DEVELOPMENTAL UPDATE: Maliq Carr seeking to be a complete tight end for Michigan State

East Lansing, Mich. – If trends mean anything in a college football player’s development, Maliq Carr seems to be trending up for Michigan State this spring.

Last season, as a redshirt sophomore, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end had his best season in a Michigan State uniform, finishing with 16 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

As a result, Carr who finished second among the Spartans three primary tight ends, which included Daniel Barker and Tyler Hunt, aided in Michigan State accumulating 52 catches for 546 yards and four touchdowns from that position.

This season, Carr expects to do more, a lot more, especially after grading last season’s performance.

“Um, (last season) it was solid. Not up to my standard, but it was solid,’’ said Carr, a redshirt junior. “(But now,) it’s just like I’m back to normal, what I’m used to, as far as like high school, little league and middle school, all of that. I was always a big part of the team and now, I’m back to my role. It’s more comfortable for me.’’

With both Barker and Hunt gone, Carr will enter the 2023 season as the top tight end statistically in a room that features nine others vying for playing time, including transfers Jaylan Franklin (Wisconsin), Tyneil Hopper (Boise State), and Ademola Faleye (Norfolk State). There is also returning underclassmen in Jack Nickel and Michael Masunas, converted quarterback Hamp Fay, rising walk-on Evan Morris, and talented true freshman Brennan Parachek. Jackson Morse, another walk-on, began his career at Division 2 Davenport before transferring to Michigan State in 2020.

“Everybody has their strengths and they’re all playing really good,’’ said Carr of the Michigan State tight end room.

Although Carr possesses arguably the best ball skills among Michigan State’s tight ends, better numbers as a receiver is not his primary focus as a junior.

“I just want to have fun once again,” said Carr. “I just want everybody to get better in our room because we got a lot of newcomers. Surprisingly, everybody gets along perfectly fine, no issues and everybody’s just getting better every day.’’

Despite a crowded tight end room at Michigan State, Carr expects to be at or near the top of the depth chart when the Spartans open their season on Sept. 2nd against Central Michigan.

To achieve that objective, Carr needs to improve his overall game. That should be easier now that he is no longer splitting time between basketball and football.

“Yeah, I love basketball. It’s hard to step away but it is what it is,’’ he said. “This is actually the first time I get to like spend time learning the position since I’ve became a veteran, and it’s actually kind of fun. So, just learning the ins and outs of the position and just trying to figure it out during the (spring) season. Specifically pass blocking and getting off the ball and run blocking.’’

Carr, a native of Inkster, who spent his first collegiate football season at Purdue, had just one catch for 15 yards with the Boilermakers in 2020 after playing in just three games to preserve his redshirt.

Whereas Carr played wide receiver at Purdue, he switched to tight end after transferring to Michigan State the following season. Carr showed immediate promise by playing in 12 games, despite playing a new position and having very little time to get acclimated as summer-arriving transfer. He finished with eight catches for 135 yards and saw his playing time grow in the second half of the season, where he hauled in seven receptions for 128 yards in the last six games.

During his first season as a Spartan, Carr played a total of 155 snaps on offense and 66 on special teams. He capped off the year with two catches for 35 yards, including a 25-yarder, in a 31-21 victory over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl during the Spartans’ 11-2 run during the 2021 season.

For Carr, that is now a distant memory. Especially when he thought he could have done more during last year’s 5-7 finish, and expects to do more this season.

“There’s more getting off the ball. I think the skills part was never really a problem for me. But getting off the ball makes blocking a lot easier,’’ he said. “You know, when I get off the ball, I can block anybody, in my opinion.’’

Carr’s primary objective for the upcoming season beyond staying healthy is simple.

“Win. We need to win games, one game at a time,’’ he said. “Win every game we step on the field for, bring like the legacy back for Michigan State, the winning culture.’’

The post DEVELOPMENTAL UPDATE: Maliq Carr seeking to be a complete tight end for Michigan State appeared first on On3.