Michigan State football’s young wide receivers answer doubts with big-play production

EAST LANSING – Michigan State’s offense needed something, anything. In a hurry.

Enter Jaron Glover and his other second-year roommates to jumpstart the stagnant Spartans.

Glover streaked down the sideline for a pair of long receptions from new quarterback Noah Kim to set up MSU’s first touchdown just before halftime. Then in the second half, Antonio Gates Jr. contributed without making a catch. And Tyrell Henry made a ‘how’d-he-do-that’ one-handed grab for his first collegiate touchdown to help seal MSU’s 31-7 season-opening win over Central Michigan.

“The bond is everything,” said Glover, whose three catches for a game-high 75 yards all came on the Spartans’ penultimate drive of the first half. “Me, Gates and ‘rell, we all live with each other, so we stay around each other every day and we talk about everything. Me and Tyrell have been talking about this for countless nights, and we executed tonight.”

Michigan State’s Tyrell Henry, left, celebrates his touchdown against Central Michigan Jaron Glover during the fourth quarter on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

While there were some questions about how MSU would replace the production lost from a year ago at wide receiver – Jayden Reed is now in the NFL, Keon Coleman transferred to Florida State and Germie Bernard left for Washington – there never was a shortage of talent behind those who departed.

The answers, though, proved to already be in place on the roster.

“I think that pushed us to work harder,” Henry said. “Because when you know that it’s there, you want to go get that.”

Glover flashed the ability to get free downfield and make the type of explosive plays Mel Tucker and Jay Johnson need after losing their top targets from a year ago. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt freshman hauled in a critical third-and-3…

..

Read More

You might like