the team will either have an empty backfield, or have two tight ends on the field.  Dylan Chmura has had reps as a fullback/H-Back in practice, and I think Owens could see time at fullback to get him on the field. 

WIDE RECEIVER

The playing group is stacked with plenty of players who have contributed in the past, or have the potential to be impact players.  Although there are some big shoes to fill replacing Tony Lippett as well as Keith Mumphery, I predict that Aaron Burbridge, MacGarrett Kings and R.J. Shelton will establish themselves as Cook’s go-to receives.  Burbridge has plenty of talent, but needs to consistently hold onto the 50-50 balls that he has failed to catch so far in his career.  Kings is a dynamic athlete who made key players in the early part of 2013 when this team started to take off.  An off-season DUI put Kings in the dog house for part of 2014, but he will be Cook’s most consistent weapon.  R.J. Shelton will continue to be used with screens, reverses and other creative ways to get the ball in his hands in space, but he showed in the Cotton Bowl that he can be a weapon downfield as well. 

The Spartans typically have six wide receivers in their playing group, and the competition in the spring will be intense between A.J. Troup, Monty Madaris, DeAnthony Arnett, AJ Sims Jr., Tres Barksdale, Matt Macksood, and Trey Kilgore.  I think Troup and Madaris are the favorites to break-out, but walk-ons Barksdale and Macksood could be dark-horses to earn playing time.  True freshman Felton Davis and Darrell Stewart will find it difficult to play this year, unless it’s on special teams.

TIGHT END

The Spartans have three established players at tight end in Josiah Price, Jamal Lyles and Paul Lang.  The group is led by Price, a favorite target of Connor Cook’s.  Lyles has been learning the position the last two years after being moved from defensive end in the fall of 2013, and this may be the year where you see him become a mismatch for defenses due to his great athleticism.  Paul Lang is almost strictly a blocking tight end, similar in the mold to Garrett Celek.  Redshirt freshman Matt Sokol received quite a bit of praise last year, and could pass Dylan Chmura and get into the playing group this year as well.

OFFENSIVE LINE

This offensive line very well could be the best in Dantonio’s tenure.  The group is led by Jack Conklin, a possible top ten pick in next year’s NFL draft at left tackle.  A starter since his redshirt freshman year, Conklin can neutralize a team’s best pass rusher.  Starting opposite Conklin will be Kodi Kieler, who was a consistent member of the playing group. 

The Spartans may also have the best center in college football in Jack Allen, another player who has been a starter since his redshirt freshman year.  Jack Allen plays with a nasty streak, and secures the middle of the line.  It’s safe to assume Donovan Clark will be playing next to Allen at one of the guard spots, while the other could come down to a competition and rotation between Brian Allen and Brandon Clemons.  In a rare move, Brian Allen played as a true freshman last year, while Clemons was moved to guard fulltime during bowl practice, and has the ability to at the least rotate in at guard throughout the year.

Since Mark Staten likes to rotate his lineman, I also see Miguel Machado earning time at both tackle and guard spots.  A JUCO transfer who redshirted this past fall, Machado allows Staten to have flexibility in the positions each player is rotating at.  If the team is able to rotate an eighth player, it will likely be either Dennis Finley at tackle or Bennie McGowan at guard.  Finley will still just be a redshirt sophomore, while McGowan looked to possibly compete for time last year coming out of the spring, but reported in less than optimal shape for fall camp.  None of the freshman will play, and the depth looks too good right now to foresee Chase Gianacakos, Nick Padla or Devyn Salmon making an impact.

View MSU Depth Chart