V-Cast: news, notes, and analysis on first day of Michigan State football practice
East Lansing, Mich. – The first day of training camp in year one of the Jonathan Smith era at Michigan State is in the books. Afterward practice and interviews, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk stepped outside the Tom Izzo Football Building to record the first V-Cast of the 2024 football season.
V-Cast Topics:
Outlook at Wide Receiver: Smith listed wide receiver as one of the more competitive position groups on the first day of football practice. He also reiterated earlier statements touting veteran Montorie Foster as the leader of the wide receiver room. Foster, who led the Spartans in receptions and receiving yards one last season, spoke after practice on Tuesday. He expects to thrive in the west coast offense that Smith brought from Oregon State to Michigan State. He also expects to benefit from playing with a top-flight quarterback talent in Aidan Chiles. While Foster is the only proven returning player at quarter, the Spartans got good production from Jaron Glover and Nick Marsh on the first day of practice.
Alex VanSumeren: Michigan State needs positive player development on the interior defensive line. The Spartans did their best to fill roster spots on the interior defensive line after the program lost both Simeon Barrow and Derrick Harmon to the transfer portal. Reviews on Georgia Tech transfer D’Quan Douse (6-1, 301) have been generally positive. After practice on Tuesday, senior defensive tackle Maverick Hansen had praise for Old Dominion transfer Jalen Satchell (6-1, 300). The Spartans will need both Douse and Satchell to be functional contributors as transfer defensive tackles. Michigan State would also receive a big boost on the defensive line if third-year defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren would emerge as a solid contributor on the interior defensive line. VanSumeren has battled injuries since earning his first letter as a true freshman in 2021. Van Sumeren turned heads in the weight room with a strong off season. Now, he will look to push for a significant role on defense.
Chemistry improving: Each of the three players that were made available for interviews after practice on Tuesday referenced improved culture at Michigan State in comparison to where it was a year ago at the same time. Wide receiver Montorie Foster and linebacker Cal Haladay touted the open-door policy that exists with all coaches in the Spartan program. Players also appear to agree that the chemistry-building directives that Smith and his staff pushed during the offseason appear to have taken root.
