Michigan State football: PFF grades offense from the opener vs. WMU

Pro Football Focus released the grades from the season opener for Michigan State football on the offensive side of the ball.

Michigan State football is back. On Friday, the Spartans opened their season with a 23-6 victory over the in-state opponents, the Western Michigan Broncos. The offense had a “tale of two halves”, as said by Jonathan Smith.

After cruising to a 21-0 shutout at half, the defense outscored the Spartan offense in the second half, with the final score being 23-6. As a result, some players’ grades dipped from the lack of production in half No. 2.

Note: 22 players participated in an offensive snap, so there are 12 players who will not make this list. For a breakdown of the offense snap counts and usage, look here. For five up, five down on defense, look here. If you want a defensive snap count breakdown, that’s right here.

Top 5 grades for Michigan State football offense, via PFF

• Omari Kelly, WR: 82.2 (47 snaps, 67% on field percentage)
• Makhi Frazier, RB: 79.6 (29 snaps, 41%)
• Kristian Phillips, OL: 75.4 (43 snaps, 61%)
• Michael Masunas, TE: 74.8 (41 snaps, 58.5%)
• Matt Gulbin, C: 66.3 (70 snaps, 100%)

Omari Kelly entered the opener viewed as the Robin to Nick Marsh’s Batman, but through one game, the tide may be turning in East Lansing. Kelly recorded 75 receiving yards, leading the team on Friday night. That said, his run block grade was fourth of five receivers, if there is something to nitpick.

Frazier recorded the first 100-yard rushing game for MSU in four games, last being done by Nate Carter. He showed excellent vision and cutback ability, and definitely earned the start for next week’s showcase against Boston College.

Kristian Phillips made his case as the best Spartan lineman, again. Phillips had the best film and grades against FAU last year, but a lower body injury late in the game sidelined him for the season. He picked up right where he left off, being the best run blocker by a comically wide 15 points on the PFF scale.

Masunas is another player fighting back from injury, and he also did not lose a step on Friday. The tight end had a higher pass game rating than the leading receiver, Kelly. His two catches for 22 yards approached his career high, also set in last year’s home opener. His run block tapered off on Friday, with Masunas being dead last of 21 players to participate in a run blocking snap.

Gulbin has the distinction of being the only player to be in for every snap on his side of the ball on Friday, and he graded out well, ranking as the second-best pass blocker. This was a very successful debut for the Wake Forest transfer.

Bottom 5 grades for Michigan State football offense, via PFF

• Conner Moore, OL: 54.5 (57 snaps, 81% on field percentage)
• Rod Bullard Jr., WR: 52.8 (23 snaps, 33%)
• Jack Velling, TE: 52.1 (47 snaps, 67%)
• Evan Boyd, WR: 43.3 (14 snaps, 20%)
• Alessio Milivojevic, QB: 24.4 (6 snaps, 6%)

Conner Moore made his debut in the green and white, and his first drive made the tackle appear as a sure-fire starter. The rest of the game after the script ended did not go so well. Moore struggled against the run, ranking the worst among the seven linemen to play on Friday.

Rod Bullard Jr. lost his footing on his first offensive touch as a Spartan, and that sunk his grades. The Valdosta State transferred was involved, but did not see a target.

Velling did not look like the 2023 version of himself. Worse yet, the 2024 version of himself was also an improvement from Friday. Velling only caught one pass for a single yard, and his run block grade was bottom-three.

Boyd is a surprising name on this list. The receiver did not see a target, and PFF rated him as the lowest pass-catcher of the group by nearly a dozen points. His run block grade was second-highest among the receiver room, though.

Milivojevic had one bad play, a brutal pick six, and that tanked his grade. He has two career passes, both for interceptions. I believe I said this last season, but for the Illinois-born signal-caller, it truly can only go up from here. He’ll get his first Spartan completion soon.

Overall, this offense had one amazing half, and one atrocious half. If the Spartans can find any balance, that would be great. Dating back the last five games, the team has two second-half touchdowns. That has to change.