How did Spartans in the NFL fare during the 2023 regular season?

With playoffs just around the corner, how did the Spartans in the NFL do in the 2023 regular season, and who did they play for?

With the next round of the playoffs set to begin this weekend, I decided to check in on the Spartans in the NFL and see how their regular seasons went. The Spartans had 18 players participate in at least one game in the NFL this year, and of them, 11 started at least once. Additionally, I will include Montez Sweat’s statistics in this article, but he is not part of the group of 18 and 11 players.

Honorable mention

• Montez Sweat, DE, Bears/Commanders (12.5 sacks, 57 tackles, 3 forced fumbles)

Sweat started his career as a Spartan before being dismissed from the program after the 2015 season. Later, he credited it as a turning point in his career, and he blossomed at Mississippi State before being drafted by Washington in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was traded to the Bears for a second-round pick at the deadline, and Sweat finished his 2023 season leading both the Commanders and the Bears in sacks. Sweat just inked a deal to remain in Chicago, to the dismay of us Lions fans.

Now let’s take a look at the Spartans in the NFL.

Practice squad Spartans in the NFL

• Kevin Jarvis, OG, Bills (No games played)

Kevin Jarvis was a multi-year starter for the Spartans, with 39 starts in his 44 career games. Jarvis was part of the Peach Bowl-winning Michigan State team before going undrafted. He landed with the Bills last April and has been on their practice squad all season. However, he has yet to play in his first NFL game. No call-ups quite yet for Jarvis.

• Raequan Williams, DE, Panthers (No games played)

Raequan Williams started 42 games for Mark Dantonio’s Spartans but went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. He got a sack as an Eagle a few years ago but has been mainly a practice squad player in his career. Despite a sack in preseason, the Panthers elected to not keep him on the roster. He was part of the Carolina practice squad for much of this season, and recently signed a reserves/futures contract with the Panthers.

• Josh Butler, CB, Cowboys (No games played)

Josh Butler took a long road to even get to the NFL. Butler struggled with injuries and personal tragedies during his time as a Spartan. He had 16 starts in 43 games but missed half of 2018 with an injury. He replaced an opting-out Justin Layne during the RedBox Bowl and helped hold Justin Herbert’s Oregon Ducks to seven points. Butler also went viral on Senior Day in 2019, running out of the tunnel with both his dogs, Roxi and Remy, after losing both parents during his time at Michigan State. After all of this, the corner went undrafted and it appeared his career was done.

However, he was a standout corner for the Michigan Panthers of the USFL last spring, and it led to Butler getting signed on to the Dallas Cowboys for the 2023 season. The Texas-born Butler remained on the practice squad for the whole season but has yet to see the field.

With his recent meteoric rise, I feel like there should be a “yet” added to that last statement.

• AJ Arcuri, OT, Rams (No games played)

AJ Arcuri was another multi-year starting lineman for the Spartans, with 25 starts across 40 games. He was a seventh-round pick in 2022, being the second-to-last player selected. That said, it might be more remembered for Arcuri being the pick directly before the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback (and potential MVP Candidate) Brock Purdy. He did start a game in 2022 and wound up playing for the Rams in eight games. This season, however, the Rams offensive line was much healthier and Arcuri remained on the practice squad all year.

• Matt Sokol, TE, Patriots (3 games played, 1 game started)

Matt Sokol started 22 games and played in 52 career contests as a Spartan. He finished up his career with 348 yards and two touchdowns in the green and white before going undrafted in 2019. However, he has stuck around the league, playing in a few games for the Chargers a few years back. This season, he spent the majority of time on the New England Patriots practice squad before spending three games on the gameday roster, including a start. All of this said, Sokol has yet to record his first career catch.

• Cody White, WR, Seahawks (No games played)

Cody White started 26 of his 35 contests as a Spartan. He was the go-to receiver of the Brian Lewerke era at quarterback and should have had two 1,000-yard receiving seasons if not for a sophomore year injury and a Dave Warner offense. Following his junior season, White entered the NFL Draft. He received a Combine invite but ultimately went undrafted. He signed on with the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a few catches for them over the last two seasons. This year, however, White was let go by the Steelers and has been on and off of Seattle’s practice squad this season.

• Jacob Slade, DT, Cardinals/free agent (No games played)

Jacob Slade is one of the more recent names on this list. He had 26 starts of his 42 Spartan games, but an injury derailed his senior campaign and led to him going undrafted last offseason. He signed on with the Cardinals and was on and off of their practice squad throughout the year. He was recently let go on Jan. 8. That said, with Slade spending nearly all season on the practice squad, I believe he warranted a mention on this list.

