One reason Michigan State football will dominate Western Michigan

Michigan State football will open the 2025 season on Friday night against Western Michigan, and here’s why the Spartans will dominate.

It’s officially Michigan State football kickoff day. You can practically smell the hot dogs and burgers in the air, feel the bleacher seats digging into you, and taste the Melting Moments as the sun sets while the Spartan Marching Band take the field.

With one day left, it is time for the conclusion in my 5-to-1 countdown series. Alas, this one was the hardest to get a topic for, as I predicted in my last article.

Here is one reason Spartan football dominates Friday.

Michigan State football has wide receivers that cause nightmares

On Friday, Michigan State football clashes with the Western Michigan Broncos. The Broncos have a first-year defensive coordinator, Chris O’Leary. He worked under former bitter Spartan rival Jim Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers.

O’Leary, a former safeties coach, gets his hands full with the wide receiver quartet of Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Chrishon McCray, and Rod Bullard Jr.

Each one of these four receivers put up a game with 158 (or more) receiving yards for their programs in 2024. These four combined for 12 games with over 100 receiving yards last season alone. Marsh has the size and catch radius, while Kelly has the speed in space. Bullard and McCray each are powerhouses out of the slot.

If Michigan State football reaches into their bench, Evan Boyd has the size to give the Spartans two jump-ball threats. Braylon Collier is quickly making his name felt as a true freshman, and his productivity at Perkins High School made him a top-15 receiver in Ohio High School history, statistically. Alante Brown and Bryson Williams provide spark as gadget players with extensive action running the ball in their careers. Charles Taplin has gashed the MSU defense in practice.

If, by some miracle, the Broncos can clamp down each Michigan State football wideout, the tight end room is stacked this season. Jack Velling returns after a 400-yard campaign last year, and Brennan Parachek and Michael Masunas both provide plenty of upside as receivers. Combine that with freshman Jayden Savoury being mentioned as a player that will be targeted in pass-heavy situations, and game-planning for Michigan State is quickly becoming a nightmare.

It is safe to say, that is a tough opening draw for a first matchup, let alone that of a first-year coordinator. The Spartans do not have any prior film of an O’Leary defense, but their additions make Brian Lindgren’s play call sheet that much more open in 2025.

What to know

The Spartans have worked overtime for this game, with the offense practicing against “a little bit of everything” in Lindgren’s terms.

Regardless of what formation the Broncos come out in against the Spartans, there will be a disadvantage for Western, whether it is schematically or talent-based. Simply put, the defense that allowed 31.3 points per game and 415.1 yards per game will not be done any favors. Outside of former Spartan safety Tate Hallock, not many players have made a name for themselves on this defense.