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Michigan State

V-Cast: What we learned coming out of first scrimmage of Michigan State football training camp

On3 imageby: Paul Konyndyk08/11/25PKonyndyk
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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State is moving closer to the start of the 2025 football season coming off its first scrimmage of training camp on Saturday, in which the Spartans ran as many as 100 plays in full pads.

Spartan head coach Jonathan Smith was pleased with much of what he saw on both sides of the ball in the first Michigan State training camp scrimmage, while acknowledging that the defense was slightly ahead of the offense on Saturday in his first public comments about the scrimmage after practice on Monday.

Following practice, and interviews with Smith, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa, and defensive linemen Alex Vansumeren, Grady Kelly, and Jalen Satchell, SpartanMag.com staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in from the Perles Plaza with latest V-Cast.

V-CAST TOPICS

Progress in the Run Game: The strength of the Michigan State defense is its front seven against the run, so Smith had a pretty good measuring stick for his offense to test itself against on the ground in Saturday’s scrimmage.

Smith acknowledged that the d-line had an early advantage in the scrimmage, but as Saturday unfolded, the Michigan State run-game operation was able to get on track and generate the type of 4, 5, and 6-yard runs through contact Brian Lindgren’s offense needs to have to be the best version of itself. Coming out the first scrimmage, Smith indicated that he likes the strides that sophomore tailbacks Brandon Tullis and Makhi Frazier have made between spring football and now. He was also encouraged by a more physical running style from freshman Jace Clarizio.

Looking for separation on the lines: On the offensive line, Smith said upwards of 10 different players are still engaged in a competition for playing time at various positions as Michigan State o-line coach Jim Michalczik tinkers with his playing groups and moves guys between the right and left sides of the offensive line. Last year at this time, there was nowhere near as much competition on the offensive line. Decisions about starting roles and rotation contributors will likely have to be made coming out of Saturday’s scrimmage. On the interior defensive line, Suiaunoa is confident that Michigan State has a larger group of functional or better defensive tackles to work with than he had a year ago. The veteran defensive line coach, however, has challenged those in competition for rotation work to separate themselves from the pack. Suiaunoa want to know who his heavy-lifters are, and which players are deserving of being high contributing back-ups.

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