Jonathan Smith sets expectations for Year One at Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans decided to hand the keys to their football program to Jonathan Smith, a man with a proven track record of success with the Oregon State Beavers. He guided OSU to a 10-win season in 2022, finishing with an impressive overall record of 10-3. It was just the third time in Corvallis that a head coach has led the Beavers to a 10-win season.

Now, Smith has turned the page after he decided to join the Michigan State Spartans in the offseason. And recently at Big Ten Media Days, he discussed expectations for his squad heading into his debut season at the helm in East Lansing.

Jonathan Smith on the expectations heading into 2024

“Yeah, we’re definitely trying to win. And we’re trying to win more than we lose. And you mentioned last year. The distraction that was going on. The competitive character of a lot of those guys on the roster, that played that competitively. Really had a chance to make a bowl game last year,” Smith explained.

What does his vision for the Spartans in the first season look like?

“Winning more than we lose. Playing our best football at the end of the year. We want to be in a constant state of improvement. And so, the approach, or process, if that is right, we will be playing our best football at the end of the year,” Smith continued.

“You know, Week One. You want to improve in Week Two, right? A lot of things to clean up. Well, you keep that process going. Getting to Game 12, and you’re hoping to be playing in meaningful games in November, playing your best football,” the MSU head coach finished.

Michigan State will be counting upon the tantalizing and exciting tool set from dual threat quarterback Aidan Chiles. In limited action last year with the Beavers, Chiles was impressive and flashed his upside.

He completed 68.6% of his passes for 309 yards, while tossing in four touchdowns with no interceptions. Coming out of Downey High School (Downey, California) Chiles was one of the Top 200 overall prospects in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2023 cycle. He was tabbed as the No. 12 quarterback prospect in the country and earned a four-star rating. One of the most coveted signal-callers in the country, he was selected to play for the East Team at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

Chiles helped lead Downey to a 12-3 record as a senior in 2022 and a berth in the CIF Southern Section Championship. As a senior, he completed 73.2% of his passes for 3,350 yards, while tossing in 38 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

One of his favorite targets in 2024 figures to be Jack Velling, yet another transfer from Oregon State. Last year, he hauled in 29 catches for 438 yards and eight touchdowns for the Beavers.

The Spartans open up their season with Florida Atlantic on Friday, August 30th. That one is slated for 7:00 PM EST and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.