SpartanMag LIVE! Discussing late signing day and what's ailing Michigan State basketball

EAST LANSING, Mich. – In this week’s edition of SpartanMag LIVE!, Jim Comparoni welcomes SpartanMag Associate Editor Paul Konyndyk to discuss the latest in Michigan State basketball, plus the latest in Michigan State football recruiting.

In this week’s edition, Comparoni & Konyndyk discuss Michigan State’s sudden two-game basketball losing streak, what’s going right for Spartan basketball, what’s going wrong, what needs to get fixed, and what are the chances that corrections are within reach.

Comparoni comments on Michigan State’s two signees from Wednesday’s beginning of the late signing period, and runs film of Bryson Williams and Antonio Johnson of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and gives his take on their strengths and what they will bring to the Michigan State football program. 

Josark, a Magger from Canton, Mich., asks if Bryson Williams will be “a gadget threat” like Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. Comparoni credits Josark for coming up with a terrific comparison for Williams.

From the mailbag, Comparoni is asked by Pierre St. Pierre about the progress Michigan State coaches are making with in-state high school coaches.

Spartee asks which incoming football recruits are likely to contribute in 2025. Comparoni begins the answer with a rundown of which true freshmen contributed in 2024. It was a longer list than usual.

Safety Justin Denson, cornerback Andrew Brinson and safety Jaylen Thompson became regular contributors on defense. Those were the three lone players to burn freshman eligibility on defense. Thompson has since transferred to Memphis to be closer to his family due to health concerns back home.

On offense, wide receiver Nick Marsh, running back Makhi Frazier, running back Brandon Tullis and offensive lineman Rakeem Johnson burned freshman eligibility in 2024.

As for true freshmen who saw snaps in 2024 but redshirted, the list is longer, including: linebacker Brady Pretzlaf, defensive tackle Mikeshun Beeler, defensive end Kekai Burnett and walk-on defensive end Stone Chaney.

On offense, offensive linemen Andrew Dennis, Charlton Luniewski and Rustin Young saw limited action and retained freshman eligibility for 2025.

As for incoming freshmen, Comparoni said cornerback Ayden West and defensive back George Mullins are likely candidates to see action in 2025, based on impressive high school film and the fact that the defensive backfield is a position group at which true freshmen often break through sooner than at other positions. 

Comparoni said he wouldn’t be surprised if true freshman wide receiver Braylon Collier is good enough to get on the field early during a season in which Michigan State is experiencing a lot of changeover at the wide receiver position.

It’s often difficult for a true freshman defensive tackle to earn extensive playing time, and Derrick Simmons out of Frankenmuth is going to have to make a major transition from small-school high school football to the Big Ten, but he might have the physical ability to provide some right away if needed, but extended playing time might be doubtful, just because of the nature of the position.

Speedy incoming freshman Jace Clarizio is an interesting one at running back. He’s going to be among the fastest players on the team, immediately. And Michigan State will stage a tight battle for the No. 2 running back job, presumably behind transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver. 

Getting back to the mailbag, Tyler from Okemos asks if there’s a chance that Michigan State might want to skip out on the spring game, like Nebraska’s Matt Rhule has suggested for the Cornhuskers. Comparoni says he has heard no such rumblings.

JBannan from Sterling Heights asked if any graduated Michigan State players are likely to get selected in the NFL Draft. Comparoni says Michigan State might have one or two late-round candidates, with linebacker Jordan Turner, offensive guard Luke Newman, defensive tackle D’Quan Douse and maybe cornerback Ed Woods getting a look. But they all need to test well in the combines. 

Comparoni tackles these subjects and more.