• Kendell Brooks, S, Colts (No games played)

Kendell Brooks started 10 games for the 2022 Spartans following injuries and did enough to warrant a contract from the Arizona Cardinals after he went undrafted in 2023. He was let go before the season started but just signed a deal with Indianapolis as a reserve/future player on Jan. 9.

Spartans in the NFL: Season ended by injury

• Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings (216-for-311, 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, 5 INTs; 14 carries for 25 yards in 8 starts)

Kirk Cousins has been the face of Michigan State Spartans in the NFL since he was a starter for Washington. He started 39 games during his time with the Spartans. Then, he went to Washington in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft and spent the next six seasons there. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, and has started since. His recent season was shaping up to be his best one yet before a torn Achilles in his right leg cut his season nine games short.

• Jalen Nailor, WR, Vikings (3 catches for 29 yards in 6 games)

Jalen Nailor was drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round of 2022, giving Cousins a Spartan-to-Spartan connection. Nailor played in 28 games during his four years with the Spartans, including 21 starts. He struggled with injuries in college, and the injury bug returned this offseason. Nailor was a trendy pick to share time with K.J. Osborn at WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and rookie first-rounder Jordan Addison, but an offseason injury led to Nailor barely seeing the field. He returned to the field for the final few contests of 2023, playing in six games with the Vikings as a reserve. Unfortunately, Nailor’s season ended prematurely in Week 17 due to a concussion. Thankfully, it was described as a very mild concussion by head coach Kevin O’Connell.

• Jack Conklin, OT, Browns (1 game started before season-ending knee injury)

Jack Conklin is the most recent Spartan to go in the first round of the NFL draft, being a first-rounder for the Tennessee Titans in 2016. He started 38 of his 39 career games as a Spartan after joining the program as a preferred walk-on. By his redshirt freshman season, he was a scholarship starter who won the Rose Bowl. In his final season, his junior year, Conklin was an All-American.

At his next stop in the pros, Conklin was a first-team All-Pro his first season and has been viewed as one of the better right tackles in the league for both Tennessee and now Cleveland. Then, in his first season as a Brown, Conklin was again a first-team All-Pro. This season, Conklin suffered an injury in the first game of the season and his season was over before it started. His Browns did make the playoffs, though. Conklin does have a chance for his first ring.

• Andrew Dowell, LB, Saints (Missed entire season with ACL tear in August)

Andrew Dowell played in 51 games as a Spartan, starting 34 contests. He started most games alongside his brother David in college, and then Andrew blossomed as a pro with the Saints. Dowell scrapped for his spot after going undrafted in 2019 and had played in each game for New Orleans in 2021 and 2022. He looked to be in a good position to do the same this season before tearing his ACL in early August and his season ended in preseason camp.

Spartan in the NFL contributors

• Naquan Jones, DL, Titans/Cardinals (17 tackles, 3 solo)

Naquan Jones was a veteran with the Spartans, playing in 46 games and starting five games. HE predominantly started during the COVID-shortened season, but ended up going undrafted in 2021. He was picked up by the Tennessee Titans and made his debut in Week 4 of 2021. Jones bounced between the active roster and the practice squad of the Titans for the next few years but was released in November. He signed with the Cardinals a few days later and was promoted to the active roster for the last month of the season.

• Joe Bachie, LB, Cincinnati Bengals (3 tackles in 16 games played)

Joe Bachie started 34 of his 40 games for the Michigan State Spartans and was a force at middle linebacker during his time. However, due to a suspension for alleged PED usage, Bachie missed the final four games of his senior year. As a result, he faced quite a few uncomfortable questions at the NFL Combine and went undrafted in 2020. Bachie landed with the Saints before being signed for his NFL debut with the Eagles and then signed with Cincinnati that offseason. Bachie has had a few injuries during his NFL career, and it has kept him off the field and made him a player who is mostly seen on special teams. This has been the least productive season of his career since his rookie season thus far. However, it was the first time he played in more than 10 games in a season.

• Ameer Speed, CB, Patriots/Colts (9 tackles, 8 solo in 13 games played)

Ameer Speed was one of the shocks of the draft when he was selected by New England in the sixth round of 2022. The former Georgia transfer played one season for the Spartans, starting 11 of their 12 games. In part due to a flashy 40-time at Georgia’s Pro Day, Speed was a late riser and Bill Belichick saw value in the corner. After making the original 53-man roster out of training camp, Speed was cut midseason and landed with the Colts after they claimed him on waivers. Speed played in 13 games this season, and it was a longer career than most Spartan fans thought he would have after just a season with Michigan State. Hopefully Speed can translate his athleticism in the years to come to be a solid contributor.

