Michigan State Football Names Practice Squad Players of the Week Pre-Indiana

On Thursday, as is tradition, Jonathan Smith took to X to announce the Michigan State football practice squad players of the week. Four Spartans repeated on the list, along with four players being true freshmen. Who were the five that ignored all the outside noise and helped prepare the Spartans for Saturday?

Michigan State Football Practice Squad Players of the Week

• LB DiMari Malone (Fr.)
• OL Drew Nichols (Fr.) (x2)
• DB George Mullins (Fr.) (x2)
• RB Darrin Jones Jr. (Fr.) (x2)
• LB Chris Piwowarczyk (RS-Fr.) (x2)

Malone is the sole player with this accolade for the first time. He is one of three freshman in the linebacker room, and the sole early enrollee among the group. While Malone has yet to travel or play his first snap, he has suited up for the green and white in each of the last two home games. With the Spartans’ injury report growing longer each week, it appears to be a matter of time before a true freshman like Malone travels for the first time.

Nichols earns this honor for the second time, joining his efforts before the season opener against Western Michigan. The California-born lineman has dressed for gamedays before, but it will be a challenge for him to travel, as he will be playing against the likes of redshirt freshmen Mercer Luniewski and Payton Stewart, alongside early enrollee Justin Bell, to break onto that 74-man squad.

Mullins, alongside fellow freshmen DBs Deuce Edwards and Evan Young, continue their run with the award. Mullins and Young have each won it twice, alongside Edwards taking the title once. Young and Edwards each dressed for the first time in the home game last week, and Mullins will be gunning for a chance to dress against Michigan in two weeks.

Jones Jr. walked on to the team, joining fellow Orchard Lake (MI.) St. Mary’s products Bryson Williams, DeJae White, Antonio Johnson, and Jayden Savoury. Savoury has played as a freshman, already seeing action in four games. The other three have all earned this honor, with Jones Jr. winning the award previously in week four.

Piwowarczyk is another player, alongside Malone, looking to burst onto the scene and make the travel roster for the first time. The walk-on won the award before the Youngstown State contest in week three. He also was named as one of the best practice squad members twice last year, giving him the honor four times in his young career.

Michigan State football’s preparation is done for Indiana. The Spartans get to face the Hoosiers at 3:30 p.m. EST on Peacock in Bloomington.