Michigan State RB Jarek Broussard declares for NFL Draft
East Lansing, Mich. – Jarek Broussard, who finished the season as Michigan State’s third-string running back, announced via social media on Tuesday that he is entering the NFL Draft.
Broussard, who transferred from Colorado to Michigan State prior to the 2022 season, played as a fifth-year senior at Michigan State in 2022 but had one year of eligibility remaining.
Broussard (5-9, 195, Dallas) ranked No. 3 on the Spartans in rushing with 301 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
Broussard led Colorado in rushing in 2020 (895 yards in six games) and in 2021 (661 yards). In 2020, he was Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.
With Broussard gone, Michigan State has four running backs on scholarship with eligibility remaining, plus a fifth with experience at running back.
Fifth-year senior Elijah Collins is eligible to return next year and indicated to SpartanMag prior to Senior Day that he planned to return in 2023, but that is not yet official.
Collins (6-1, 215, Detroit) rushed for 318 yards on the year (4.5 per carry).
Jalen Berger (6-1, 215, Newark, NJ) has two years of eligibility remaining. Berger led Michigan State in rushing with 683 yards rushing (4.6 per carry).
Michigan State also has Jordon Simmons and Davion Primm listed as scholarship running backs.
Simmons (5-11, 195, Marietta, Ga.) had four carries on the year for nine yards. Simmons saw a sharp downturn in his role in 2022. A year earlier, as a sophomore in 2021, he rushed for 278 yards on 70 carries and started in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after Kenneth Walker III opted out of the postseason.
Simmons led the Spartans in rushing as a true freshman during the COVID-shortened season of 2020 with 219 yards.
Coaches and teammates gave Primm (6-0, 205, R-Fr., Detroit/Oak Park High) heavy compliments for his performance in spring practice last April, but he never received a carry in the 2022 season.
Harold Joiner moved from running back to safety midway through the season. Joiner, who transferred to Michigan State from Auburn last year, had two carries for one net yard in 2022.
In 2021, Joiner had 12 carries for 43 yards.
More analysis to come on this move, via SpartanMag.