• Brian Allen, C, Rams (5 games played)

Brian Allen is the younger brother of former Spartan All-American Jack Allen. The younger was a multi-year starter at multiple line positions for the Spartans. Originally, he started at guard while Jack Allen held down the center position, but then Brian would be the one to snap the ball after Jack Allen went to the pros. While the elder Allen had a more successful collegiate career, little brother Brian has had a better career in the pros.

Allen was drafted in the fourth round of 2018 NFL Draft and would go on to play in 13 games as a backup his rookie year, where the Rams went to the Super Bowl. He was named the starting center the next season and would remain so for the whole season. Allen missed all of 2020 and had the misfortune to be the first NFL player to test positive for COVID-19. He returned in 2021 and was the starter for the Rams when they won the Super Bowl. Following an injury in 2022, this last season saw Allen lose his starting gig and be relegated to backup. His five games this season are the least besides when he missed all of 2020. He returned home to play the Lions in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, losing 24-23.

• Josiah Scott, CB, Eagles (2 tackles in 4 games)

Josiah Scott is one of the very few Spartans to start in every single MSU game he appeared in, as he went 30-for-30. He stood out from his very first set of spring practices in the green and white. Scott was one of the best Spartan defenders his whole career, and it paid off with him being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by Jacksonville. I believe that Scott would have been selected much higher if it had not been for him being undersized.

Scott lasted one season in Jacksonville before he was traded away as part of the Urban Meyer takeover. Scott landed with the Eagles and recorded his first two career interceptions in 2022. The corner’s Eagles fell just short in the Super Bowl, and then with the increased depth in the defensive back room, Scott was let go during fall cuts. He wound up as a practice squad member with the Steelers for a brief time this year and then was signed right back to the Eagles’ active roster a month later. Scott was then demoted back to the practice squad, where has not played much as a call-up.

• Ben VanSumeren, LB, Eagles (13 tackles in 9 games, 1 game started)

Ben VanSumeren had one of the more unique career paths of the players on this list. Originally, VanSumeren played for the Spartans’ in-state rival Michigan Wolverines. He transferred to MSU to play with his younger brother Alex, who was an MSU pledge at the time and started 11 games over two years with MSU. In his final season, Ben started 10 games and showed a lot of raw athletic ability to get to the backfield in a hurry. He proved this on pro day last year, putting on a show and going from a player who was a borderline camp invite to a trending late-round flyer.

Unfortunately for VanSumeren, he would not receive the call to be a draft pick, but he was picked up by the Eagles a few hours after the seventh round ended. He would make the practice squad out of camp, was called up mid-season, and recorded his first career start on Christmas this season, too.

• Brian Hoyer, QB, Raiders (23-for-42, 231 yards, 2 INTs, 1 start)

Brian Hoyer is the oldest player on this list, as he was Mark Dantonio’s first starting Spartan quarterback in 2007. He started his final 27 games at Michigan State but went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft. He did not let that deter him, as Hoyer has started games with eight separate teams during his time in the league. That accounts for the second most in NFL history, behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Hoyer’s highlights in the NFL include being a starting playoff quarterback for the Texans and winning a Super Bowl as a backup with the New England Patriots. He was called into service this season after the Raiders struggled with a Jimmy Garoppolo injury. The former Spartan struggled in his only start, leading to Aidan O’Connell getting the nod the next week and once Garoppolo was benched again. Hoyer’s 231 yards this season are the most for him since 2019.

• William Gholston, DE, Buccaneers (19 tackles, 10 solo, 1 interception, 2 passes defensed, 1 start)

William Gholston is another Spartan who was drafted into the NFL and has parlayed it into a long career. Gholston started 24 of his 36 games for the Spartans. Renowned for his No. 2 on the defensive line, Gholston was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2011 and then the Defensive MVP of his final career game against TCU in 2012.

He was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft after declaring early and has remained with the Buccaneers since. He was a part of the Buccaneers’ organization that won a Super Bowl ring a few seasons ago and has put up 19.5 sacks during his time in the NFC South, Gholston played in 16 of the 17 games, starting one. While he was held out of the sack column this year, he is the only Spartan to record an interception in the NFL this season. He will be heading home to play the Lions on Sunday.

