Michigan State Running Backs: One Thing I Like, One Thing I Don't
College football season is approaching fast, as we're just two weeks away from Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis and roughly a month from the start of fall camps around the country.
Michigan State's roster appears to be set for the 2023 season, and that makes this the perfect time to take a look at every position group on the team. In this exercise, I'll point out one thing I like, one thing I don't and one thing to watch.
Up next, we take a look at a position the Spartans will look for more production than a year ago: Running Back
One Thing I Like
Michigan State is going to have versatility in its backfield this fall. The Spartans added a pair of transfer tailbacks over the offseason in Nathan Carter (UConn) and Jaren Mangham (South Florida). They join Jalen Berger, who transferred to MSU from Wisconsin ahead of the 2022 season.
Carter can be used in space in the passing game, but also is a guy who can run between the tackles. Berger, with his size and durability, can handle a heavy workload and has a good mix of power and enough speed. Mangham looks like a prototypical short-yardage back, and should help MSU improve on third-and-shorts this season.
All three guys bring something unique to the table, and each have a lot of experience at the collegiate level.
One Thing I Don't
Both Carter and Mangham are coming off of injuries in 2022, which is a concern. Carter suffered a separated shoulder in UConn's loss to Michigan last season, and had season-ending surgery as a result. Mangham, meanwhile, dealt with an ankle injury that caused him to miss the majority of the 2022 season as well.
Michigan State has some depth at the running back position, but Carter and Mangham will be leaned on to take some of the load off of Berger this season. Running backs get hit countless times throughout a season, and it can be a position that suffers attrition. We'll have to see how that plays out in 2023.
One Thing To Watch
The Spartans have a unique situation in their backfield, as the three guys who are expected to be the biggest contributors have each transferred from other programs. The same can be said for 2021, when Kenneth Walker III took the college football world by storm after transferring in from Wake Forest.
Things worked out great for MSU with Walker, but the Spartans got mixed results at best last season with Berger and Colorado transfer Jarek Broussard. Eventually, Michigan State is going to have to build up its backfield with home-grown talent, and that's what running backs coach Effrem Reed has been working on in the 2024 recruiting cycle. The Spartans have already landed a commitment from four-star tailback Anthony Carrie, and are in the mix for four-star back Jason Brown as well.
In Case You Missed It
This article is part of a series examining every position group on Michigan State's 2023 roster. You can find the other position groups that Spartan Nation has already covered here: (Quarterback)
