WATCH: Spring practice video of Michigan State quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends

East Lansing, Mich. – Much of the chatter surrounding the Michigan State football program throughout the spring has been about the competition at quarterback between incumbent Payton Thorne, junior back-up Noah Kim, and redshirt freshman Katin Houser. Earlier this spring, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson lauded the gains made by all three of the Michigan State quarterbacks embroiled in the competition for the starting job.

Those competing for a starting job at quarterback and those evaluating that competition have indicated that competition has brought out the best in each of those involved. At practice on Tuesday, the first since last Saturday’s scrimmage, each of Michigan State’s quarterbacks made numerous good throws during drill-work with running backs and tight ends alike.

While the practice video clips embedded in this story are unlikely to shed much light onto the status of the competition at quarterback, they do provide a good look at the pass-catching skills of the running backs and tight ends in the Spartan program.

Junior tailback Jalen Berger is smooth catching the ball out of the backfield overall with the exception of one clip in which he drops an easily catchable ball thrown by Kim. Berger led Spartan tailbacks in receptions last season with 19 and is widely regarded as best pass-catcher in the tailback group at Michigan State.

Davion Primm appears to be the most improved pass-catcher out of the backfield. Catching the ball out of the backfield was not considered to be a strength in Primm’s game early in his development at tailback. Primm, who is now wearing the No. 24 jersey worn by Elijah Collins last season, has gotten better catching the ball out of the backfield and he is also running better routes.

UConn transfer Nathan Carter had 24 receptions for 160 yards before coming to Michigan State, and he looked reasonably comfortable catching the ball out of the backfield during practice on Tuesday. Jaren Mangham hasn’t caught a ton of passes during his collegiate career to this point, but the biggest of Michigan State’s tailbacks at 6-2, 230, moves pretty well for his size, and he caught everything that was catchable in early drills.

At tight end, Michigan State has a proven starter in Maliq Carr, who has size, strength, and good hands. The Spartans also have a lot more bodies at the tight end position with transfer additions of Tyneil Hopper (Boise State) and Jaylan Franklin (Wisconsin). Both Hopper and Franklin have generated some buzz during spring football, but the thing that has impressed me the most to this point in spring football has been the growth of tight ends that were already in the program.

Earlier this spring, it was apparent when watching practice that redshirt freshman Michael Masunas and Jack Nickel had taken a big jump between last year and this. The same is true of converted quarterback Hamp Fay. Fay was certainly a player that stood out among the youngsters playing tight end for Michigan State during drills on Tuesday. Watching Fay go through drills, it is easy to see why offensive coordinator Jay Johnson has been bullish about his upside at tight end.

Walk-on Evan Morris is another tight end worthy of notice. A senior from Ovid-Elsie with two letters earned, Morris made a couple of impressive catches during drill work on Tuesday morning. Based on what we’ve seen thus far in spring football, the praise that Morris has received from Johnson and others is more than lip service.

Given Michigan State’s depth at tight end, it seems unlikely that true freshman Brennan Parachek will make loud splash as first-year player for the Spartans. Be that as it may, don’t be surprised if Parachek uses the foundation he gained during spring football as a mid-year enrollee as a springboard for solid growth throughout the summer.