Mel Tucker details the importance of team chemistry during camp

After a disappointing 2022 football season, Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker made team chemistry a point of emphasis for the Spartans in the offseason. That mindset seems to have paid off as multiple players have told the media they feel closer as a group heading into the season.

Tucker was asked about after the first day of fall practice two weeks ago and whether there was a moment last season that he made his emphasize that part of team building.

“I’m not sure if I could point to an instance, a particular situation or point in time,” Tucker said. “I just know that in order to have a good football team, you have to have a really good team chemistry. You have to improve in areas and that’s one of the first areas that you look to. Do these guys care about each other? Are they team oriented? Are they selfless? Do they trust the coaches? Do the coaches trust them? Do they trust each other? Do we have a good ability to hold each other accountable?

“We were very intentional about improving in all those areas and it’s showing right now. For the players to say that it feels different, they can tell, that means that it’s actually working. It’s actually happening because the players, they don’t lie.”

The Spartans open their season on Sept. 1 against Central Michigan. Their first big-time matchup comes two weeks later when Michael Penix Jr. and Washington come to town for an afternoon matchup in East Lansing, Mich.

Who will start at quarterback for the team in both games remains a mystery. Quarterbacks Katin Houser, Noah Kim and Sam Leavitt are all trying to win the job with about two weeks left before the first kickoff of the season.

Kim is the oldest of the group while Houser and Leavitt were both four-star recruits, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Tucker gave a breakdown of the competition on the first day of fall camp.

“What I saw today was really good competition. I was really impressed with those guys,” Tucker said earlier in the month. “Jay Johnson is an excellent coach, he’s a great teacher, and I’ve seen him bring Noah along, Katin along, and Sam has gotten better since he’s been here for a short period of time working with him over the summer.”