Michigan State football: 2 surprise breakout candidates earn praise

Michigan State football fans are thinking about breakout candidates for 2024, and these two might shock you.

Fall camp is well underway and Michigan State football fans are waiting patiently for the start of the 2024 season which will officially signal the start of the Jonathan Smith era.

With fall camp comes quotes from coaches and players about guys who are standing out. There has been plenty of talk in the preseason about guys like Jack Velling or Nick Marsh or Aidan Chiles, but fans are looking for some under-the-radar breakout candidates.

Two surprise breakout candidates were revealed on Tuesday.

The first was Mikeshun Beeler, a true freshman defensive tackle. He drew a ton of praise from tight ends coach Brian Wozniak who called him “an absolute, utter monster” during his time with the media.

Michigan State tight ends coach Brian Wozniak on true freshman DT Mikeshun Beeler:

“That guy is a monster. I mean, an absolute, utter monster.”

Many more tidbits in the story below⬇️ https://t.co/kh2jB9jz7q

— SpartanMag.com (@TheSpartanMag) August 13, 2024

Beeler likely won’t crack the two-deep this season, especially with Alex VanSumeren and Ben Roberts reportedly impressing during fall camp, but it sounds like he may be a big piece for the future of the defensive line. It’s always a good thing when a different position coach notices that a guy is standing out.

The other surprise breakout candidate is Michael Masunas, a redshirt sophomore tight end from Arizona.

Per @TheSpartanMag 12+ NFL coaches watched Jack Velling & MSU TEs yesterday. Under the radar 6-5 258 redshirt sophomore Michael Masunas continues to empress pic.twitter.com/eSl3d1WO6p

— John (@FromEastLansing) August 13, 2024

Masunas hasn’t played a ton during his time in East Lansing, redshirting in 2022 and playing just four snaps at tight end in 2023. He did catch his first career pass for one yard against Penn State in the season finale at Ford Field. But from the sounds of it, per Jim Comparoni of SpartanMag, Masunas is impressing during fall camp and even NFL coaches are noticing.

If Masunas can continue to rise and Velling and Brennan Paracheck live up to the hype, the tight end room could be one of the best in the Big Ten.

Keep an eye on Beeler and Masunas this fall as they could surprise some people.