Is tight end ready to become an area of strength for Michigan State? YoY analysis and forecast

EAST LANSING, Mich. - In the fourth of a series of articles comparing the 2025 Michigan State depth chart to last season, on a position-by-position basis, today SpartanMag provides year-over-year analysis of the tight end position.  Michigan State returns its top three tight ends from last year, with each providing reason to expect individual and collective improvement year over year (YoY). That sounds good for 2025. But how good? Let’s dive in. LAST YEAR: Jack Velling didn’t have as big of an impact as many expected, coming off his Second Team All-Pac 12 performance as a sophomore in 2023.  Velling (6-5, 244, Sr., Seattle) struggled as a blocker and didn’t score his first touchdown until late November.  But his 36 receptions ranked third on the team and eighth in the Big Ten among tight ends, trailing five NFL Draft choices and one un-drafted free agent at the position. Among returning Big Ten tight ends, only Max Klare of Ohio State (formerly of Purdue) had more catches (51) than Velling last year. Michael Masunas started the first four games last season (including three in a two-TE formation), but was lost for the year to a lower body injury in late September. Having seen action in only four game last year, he could apply to gain an extra year of eligibility for 2027, despite having redshirted in 2022.  PFF graded Velling at 47.7 in run blocking. Masunas graded at 68.4, although he played only a game and a half against Power Four competition.  Masunas (6-5, 250, R-Jr., Tucson, Ariz.) had four catches for 37 yards last year.  Masunas was full-go in practice during the spring. He gained clearance in February.   With Masunas out, Brennan Parachek became the No. 2 tight end in the playing group in 2024 and finished the season with 310 snaps. Parachek (6-5, 249, Jr., Dexter, Mich.) started three games as part of a two-TE set in 2024. He finished the season with eight catches for 63 yards.  “It was nice for BP (Brennan Parachek) to get in there and get his feet wet,” said Michigan State tight ends coach Brian Wozniak. “At the time it was unfortunate and not great (to have Masunas out), but for the future it did build some depth.” However, Parachek sat out spring practice after undergoing an off-season procedure. It marked the second straight spring that Parachek had to miss for health reasons. (MORE Inside SpartanMag.com)