Michigan State football Scout Team Players of the Week reveal important depth chart note

Michigan State football named its Scout Team Players of the Week on Wednesday, and it revealed an important depth chart note.

On Wednesday, Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith took the social media to announce the Scout Team Players of the Week. This was a tradition seen with Mark Dantonio, but not under Mel Tucker. Smith, a former walk-on quarterback-turned-starter with the Oregon State Beavers, knows the value of the practice squad.

This post also revealed a crucial note about a position battle.

Scout Team Players of the Week

In total, five players received this honor before the season opener against the Western Michigan Broncos. Those five are:

• Redshirt junior DB Dorian Davis
• Redshirt sophomore WR Shawn Foster II
• Redshirt junior EDGE Tyler Gillison
• True freshman DL Cal Thrush
• True freshman OL Drew Nichols

Overall, it is nice to see two true freshman earning this honor so early in their careers. Last season, freshman such as Brady Pretzlaff and AJ Dennis were able to translate this honor into some playing time in their inaugural season. Thrush has been generating some buzz lately, with defensive coordinator Joe Rossi going as far to say that he is considering playing the Ohio native in the season opener. Nichols is a player that has gotten some praise from Jonathan Smith recently, and is putting in the work despite being “behind the ball” as a summer enrollee.

For two of the veterans on this list, they are being awarded this honor yet again. Davis received this honor three times last year, and that turned into five games of action to earn his first letter with the team. The hard-working defensive back adds yet another player to consider when looking over options in the room.

Foster II received the award once last year, and is starting the year strong with this accolade. He is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Davis and make his Spartan debut after being honored during his redshirt sophomore campaign.

Important depth chart note

The final player to note is edge rusher Tyler Gillison receiving this award. The redshirt junior missed all of last season with injury, and it is great to see him putting in the work in his first game week in the green and white. However, him being on this list is also an indicator that the Cincinnati transfer will not be a starter for Week 1.

The practice squad usually consists of third-to-fourth string players, and that means that Gillison is likely not with the two deep. While not necessarily a surprise after missing last season, while the rest of his counterparts in the group got a full season of practice, it is noteworthy. Gillison and walk-ons Stone Chaney and Luke DeJager were the only players returning to the group after the offseason. However, it is likely that none of those three will be running with the ones and twos on game day.

That likely means the quartet competing to be on the two-deep of the room is redshirt freshman Anelu Lafaele, redshirt sophomore David Santiago, redshirt senior Isaac Smith, and sixth-year senior Cam Williams. Regardless, we will all find out the rough view of the depth chart on Friday night.