Forecasting the top immediate-impact players at Michigan State from the 2023 recruiting class

East Lansing – In the second of a series stories focusing on rookie impact at Michigan State, today SpartanMag’s Jim Comparoni gives his choices for the three newcomers that will have the biggest impact on Michigan State this fall.

1. OT KEYSHAWN BLACKSTOCK

There’s no surprise that Michigan State’s lone junior college transfer would rank No. 1 on this list. Juco players are recruited to deliver immediate help, and Keyshawn Blackstock (6-3, 315, Jr., Covington, Ga.) is in position to provide that at offensive tackle.

Blackstock enrolled in the winter and participated in spring practice. He gained momentum as he became more comfortable with the system. He has repped mostly at left tackle.

Michigan State offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic recently told SpartanMag that he expects Blackstock and second-string right tackle Ethan Boyd (6-7, 325, R-Soph., East Lansing) to split time with 2022 starters Brandon Baldwin (6-7, 315, R-Jr., Detroit/Southfield A&T) and Spencer Brown (6-6, 315, R-Sr., Commerce Twp., Mich/Walled Lake Western).

Baldwin and Brown were competent against most opponents in 2022, but they will need to improve to hold off Blackstock and Boyd for starting jobs.

Blackstock was ranked the No. 6 junior college prospect in the country in the On3 Industry Rankings, and the No. 1 interior offensive lineman.

In the spring scrimmage, which consistent of fewer than 35 plays of 11-on-11,Blackstock repped with the first string eight snaps into the live, 11-on-11 session. He also played with the second unit.

SpartanMag’s +/- notes:

+ Blackstock moved pretty well, delivered a pretty good two-handed punch vs Avery Dunn during 9v9 thud pass protection drills. Didn’t get head over skis, didn’t bend at waist, stayed comfortable and square while moving.

+ Quick short-steps out to the second level on a pin and pull trap play for Nathan Carter early in the second half, enabling Blackstock to turn and square up the MLB (Jordan Hall).

+ His kick step looks good in pass pro. Good job passing off a stunt to take Avery Dunn (who was playing DT in a passing situation).

2. MLB JORDAN HALL

Jordan Hall received second-string reps at Mike linebacker during the Michigan State spring scrimmage on April 15. (Photo by Dane Robison for SpartanMag).

Jordan Hall (6-3, 235, Fr., Fredricksburg, Va./Florida IMG Academy) enrolled during the winter and didn’t look like a mid-year high school guy during spring practice. He made the quickest, smoothest transition to the college practice field of any of the first-year players, including some of the transfers.

Hall was a four-star recruit, ranked No. 194 in the On3 Industry Rankings.

Hall repped as a second-string Mike linebacker in the spring scrimmage, easily getting the most work of any mid-year enrollee freshmen.

Hall played along with Will linebacker Cal Haladay in one unit, and played with Will linebacker Aaron Alexander with the threes (with walk-on Sam Edwards at nickel).

Hall is likely to compete with junior Ma’a Gaoteote for the second-string Mike linebacker job. Gaoteote can also play Will linebacker. They played together as a pair for a few reps in the spring scrimmage, with Hall at the Mike.

Hall seems to be being groomed to be the Mike linebacker of the future.

“It’s easy to say a guy like Jordan Hall stands out because he was here all spring and we saw him practice and he did a good job,” Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker said on June 25 when asked which of the incoming freshmen have stood out. “He’s a good player, but he’s not the only one. I mean we signed a lot of good players in this last class – high school players and portal guys. We have added some talent.”

SpartanMag’s +/- notes on Hall from the spring scrimmage:

+ Good job leveraging an outside zone, early in the second half, taking on walk-on WR Aubrey Dawkins with force, setting the edge.

+ Very good play getting off an Ethan Boyd block on an outside zone, sprinting sidelin-to-sideline, tackling Jordon Simmons after a gain of 7. He showed the ability to diagnose, defeat a block and speed to pursue. (Why did it the play gain seven yards? Freshman defensive end Ken Talley and freshman nickel back Malcolm Jones didn’t quite get the edge set).

= In pass defense, Hall had good coverage on tight end Michael Masunas, but Masunas made a nice catch, with high hands and a high catch radius, to haul in a 17-yard out from walk-on QB Andrew Schorfhaar.

3. WR AZIYAH JOHNSON

This one is kind of a roll of the dice. First of all, there are only 12 other rookies to choose from. Offensive linemen rarely become immediate contributors, although Stanton Ramil looks physically and athletically more prepared than any freshman offensive lineman in the Tucker era, and in recent memory.

