After years of limited production, Michigan State’s running game bottomed out in 2020.
The Spartans ranked 122nd out of 127 teams in the nation at only 91.4 yards per game on the ground and had zero rushing touchdowns from their running backs. Even coach Mel Tucker called the rushing attack “putrid.”
Fixing it was a priority and Tucker turned to the transfer portal. The timing was ideal as the NCAA approved a one-time transfer waiver ahead of the 2021 season and that allowed Kenneth Walker III to be immediately eligible. The Wake Forest transfer exceeded high expectations as he posted 263 carries for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns while being named the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Doak Walker Award winner as the nation’s top running back.
Illinois tight end transfer Daniel Barker commits to Michigan State
Walker declared for the NFL draft and opted out of the Peach Bowl. Michigan State’s 31-21 win against Pittsburgh in Atlanta provided a glimpse of life after Walker as its running backs were limited to 46 yards on 24 carries by one of the nation’s top run defenses.
Although it will be nearly impossible to replicate Walker’s production, Tucker is once again turning to the portal for a boost at running back. Michigan State in December signed Wisconsin’s Jalen Berger, who joined the program earlier this month, and Colorado’s Jarek Broussard announced his commitment to the Spartans on Sunday.
The addition of the two transfers makes for a crowded room under new running backs coach Effrem Reed. Barring attrition, Michigan State is on track to have seven scholarship running backs heading into the 2022 season. Spring practice will be the next chance to see how the position shakes out and here’s a breakdown as of right now:
RETURNERS:
Elijah Collins
6-foot-1, 225 pounds
Redshirt junior
Collins took a redshirt while appearing in only three games as a true freshman and then had a breakout 2019 season. He took over the starting spot in the second game and finished with 222 carries for 988 yards and five touchdowns. Although Collins appeared to be a lock to remain the starter in 2020, he struggled after a battle with COVID-19 and was limited to 41 carries for 90 yards in a reserve role.
After a full offseason strength and conditioning program and spring practice, Collins believed he was back to his old self. However, he and the rest of the backs were behind Walker on the depth chart. Collins didn’t get a carry in the season-opening win at Northwestern and had three rushes for 32 yards and a 20-yard touchdown catch in his lone series the following week as the Spartans routed Youngstown State. He suffered an apparent leg injury on the score, missed the next five games and finished the season with 18 carries for 102 yards and three catches for 34 yards.
Collins had 15 yards on a season-high six carries in the Peach Bowl. He has been at Michigan State for four seasons, has experience adjusting to staff and personnel changes and will be challenged attempting to regain a featured role in the backfield.
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Jordon Simmons
5-11, 195 pounds
Sophomore
A former three-star recruit from Georgia, Simmons was committed to Michigan State under Mark Dantonio, delayed signing after the former coach retired and sent in his national letter of intent the morning after Tucker was hired. Despite arriving amid pandemic challenges, Simmons posted a team-high 219 rushing yards on 56 carries in five games with one start while missing two games due to injury as a true freshman.
As a sophomore, Simmons finished second among Michigan State running backs in carries (70) and rushing yards (278) and had seven catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. He posted career highs with 16 carries for 121 yards against Youngstown State and had 16 carries for 23 yards while starting the Peach Bowl.
Simmons has 126 career carries but is still looking for his first rushing touchdown with the Spartans. After being the primary backup behind Walker this season, there are new additions to compete with.
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Harold Joiner
6-4, 215 pounds
Redshirt junior
Joiner, a former four-star recruit from Alabama, had 15 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns and six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown in 17 games over three seasons at Auburn before transferring to Michigan State last year. He had 13 rushes for 43 yards and five catches for 35 yards this season while also frequently serving as the third down back in pass protection.
As the tallest running back on the roster, Joiner has the height to be used differently than others on offense and be a threat in the passing game.
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Donovan Eaglin
5-11, 235 pounds
Redshirt freshman
Eaglin picked up an offer from Michigan State late in the 2020 recruiting cycle, committed and signed a day after Dantonio retired and before Tucker was hired. The three-star prospect from Texas didn’t play while taking a redshirt as a true freshman and was primarily a special teams player this season. Eaglin’s six carries for 33 yards all came against Youngstown State. His size makes him an option in short-yardage situations and he’s capable of breaking long runs.
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Davion Primm
6-0, 195 pounds
Freshman
Primm, a three-star prospect from Oak Park High School, was the lone running back in Tucker’s first recruiting class at Michigan State. He didn’t play while taking a redshirt as a true freshman and we haven’t seen what he’s capable of doing at the college level.
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SIGNED TRANSFER:
Jalen Berger
6-1, 205 pounds
Redshirt freshman
Berger, a former four-star recruit from New Jersey, led Wisconsin in rushing as a true freshman in 2020 with 301 yards and two touchdowns on 60 carries in four games. He had 24 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown in three games this season before being dismissed from the team in October. The Wisconsin State Journal reported Berger “didn’t react well” to the Badgers bringing in transfer running back Chez Mellusi from Clemson and missed meetings and workouts.
Berger committed to Michigan State in November, signed in December and enrolled earlier this month. Although he appeared in only seven games at Wisconsin, Berger showed flashes of his talent and could take over a lead role for the Spartans.
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COMMITTED TRANSFER:
Jarek Broussard
5-9, 185 pounds
Redshirt sophomore
Broussard didn’t appear in a game over his first two seasons at Colorado, including in 2019 when Tucker was the head coach. After two ACL surgeries, the former three-star recruit from Texas rebounded to post 156 carries for 895 yards and five touchdowns in six games in 2020 while being named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. He followed with 142 rushes for 661 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games this season.
Broussard entered the portal on Jan. 13 and committed to Michigan State on Sunday, following a visit to East Lansing. He’s quick, shifty and has a proven track record picking up yards after contact. Broussard’s commitment represents a significant pickup for the Spartans but won’t be official until he enrolls.
Related Michigan State football stories:
Colorado running back transfer Jarek Broussard commits to Michigan State
Michigan State football’s midyear additions and their outlook for 2022 season
Big Ten could eliminate football divisions, reduce number of conference games
Michigan State OL coach Chris Kapilovic gets extension, raise to $1 million a year
Michigan State true freshmen recap: Six play, five enter transfer portal
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Transfer additions create crowded Michigan State backfield - MLive.com
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