Vanessa: If Leo Hannan’s arm is truly this cold, do you wait for it to thaw, or do you hand the keys to Kayd Coffman right now? Because after that UCLA loss, the answer might be staring us in the face. Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we don’t just watch the game—we break down every snap. I’m Vanessa, and I’ve got Nick with me as always.
Nick: Hey everyone. It’s a tough week in East Lansing. The Spartans are sitting at 2-6, 16th in the Big Ten, and they have a trip to Ann Arbor on November 8th against Michigan. But before we get there, we’re looking at who is actually winning the battles on this roster today.
Vanessa: That’s right. Here is what we’re covering. First, the quarterback situation—is Coffman ready to take over? Second, the offensive line depth chart and whether Cole Bertke can hold up against a Michigan defensive front. And third, our roster cut predictions—who is trending up and who might be seeing their playing time vanish by mid-November?
Nick: We’ve got a lot to unpack. Let’s dive into Segment One: The Quarterback Battle.
Vanessa: Okay, Nick. We talked about this yesterday. After Saturday’s 28-10 loss to UCLA, Leo Hannan was 9-of-15 for 67 yards and threw an interception. That’s not a full game stat, but it’s enough to make people nervous. Meanwhile, Kayd Coffman has been waiting in the wings. Do you think the coaching staff makes the switch for the Michigan game?
Nick: I think it’s inevitable. Look, Hannan isn’t terrible—he completed six passes—but when you’re facing a defense like UCLA’s, which had Sammy Omosigho for 2.5 sacks and Jalen Woods with 9 tackles, you need more mobility and a stronger arm to extend plays. Hannan was pinned back. Coffman offers that dual-threat element. If I were the coordinator, I’d start Coffman against Michigan to keep the defense off-balance.
Vanessa: But here’s the thing—Coffman hasn’t seen significant live reps in a while. You see names like Peyton Babbitt and Cam Fancher on the roster too. Is it really just Hannan vs. Coffman? Or is there a deeper competition happening in practice?
Nick: It’s mostly Hannan and Coffman. Babbitt and Fancher are developmental guys right now. Alessio Milivojevic is there too, but he’s a backup to the backups. The reality is, if Hannan doesn’t show efficiency soon, Coffman takes the snaps. And honestly? Given the record, the coaches need a spark. Hannan gave them one touchdown pass against UCLA, but also an INT. It’s risky.
Vanessa: Right. And if they go with Coffman, how does that change the rushing attack? Kenneth Williams had 17 carries for 54 yards against UCLA. That’s decent, but not explosive. Does Coffman help open up lanes for Williams or maybe Jace Clarizio?
Nick: Absolutely. When a quarterback is a threat to run, linebackers hesitate. That hesitation creates gaps. Williams ran behind solid blocks, but Michigan’s front seven is elite. If Coffman draws a linebacker into the box, you give Williams a clearer path. Plus, you can use play-action more effectively. Hannan wasn’t much of a play-action threat because his arm velocity was limited. Coffman changes the geometry of the field.
Vanessa: So, my prediction holds: Coffman starts. But Nick, you predicted last week that Michigan State would lose close to Michigan. If Coffman comes in and struggles early, do you panic? Or do you stick with him?
Nick: You stick with him unless he throws two interceptions in the first quarter. You need continuity. The offense is already struggling; switching quarterbacks mid-game is a recipe for disaster. Let him ride the wave. If he connects with Chrishon McCray—who had 42 receiving yards against UCLA—even if it’s short, it builds rhythm. We’ll see.
Vanessa: Alright, let’s move on. Segment Two: The Offensive Line and Receiver Depth. This is where the rubber meets the road for these next few games.
Vanessa: The offensive line is always a battle. We have Eli Bickel, Cole Bertke, Collin Campbell, Tristan Comer, Andrew Dennis, Trent Fraley, Antonio Johnson, Rakeem Johnson, Conner Moore, Ben Murawski, Drew Nichols, and Nick Sharpe. That’s a lot of bodies. Who is currently winning the starting spots?
Nick: It’s messy. Against UCLA, they got pushed around. Sam Omosigho had 2.5 sacks. That suggests interior pressure was an issue. I’d guess Eli Bickel and Cole Bertke are anchoring the center, but the tackle spots are fluid. Antonio Johnson and Nick Sharpe are battling for outside roles. The key is keeping Leo Hannan upright. He only played part of the game, so we didn’t see the full extent of the protection breakdowns.
