What Michigan State Football Snaps Counts Vs. Notre Dame Reveal

On Saturday, Michigan State football traveled down to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. The Spartans came up short, losing 27-10 as the Irish pulled away in the second half. It offered an early opportunity to assess the Spartan travel roster, as only 80 players were allowed to come with the team this week.

The Spartans used more packages on offense this week, and it was their first competition against harder opponents to see how snaps broke down. Here was the breakdown.

Michigan State Football Offensive Snaps, Week Three at Notre Dame

(Note: Snaps and percentages are out of 45 total. Starters are in bold.)

• C Trent Fraley: 45 (100%)
• IOL Conner Moore: 45 (100%)
• QB Alessio Milivojevic: 40 (89%)
• WR Fredrick Moore: 37 (82%)
• OT Rakeem Johnson: 35 (78%)
• WR Rod Bullard Jr.: 35 (78%)
• OT Ben Murawski: 35 (78%)
• TE Jayden Savoury: 31 (69%)
• WR Chrishon McCray: 27 (60%)
• RB Cam Edwards: 26 (58%)
• IOL Nick Sharpe: 24 (53%)
• IOL Luka Vincic: 21 (47%)
• OT Robert Wright Jr.: 20 (44%)
• TE Brennan Parachek: 20 (44%)
• HB Marvis Parrish: 14 (31%)
• WR Bryson Williams: 10 (22%)
• TE Kai Rios: 7 (15.5%)
• QB Cam Fancher: 6 (13%)
• TE/OL Antonio Johnson: 5 (11%)
• RB Jaziun Patterson: 5 (11%)
• RB Kenneth Williams: 4 (9%)
• WR Charles Taplin II: 2 (4%)
• WR Braylon Collier: 1 (2%)

The Spartans had a new look with the dual quarterback package during the contest. The receiver room saw some action, as Collier and Taplin II each played over KK Smith and Samson Gash.

Patterson saw his playing time decrease, and Brandon Tullis did not see the field on offense. Antonio Johnson continues his role as the jumbo tight end, and his snaps had noticeable pushes running the ball. Vincic saw an increased role during the game.

Kenneth Williams had a few more looks than normal, but a drop in the end zone might damper his role on the offense. Jayden Savoury saw a significantly higher number of snaps than Brennan Parachek, which is something to monitor in the upcoming schedule.

Defensive Snaps, Week Three at Notre Dame

(Note: Snaps and percentages are out of 68 total. Starters are in bold.)

• CB Tre Bell: 69 (100%)
• LB Jordan Hall: 68 (98.5%)
• S Nikai Martinez: 68 (98.5%)
• S Devin Vaught: 66 (96%)
• EDGE Kenny Soares: 53 (77%)
• CB Tyran Chappell: 50 (72%)
• DT Eli Coenen: 49 (71%)
• DT Ben Roberts: 41 (59%)
• LB Dion Crawford: 30 (43.5%)
• DB Michael Richard: 29 (42%)
• LB Brady Pretzlaff: 28 (40.5%)
• DE Keanhist Thompson: 28 (40.5%)
• DT Trey Lisle: 26 (38%)
• CB Chuck Brantley: 25 (36%)
• DL Derrick Simmons: 23 (33%)
• EDGE Anelu Lafaele: 22 (32%)
• LB Caleb Wheatland: 21 (30%)
• DT Mikeshun Beeler: 19 (27.5%)
• LB Cam Stodghill: 16 (23%)
• DE Isaac Smith: 15 (22%)
• DB NiJhay Burt: 7 (10%)
• LB DiMari Malone: 1 (1%)
• *DB Evan Young: 1 (1%)
• *DL Cal Thrush: 1 (1%)
• *CB Keshawn Williams: 1 (1%)
• *DL Jaxson Wilson: 1 (1%)
• *WR Chrishon McCray: 1 (1%)

The five starred players at the end get credit for a defensive snap due to a Notre Dame fake punt. Malone made his first defensive play late in the contest after a Cam Stodghill injury. Trey Lisle jumped up from three snaps last week, with the defensive tackle getting more run after Mikeshun Beeler’s 27 snaps against Eastern Michigan did not provide the value expected.

Lisle deserves credit, as he quietly impressed and forced two pressures against the Notre Dame unit.

Burt, after splitting time with Michael Richard against EMU, rotationally subbed in. Brantley came into the game for a few plays, but rode the bench until a Chappell injury brought him back to finish the game. Stodghill and Hall each had their own injuries that held them out for a play.

The scariest defensive injury is to Brady Pretzlaff, who was seen wobbling and unable to stand on field during the second quarter. The third-year player saw as much run as Jordan Hall and was set to be a force, and now the Michigander’s status is up in the air.

Last week, the Spartans started Dion Crawford with Hall out. That is likely the case if No. 45 is unable to suit up against Nebraska.