3&Out: Takeaways from Michigan State spring practice; WRs, TE, D-Line

Internally, the word and feel is that Michigan State will be improved at the wide receiver position this year. After viewing some practice this week, and having some on-the-record and off-the-record conversations, I agree with the positive outlook at the position. We all know that Nick Marsh (6-3, 201, Soph., Detroit | River Rouge High) is a special one. Last year, he was flanked by senior Montorie Foster, inconsistent Jaron Glover, and injured Alante Brown. Foster has graduated. Glover transferred to Mississippi State. Reserves Aziah Johnson (North Carolina) and Jaelen Smith (Texas San Antonio) have also transferred. Sourced told SpartanMag near the end of last season that Michigan State planned to retool the wide receiver room and offensive line. I was skeptical whether Michigan State could achieve improvement while letting Glover, Johnson and Smith go, along with Foster’s graduation. Not that last year’s group was great, but I’m still leery about beliefs that the unknown is automatically going to be better than the known. But in this case, through a couple of weeks of spring practice, I believe in the words coming out of the Tom Izzo Football Building that Michigan State has improved itself at the wide receiver position. (Details and further insight inside).