Michigan State will have a lot of experience back at the center position for the 2021 season.

Spartans head coach Mel Tucker has confirmed that center Matt Allen will be returning to the program next fall to play his sixth season with the program. Allen sustained an injury early in the year and played in just one game for the Spartans, the season opener against Rutgers.

Allen started in his lone appearance for Michigan State in 2020 and played 82 snaps. He missed the next six contests due to an injury. Matt Wenzel reported on the news on Thursday afternoon.

Over the last three seasons, Allen has made 17 career starts and has appeared in 31 total games. He brings a tremendous amount of experience back to the Michigan State offensive line, which should prove beneficial in Year 2 of the Mel Tucker era.

Allen’s return should also be helpful as Michigan State welcomes in a new starting quarterback to start the 2021 season. With Rocky Lombardi moving on, it’s likely that Payton Thorne will be the next guy for MSU, though we’re still a long way from the first play of the season.

Thanks to the NCAA’s blanket waiver for all student-athletes for the 2020 season, Allen can return to Michigan State without approval from the association. The Spartans are scheduled to begin next season with a game against Northwestern.