Michigan State football freshman tracker, Week 2: Who played vs. BC?

On Saturday, Michigan State football powered past Boston College, 42-40, in double overtime. With it being the first true test of the Spartans’ depth and rotation against Power Four opponents, there was a lot to track with the extra action. One element was that of the true freshman. Which freshman played on Saturday, and how did they do?

Jack Wills, Long-snapper

Wills again stepped up for an injured Kaden Schickel. This was not an easy contest for Wills, as there was a lot riding on every snap by the freshman. It is safe to say that Wills passed with flying colors.

Michigan State football put on a special teams’ clinic for the ages, with Ryan Eckley punting for 54 yards per punt, Martin Connington’s debut being a 50-yard field goal and a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter, and Connington and Blake Sislo being perfect on extra points. Not a lot of people remember Wills’s role in all these plays.

Derrick Simmons, DL

Simmons was called upon again this Saturday. Unlike his contest against the Broncos, however, he faced a reduced role on Saturday. The lineman played less than 10 snaps, predominantly as a pass-rusher in third-and-long situations. He did not fair much better than any of the other defensive linemen, as the Spartans recorded zero sacks.

Simmons also contributed on punt returns, as well. That said, the punt return aspect of special teams was the only part lagging behind the rest of the masterclass.

Aydan West, DB

West, much like Simmons, saw his role reduced against a higher quality opponent. When Joshua Eaton was called to the bench with an injury, West was the next man up. However, he had the worst play of his young career so far, helping a screen bounce outside instead of turning it back towards the defensive help.

He was replaced by Chance Rucker shortly after and only saw the field on special teams for the rest of the contest. That said, the mistake was a freshman mistake, in a player’s second contest. Expect him to be ready to bounce back against Youngstown State.

Jayden Savoury, TE

That is right, there is a new player to track on the Spartans! Jayden Savoury was the fourth true freshman to make his debut, with it coming on the very first Spartan third down against BC. Better yet, Savoury was able to record his first career reception on the play, snagging a high pass from Aidan Chiles for 16 yards when he was wide open.

Earlier in the week, tight end coach Brian Wozniak raved about Savoury’s ability to the media, and the freshman’s talent put him on the field on Saturday night.

Savoury was only on the field for one more snap after this, which was a five-yard completion to Nick Marsh from Chiles. While his debut was two plays long, it proves Savoury’s trustworthiness if the staff is going towards him in a situation so early in the game. He also graded out as the highest-rated Spartan on PFF this week.

That said, please do not burn Savoury’s redshirt if the plan is to play the Orchard Lake (MI.) St. Mary’s product in two snaps per game for the final 11 games. I might just lose my mind. The Spartans have lost the redshirts of Ade Willie, Andrew Brinson IV, and Malik Spencer by actions like this, and I am hoping to see that not be the case with Savoury. Either let him go to work or pick the four games he is most crucial for. Please.

Which freshman could debut next for Michigan State football?

This week, the Spartans host an FCS squad, the Youngstown State Penguins. The hope is that this article will be much longer when I am writing it next week. Hopefully, players like Braylon Collier, Jace Clarizio, Justin Bell, and Leonard Ah You get their chance to shine.