Camp Update: OC Brian Lindgren says Michigan State ‘so much further along’

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Three days into fall camp, Michigan State offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren reiterated some of the positive themes that we’ve heard from others in the program over the last week or so. But when Lindgren underscored some of those points with an extra twinkle in his eye on Thursday, it’s enough to ramp up the optimism just a little more for bullish Spartan watchers.  “We’re so much further along than we were a year ago,” Lindgren said. “Just having guys that went through the fire, have been through the install, seeing it again and again, and having worked together with the staff, being here a full season, it’s incredible. We were talking about before camp started where we're at right now as opposed to last season and we’re excited to take the next step.” The Spartans practiced in shells (helmets, shoulder pads and short) on Thursday. They will be in full pads for the first time on Monday. SpartanMag projects five first-year transfers to be in the starting lineup on offense when Michigan State opens the season on Aug. 29 against Western Michigan. Some of those position battles - including right guard and running back - will be waged deep into August.  SpartanMag is expecting first-year transfers to get the starting nod at slot WR (Rodney Bullard or Chrishon McCray), flanker (Omari Kelly), and right tackle (Conner Moore). SpartanMag gives a slight edge to Sacramento State transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver at running back. One of the tightest competitions is at right guard with returning junior Kristian Phillips tangling with first-year Oregon State transfer Luka Vincic.  “In the spring trying to figure out some of those new guys that we brought in, it's been fun,” Lindgren said. “But I feel like we've got a lot more weapons than we did a year ago.” A lot has been made of the influx at the wide receive position, with Kelly - a transfer from Middle Tennessee State - having stood out in the spring. Bullard, McCray and 6-foot-3 Central Michigan transfer Evan Boyd have changed the look of the supporting cast around sophomore standout Nick Marsh.  Meanwhile, transfer Matt Gulbin at center has quietly been making an impact on the offensive line. (MORE inside SpartanMag).