Michigan State tight end Michael Masunas to reportedly miss remainder of season with injury
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State redshirt sophomore tight end Michael Masunas will reportedly miss the remainder of the season after receiving surgery on his shoulder. Masunas’ mother, Annalisa, noted on Facebook that the surgery took place Friday morning.
Masunas (6-5, 258) missed Michigan State’s previous two games against Ohio State and Oregon. He started the first four games for the Spartans after impressing coaches during spring ball and fall camp. He caught four passes for 37 yards and emerged as one of Michigan State’s top blocking options at tight end.
The Tucson, Ariz., native played in nine games last season, primarily on special teams. He played four snaps at tight end and caught his first career pass in Michigan State’s last game of the season against Penn State. The former three-star recruit redshirted his true freshman season in 2022.
Michigan State will continue to rely on junior Jack Velling at the position, along with sophomore Brennan Parachek. Velling, a 2023 Second Team All-Pac 12 selection, has become more involved in the Spartans’ passing game of late. He caught six passes for 53 yards against Oregon and six passes for 77 yards against Boston College.
Parachek has seen more playing time over the last two games with Masunas out. The Dexter, Mich., native showed promise at the end of last season, but was slowed by injury at the beginning of this season. He caught two passes for 27 yards against Ohio State.
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Michigan State also has redshirt junior Ademola Faleye and grad senior Tyneil Hopper at tight end. True freshman Wyatt Hook has yet to appear in a game this season. Walk-ons Charlie Baker, Jaxson Wilson and Reeves Taylor are also in the room. Walk-on Jay Coyne repped at tight end early in the offseason but moved to fullback during fall camp.
Masunas is the fourth Spartan to suffer a season-ending injury. He joins offensive guards Kristian Phillips and Gavin Broscious, as well as safety Khalil Majeed. Aside from Masunas, Michigan State also listed wide receiver Alante Brown, defensive back Ade Willie, defensive back Dillon Tatum, wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr. and cornerback Chance Rucker as “out” on its most recent availability report ahead of the Oregon game.
The Spartans listed linebacker Jordan Hall as “questionable” against the Ducks, but he did not play. Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith said after the game that Hall’s injury is not long-term.
