NFL
By: Brock Vierra
After another disappointing season, I sat down with Michigan State insider and staff writer for Spartans Rivals Brendan Moore to discuss the current state of the MSU football program. With Mel Tucker, his off-field issues, and his massive contract being a thing of the past, brighter days are hopefully ahead for Sparty. I spoke with Brendan earlier this year regarding the Mel Tucker scandal so we at Team NBS Media are grateful he was generous enough to lend us a moment of his time once again.
Let’s start Michigan State football
Vierra: Good afternoon Brendan. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate Michigan State’s season?
Moore: 3/10
Vierra: What is your reasoning behind your evaluation?
Moore: Coming in, the expectation was a bowl game and hopefully a winning record. Nobody expected Mel Tucker to be fired midseason due to an off-the-field scandal but the Spartans may have won in the long run because of it. Because MSU got out of Tucker’s massive contract, there were some positives from this season.
Vierra: Do you think the Mel Tucker situation was properly handled from a football perspective and did you feel that Mike Dantonio’s seemingly hands-off approach was the right move to make after Tucker was let go?
Moore: I do feel that the Tucker situation was handled properly. I think Mark Dantonio’s approach was the right move. He kept a watchful eye over the program while also acting like a calm voice in the room.
Vierra: What are your thoughts on the Jonathan Smith hire?
Moore: Jonathan Smith was as close to a perfect hire as Michigan State could have made. Smith has plenty of proven Power Five experience and that was something AD Alan Haller was looking for in a candidate. Smith is the right fit as well and he should be successful in East Lansing.
Vierra: Do you believe Michigan State is in position to succeed in the new Big 10?
Moore: Michigan State has the potential to be one of the better Big Ten programs. With the resources that MSU has, they can certainly contend for the 12-team playoff here and there. It will be difficult for the Spartans to win the Big Ten on a consistent basis but they don’t need to in order for them to make the playoff.
Vierra: Why hasn’t the Spartans been able to replicate the success of 2021?
Moore: Mel Tucker built a team, not a program. He relied on the transfer portal to his own demise. In 2021, the transfers mostly panned out, especially Kenneth Walker III. In 2022, the transfers did not mesh as well and they didn’t land one of the top players in the country like they did last season.
Vierra: Your QB shelf is bare. How should Smith and his coaching staff address it?
Moore: Aidan Chiles, Aidan Chiles and Aidan Chiles. There is an extremely high chance that he will be the starter next fall. Smith will land a few high school recruits and might even get a quarterback out of the transfer portal, but Chiles is the answer at quarterback for Michigan State.
Vierra: Is Michigan State in play for Dante Moore?
Moore: No, Dante Moore is not a target for Michigan State.
Vierra: What transfer have you liked so far?
Moore: Aidan Chiles has the potential to be the best Michigan State quarterback in a long time. If he pans out and plays up to his potential, he could be the best portal acquisition MSU has had since Walker.
Vierra: Who would you like to see MSU target in the portal?
Moore: Offensive lineman need to be a priority in the transfer portal for Smith. That was a weakness for Michigan State as of late. If Smith can land a couple of quality portal offensive linemen, that would be huge for the 2024 team.
Vierra: What are your expectations in 2024?
Moore: It’s hard to give my expectations for Smith’s first year because I have no idea what the roster will look like with the transfer portal. Right now, I would say the goal should be to make a bowl game. The schedule doesn’t seem too difficult right now, but again, it’s hard to determine right now given the roster turnover that still will occur.
Vierra: Will Michigan State go bowling in 2024?
Moore: If I had to answer right now, I would say yes, Michigan State will go bowling. However, it’s so hard to project this far out because who knows what the roster will look like.
Only time will tell if Jonathan Smith is the right man for the job but if he is, he may already have the program changing QB in East Lancing. I want to once again thank Brendan for his time, check out his work at Spartans Illustrated and Sidelines Sports Network. He is on X @bmoorecfb and is a fantastic source for all things college football. This interview is part of a continued series. Check out more college football interviews at TeamNBSMedia.com