So that leaves 10 players to choose from.

I’m going with the old football theory that the freshmen who play the furthest from the ball have the best chance to contribute early. That means wide receivers and cornerbacks.

Cornerback Chance Rucker enrolled early, but was banged up during the spring, so we didn’t get much of a chance to see him. And we don’t know much about summer enrollees Eddie Pleasant and Sean Brown, other than their high school film.

Speaking of high school film, that’s all we have to judge freshman wide receivers Jaelen Smith and Aziah Johnson at this point. But I’m choosing Johnson based on his high school film being exceedingly impressive.

I still can’t believe he was ranked No. 932 in the nation and No. 94 at wide receiver in the On3 Industry Rankings. When I first looked at his film, if you had told me he was a four-star recruit who was committed to Oklahoma State, I would have said that’s about right.

Not only is his film impressive, he also looks physically strong on both sides of the ball, with quick burst and combative willingness to win at the line of scrimmage. That physicality will give him a boost as he tries to make the transition to the college game.

Early word from summer workouts is that he carries himself with maturity, providing more evidence that Michigan State may have scored a nice sleeper in Johnson.

RECENT FRESHMAN TRENDS

Last year, seven Michigan State freshmen earned letters and four others saw action. The numbers were high due to a rash of injuries and suspensions on the defensive side of the ball.

Five of the seven who earned letter were on defense.

DE Zion Young, S Jaden Mangham, CB Dillon Tatum and S Malik Spencer earned letters on defense. DB Ade Willie played 17 snaps on special teams and four snaps on defense in expending his freshman year of eligibility.

On defense, DT Alex Vansumeren, S Malcolm Jones and CB Caleb Coley played four games or fewer and retained freshman eligibility for 2023.

On offense, WR Germie Bernard and WR Tyrell Henry were the only players to see action in more than four games and earn a letter. Most of Henry’s playing time came on special teams.

WR Jaron Glover had one reception but played in only one game.

PK Jack Stone was the other player to earn a letter.

A year earlier in 2021, only three true freshmen earned a letter, and one additional player saw action for a team that went 11-2, won the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and finished ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll. In other words, the talent level on the team was solid enough that help from true freshmen wasn’t needed. Additionally, the starters and members of the playing group stayed healthy enough that freshman reinforcements weren’t needed.

The three true freshmen who played in 2021 were CB Charles Brantley, LB Ma’a Gaoteote and WR Keon Coleman.

DT Derrick Harmon saw action in fewer than four games.

In 2020, seven true freshmen earned a letter and three others saw action during the COVID-shortened season.

DB Angelo Grose, LB Darius Snow, DE Jeff Pietrowski, RB Jordon Simmons, WR Ricky White, WR Montorie Foster and WR Terry Lockett were the seven who lettered.

On special teams, WR Ian Stewart, DB Devin Hightower and LB Cal Haladay saw action in four games or less and preserved freshman eligibility.

Wide receivers clearly have had an impact more so than players at other positions over the last three years. Despite Michigan State being stacked at WR last year with Coleman, Jayden Reed and Tre Mosley, true freshmen Bernard, Henry and Glover still found their way onto the field.

A year earlier, only three true freshmen earned, but Coleman was one of them. He had seven catches, the same number of receptions that Bernard had last year as a rookie.

In 2020, the Spartans had to replace Cody White (66 catches) and Darrell Stewart (49 catches) from the 2019 team. Also, Mosley was injured for three of the seven games during the COVID-shortened season.

So true freshmen Ricky White (10 catches in only three games), Montorie Foster (who played in all seven game and started one game but had no receptions) and Lockett (30 offensive snaps, six games, one reception) each earned roles.

This season is somewhat like 2020 for Michigan State at the wide receiver position, with Reed, Coleman and Bernard having moved on.

Mosley returns as a reliable possession-type receiver in the slot. Foster is the only other returning WR with extensive experience.

Christian Fitzpatrick (6-4, 218, R-Jr., Southfield A&T), Tyrell Henry and Jaron Glover are expected to be the top contender to join a WR playing group which will be headed by Mosley and Foster. But there is room for competition, and precedent that true freshmen can push for early playing time. Johnson and Smith were late addition to the 2023 recruiting class, and were not highly-acclaimed in the rankings, but don’t be surprised if one or both make contributions on the field in the fall.

Johnson is my choice as the most likely.

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