Jayden Savoury “is going to have an awesome career” for Michigan State football

According to Michigan State tight ends coach Brian Wozniak, freshman Jayden Savoury is “going to have an awesome career”.

During Friday night’s home opener, three true freshmen got to play in their first career game. While this was not as many as the seven or eight that had been mentioned as possibilities, one name that did not play caught some eyes. Tight end Jayden Savoury has been making his presence felt during camp.

From Jonathan Smith commenting on Savoury’s ability to make plays during the scrimmages, to fellow players praising the Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary’s product, he has gained considerable hype. Smith went out of his way to drag the tight end into playing time discussions when the original question highlighted Aydan West, Braylon Collier, Derrick Simmons, and Jace Clarizio.

On Tuesday, Savoury continued to get praise from the staff.

This time, it was from his position coach, Brian Wozniak.

Wozniak was asked the joys of coaching a multi-sport athlete, in particular a basketball player. Savoury won a state title with Orchard Lake St. Mary’s on the hardwood before his gridiron title as a senior. Wozniak started with his own basketball analogy, and added where Savoury fit in the coach’s system.

“I think it’s always fun, I was a hooper myself, I think that basketball translates so well to football, I think of like the tight ends in general, we got our ‘Y’ is a little more Tim Duncan, right?,” Wozniak asked, rhetorically. “Our ‘H’ is a little more of that slashing, small forward, you know? Both those kind of athletes, one is still long, maybe a little bit more powerful, so with Jayden, it was easy to see where he fit with that scheme, a slashing three.”

The coach then expanded on the upside and joys of coaching Savoury. Wozniak went as far as to predict a special career for the freshman that has yet to take a down of collegiate football.

“I’d love to sit here and say, ‘yeah, when we recruited him, we knew what we were getting,’ but yeah, he’s been a pleasant surprise,” Wozniak revealed. “That guy is going to have an awesome career. I’m excited for him. He just gets football. Sports speak to him, you know, you teach him something, he gets it. It’s pretty rare to have a guy like that.”

Jayden Savoury’s teammates voice their own support

Michael Masunas expanded on this, calling the group, as a whole, one of the best in the nation. He also alluded to Wozniak’s system, talking about the different ways that the coach utilizes the talented tight end room.

“I think we have one of the best tight end groups in the nation,” Masunas said. “Not including just Jack (Velling) and I, but BP (Brennan Parachek), Kai (Rios), Jayden (Savoury), some of the younger guys coming in, Jay Coyne, I think we got a great group. Using them all in their different ways is awesome.”

Jack Velling is a veteran under Wozniak’s system, with the senior playing under the former Wisconsin Badger for all three of his prior seasons. In 2023, Velling thrived, with eight touchdowns. With the senior missing all of fall camp with a foot injury, he took the time to help mentor the potential star for the Spartans.

“I tried to be a good teammate, help out the younger guys. Jayden Savoury, I helped him out a bunch,” Velling revealed.

The hope for Jayden Savoury is that he will get a solid chance to shoot at the Michigan State football record books. The current mark for most touchdowns by a Spartan tight end in a season is six, by Kellen Davis in 2007, also being tied by Josiah Price in 2014 and 2015. Through Velling, Masunas, Parachek, or Savoury, Wozniak is seeking to lift the record to new heights.

Based on the hype building for Savoury, the season mark might not be the only thing in jeopardy. Price’s career record of 21 end zone trips might be circled in Savoury’s football notebook.