• Connor Heyward, TE/FB, Steelers (23 catches for 167 yards, 3 tackles, 7 starts)

Connor Heyward also had a unique career path to the NFL. Heyward was the little brother of current teammate and former Ohio State star Cam Heyward but was passed over by the Buckeyes. He went to the Spartans as a running back and started 15 games at running back from 2018-2020. Heyward entered the portal after 2019 when Mark Dantonio left, but Mel Tucker brought him back. After one last season at RB, the Spartan staff decided to try Heyward at tight end. For many Spartan fans, this was a “finally!” moment.

Heyward had the hands and the footwork to be an excellent tight end, and he started all 13 games for the Spartans in 2021. He impressed enough to be a sixth-round draft selection by the Steelers in 2022. After recording his first touchdown as a rookie, Heyward put up solid numbers again this season. He started the first seven games of his career. Despite the listing as a fullback, he has yet to carry the ball this season. Heyward’s Steelers lost to the Bills in the Wild Card Round on Monday.

Spartan stars

• Jayden Reed, WR, Packers (64 catches, 793 yards, 8 TDs; 11 carries, 119 yards, 2 TDs, 11 punt returns for 94 yards)

Jayden Reed starts off the star category, and I do not believe it is too early to put the rookie here. Reed was originally a Western Michigan Freshman All-American receiver and transferred to Michigan State following that freshman season. He sat out 2019 before starting all 31 of his games in green and white. Reed sits in the top 15 of all Spartan receiving records and was named a first-team All-American in 2021 as an all-purpose player. He came back for a senior season, where a freak injury and a downturn in the Spartan offense led to a trail-off. He then declared for the draft and impressed at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. This had him rocketing from a projected fourth-round selection to pick no. 50.

All Reed did his rookie year was put up nearly 800 yards, rank in the top 10 in the NFL for receiving touchdowns, run for another two touchdowns, set the franchise record for receptions, and become the first Packers’ rookie to lead the team in receiving yards since Sterling Sharpe in 1988. Not a bad debut season for Reed, not at all.

• Bryce Baringer, P, Patriots (98 punts for 4598 yards, 38 touchbacks, 46.9 yards per punt, 1 tackle)

Bryce Baringer was a Spartan who took an unlikely path to the NFL and has shined in his first season. After transferring, being cut from the Spartans twice, and entering the portal again, Baringer became entrenched as a starter for his last few seasons as a Spartan. He ended with the school record for punting average and was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. As the Patriots’ offense was awful this season, Baringer had the second most punts in the NFL and the most touchbacks. He missed out on the Pro Bowl despite leading the mid-season votes. He only ranked 20th this season in punting average, but if this is anything like his collegiate career, he will add a yard or two to it each season. The Pats got a good one.

• Taybor Pepper, LS, 49ers (Starting long-snapper for all 17 games)

Taybor Pepper is the other Spartan specialist on this list. The former Spartan played in 54 games for the Spartans, including multiple Big Ten title games, multiple Cotton Bowls, and a Rose Bowl. Despite all the success of his teams, as well as being rated the No. 4 long snapper in his draft class, Pepper went undrafted and struggled to catch on to a team. He got his first shot with the Packers and started his first full season with the Dolphins. He has latched on to San Francisco and is one of the fan favorites of the 49ers faithful. Just like Baringer, Pepper was snubbed from the Pro Bowl despite leading the long-snapping vote-getters mid-year. Pepper’s 49ers were on a bye last week as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

• Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seahawks (219 carries for 905 yards, 8 touchdowns; 29 catches for 259 yards, 1 touchdown)

Kenneth Walker III was a generational running back for Michigan State. He was the force behind the Peach Bowl-winning Spartans in 2021, starting all 12 of his games in his only season. From his first carry being a 75-yard touchdown to a five-touchdown performance to beat Michigan, Walker carried the Spartans to success.

Because of the value in running backs tanking, Walker was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Seattle. After a few injuries, Walker took the starting role and never looked back, hitting the 1,000-yard rushing mark as a rookie. All of this came with Walker only playing in 15 games. Walker again played in 15 games this season, missing two with an injury late in the season. He just missed out on 1,000 yards but did record his first career receiving touchdown. The Seahawks just missed out on playoffs this season but will look to rebound in 2024 under a new head coach. Whoever coaches the Seahawks next has their RB1.

The Spartans have six players on active rosters vying for the Super Bowl at the start of the playoffs. Add in Conklin (on injured reserve), and practice squad members Scott, Arcuri, Butler, and Jarvis, and the number swells to 11 players looking for a ring. For all except Brian Hoyer, it would be their first one.