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Michigan State football: Making sense of Spartans’ notable position changes entering 2022
By Adam Biggers
Published:
Michigan State has made a few somewhat surprising adjustments to its 2-deep depth chart.
Most notably, a scholarship quarterback was bumped to safety. A highly-rated 2022 recruit was moved over from safety to the corner. And a running back was moved to — yup, you guessed it — the secondary, now serving as a cornerback.
What does all of this mean?
Well, it’s clear that coach Mel Tucker is looking to make the Spartans’ secondary as deep as possible, likely in an effort to avoid last year’s catastrophic failures in the pass-D department. Giving up roughly 325 yards per game, MSU’s safeties and corners were the worst in all of major college football during the 2021 swing.
Position changes are common, but it’s been a few years since the Spartans have moved a scholarship quarterback to another spot on the field. The most recent and noteworthy would probably be the move of Keith Nichol from QB to WR in 2009 following Kirk Cousins’ rise to the top of the QB depth chart in East Lansing.
The real difference here, at least on the surface, is that former QB Hamp Fay — unlike Nichol — never got a shot to be the starter for the Spartans. A 3-star redshirt freshman with all of the physical measurables, Fay, who’s never had an in-game snap, will now be tasked with patrolling the middle and offering run and pass support.
Oh yeah, he’s also 6-5 and 220 pounds, likely making him the biggest safety — height-wise — to ever play the position at MSU (and probably a few other schools). Remember, the average size of an NCAA safety is roughly 6-foot, 185 pounds. Even the biggest of the big safeties usually only come in at around 6-1 or 6-2.
Fay’s height will likely serve as a major advantage when it comes to clogging lanes over the middle. This swap could be, in theory, one of the smartest moves made by Tucker during his 3-year tenure with the Spartans.
When it comes to Fay, we’re talking excellent maneuverability, strength and stamina.
“I’m not trying to put (Fay) in the Hall of Fame and say he’s going out there and running through guys or anything,” Tucker said during fall camp, per Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press. “When we put him out there, he had the movement skills. He’s smart. He’s got range. He can run — he ran track in high school, he was a hurdler. He’s a big guy, and he’s a high-effort, high-intensity guy. So he understands the game, and he just likes to play ball. We saw that.”
The addition of Fay to the safety room complements a group led by starters Xavier Henderson and Angelo Grose, not to mention it adds depth alongside Jared Mangham, a 4-star 2022 recruit, and senior transfer Kendell Brooks of North Greenville University (South Carolina).
Where Fay stands among the safeties remains to be seen, but it’s clear that his size and athleticism will be of use to the Spartans this fall.
Dillon Tatum, a 4-star 2022 recruit, has been scooched over to the cornerback position, adding more athleticism and speed on the outside. Tatum, listed at 5-11/190, was the No. 12-ranked ATH of the 2022 class, so he’s capable of having success at multiple positions. Tucker has said that he’s been “encouraged” by Tatum’s ability and aptitude — so this also qualifies as a good move for the Spartans, who’ll have 2 transfers as starting CBs (depending on the package, or course) with Ameer Speed, formerly of Georgia, and Ronald Williams Jr., formerly of Alabama/Hutchinson CC.
Will Tatum always play at the corner? His overall skill set suggests that another move could be made down the line, so keep an eye on his progress throughout 2022. He’s so versatile that Tucker may choose to use him in several ways.
The same could also be said for the freshman Mangham, a fellow in-state prep star like Tatum who was ranked as the No. 13 ATH of the 2022 class.
During the spring practices, Davion Primm garnered some high praise from Tucker, appearing to be in the mix among MSU’s top 3 or 4 running backs. However, Primm was bumped to cornerback in an effort to strengthen protection downfield and on the edges. Primm, a former star at Oak Park (Mich.), has been clocked with 4.5-second 40-yard dashes. At 6-0 and 200 pounds, he’s built a bit more like a safety but has done enough to warrant a move to cornerback.
Dictated by team needs, position changes happen all of the time. This trio of swaps demonstrates Michigan State’s desire to improve in pass defense, while simultaneously putting players in the best positions to succeed.
Adam Biggers brings his expertise on the Michigan beat to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.