Vanessa: And then there’s the receiver corps. You’ve got Rodney Bullard Jr., Colin Charles, Braylon Collier, Jameel Gardner Jr., Samson Gash, Nick Hardy, Fredrick Moore, and Chrishon McCray. Who is the number one option right now?
Nick: Chrishon McCray seems to be emerging. He had three catches for 42 yards against UCLA. That’s not huge, but it’s consistent. Nick Hardy and Colin Charles are speed threats, but they haven’t been targeted as heavily. If the quarterback changes to Coffman, I expect the target share to spread out a bit more. But McCray is the safety valve right now.
Vanessa: What about the tight ends? Charlie Baker, Joe Caudill, Carson Gulker, Ethan Melville, Brennan Parachek, Kai Rios, and Jayden Savoury. Are they being utilized enough?
Nick: They’re underutilized. In modern Big Ten football, you need your TEs in the slot to create mismatches. Joe Caudill and Kai Rios are physical runners, but they weren’t involved in the scoring drive against UCLA. The only TE mention was in the lineup, not in the stats. That needs to change. If Coffman is mobile, he can hit the backside of the field with a TE. Right now, the passing game is too one-dimensional.
Vanessa: So, if the linemen aren’t holding up and the TEs aren’t getting touches, the skill players are carrying a heavy load. Kenneth Williams with 54 yards, Chrishon McCray with 42. That’s it? It feels like the offense is stalled out.
Nick: It is stalled. And that’s why the roster battles matter so much. Every player on that depth chart needs to step up. If the O-line can’t protect, the QB gets hurt. If the QB gets hurt, the season is over. It’s a chain reaction. We need to see better blocking from those OL guys and more production from the WRs beyond McCray.
Vanessa: Before we get to our final segment, I want to take a quick second to talk about the show. We work hard every day to bring you these deep dives, roster breakdowns, and honest takes on Michigan State football. If you value this content and want to help keep the Beatline free for all fans, please consider supporting us. You can find the link in the episode description. Your contribution helps us keep the lights on and the analysis coming. Thanks for listening.
Vanessa: Welcome back. Segment Three: Roster Cut Predictions and Trending Players. We’re heading into a critical stretch. Who is going to make the final roster, and who is on the bubble?
Vanessa: Let’s start with the running backs. Kenneth Williams, Jace Clarizio, Cam Edwards, Zion Gist, Darrin Jones Jr., Jaxon McCaig, Marvis Parrish, and Jaziun Patterson. Who is safe?
Nick: Kenneth Williams is safe. He’s the workhorse. Even if he only had 54 yards, he got the touches. Jace Clarizio is next in line. The others—Edwards, Gist, Jones, McCaig, Parrish, Patterson—are likely special teams contributors or practice squad candidates. They’re not going to see many snaps unless there’s an injury crisis.
Vanessa: What about the wide receivers? Who is trending up? Who is trending down?
Nick: Chrishon McCray is trending up. He’s reliable. Nick Hardy is trending down—he’s fast, but he’s not catching the ball consistently. Braylon Collier and Colin Charles are also on the bubble. If the coaching staff wants more vertical threat, they might look at Collier. But for now, McCray is the guy.
Vanessa: And the offensive line? Who is making the cut?
Nick: Eli Bickel, Cole Bertke, Collin Campbell, and Antonio Johnson. Those four are likely starters or primary backups. The rest—Tristan Comer, Andrew Dennis, Trent Fraley, Rakeem Johnson, Conner Moore, Ben Murawski, Drew Nichols, Nick Sharpe—are fighting for depth spots. It’s going to be a brutal competition in practice.
Vanessa: So, to wrap up: Coffman starts at QB. The O-line needs to improve protection. McCray is the top WR. And the RB room is thin. What’s your final prediction for the Michigan game?
Nick: I still stand by my previous prediction: Michigan State will lose to the Michigan Wolverines in a close game. Maybe 24-20. Coffman will throw for 200 yards and one TD, but Michigan’s defense will be too much. It’s a tough spot for the Spartans.
Vanessa: Tough call, Nick. But we appreciate the honesty. Fans, if you enjoyed this breakdown of the Spartans’ roster battles, please subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network on your favorite platform. Share this episode with a fellow Spartan fan. Go Green!