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Michigan State

V-Cast: The latest on position battles as Michigan State training camp winds down

On3 imageby: Paul Konyndyk08/18/25PKonyndyk
V-Cast 81825

EAST LANSING, Mich. – When Michigan State returns to practice later this week, the Spartans will begin preparation in earnest for their August 29 season opener against Western Michigan.

On Monday, the Spartans held their final training camp practice, coming after Saturday’s second training camp scrimmage. Following practice and interviews with Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith, wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, and wideouts Nick Marsh and Rodney Bullard, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in with the final V-Cast of training camp.’

V-CAST TOPICS

Team health exiting camp: Smith indicated that he was pleased with the overall health of his team as training camp winds to a close. The second-year Michigan State football coach acknowledged that senior safety Nikai Martinez was questionable for the season opener against WMU. Elsewhere, tight end Jack Velling was back at practice on Monday after missing training camp with an injury. Injury has also limited the Spartans at the kicker position as both Martin Connington and Tarik Ahmetbasic have been rehabbing groin injuries throughout camp. Ahmetbasic practiced in a limited capacity on Monday according to Smith. Neither Connington nor Ahmetbasic were available for either of Michigan State’s two camp scrimmages.

Explosive at receiver: Michigan State has had good receiver rooms under position coach Courtney Hawkins, but the current receiver room with the lead group of Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Evan Boyd, Crishon McCray and Rodney Bullard is arguably one of the deepest and most talented in recent years. Hawkins feels good about the group about the guys that he has available at wideout and how each of his players fits together. Hawkins also likes what he has to work with in a quality freshmen group that includes Bryson Williams, Braylon Collier, and Charles Taplin.

Separation at the tailback position: Smith was pleased with the ground production from his offense in Saturday’s scrimmage. He said that each Michigan State tailback that received reps was productive but singled out sophomores Brandon Tullis and Makhi Frazier for leading the way among Spartan ballcarriers. Tullis impressed Smith with his consistency throughout the scrimmage, and gave the entire offense a reason to smile with a redzone touchdown run. For his part, Frazier was active in both the run game and as a pass catcher. Frazier scored at least one touchdown catching the ball out of the backfield in Saturday’s scrimmage, which included upwards of 100 plays with live tackling.

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