Michigan State Football: Weekly Press Conference

EAST LANSING — Michigan State is set to kickoff another season of football against Tulsa on Friday at 7 p.m. in Spartan Stadium.

The Spartans are 11-1 in season openers (20 consecutive) with Mark Dantonio at the helm. MSU’s 20 straight wins during week one is tied for the fifth longest active streak in the country, but as usual Dantonio has a game by game approach.

“I’m going to say what Coach Perles has always said: They all count one,” said Dantonio. “1-0 is 1-0 any way you cut it. We’re going to make sure we do what we got to do to win a football game.”

Friday’s game will be the first ever meeting between the Spartans and Tulsa.

They are led by fifth year head coach Philip Montgomery, who boasts a 21-29 record in four seasons at Tulsa — which include back-to-back bowl appearances in 2015 and 2016. Prior to his arrival in Tulsa he was the offensive coordinator for Baylor from 2008-14 — an offense the Spartans are familiar with.

“2014 has been some time. They’re going to be tempo offense. They’re going to line up there. They may be running again 10 and 15 seconds a play at times,” said Dantonio. “You got to be prepared for that, which we have prepared for that very hard. We played teams like that throughout.”

As of now the depth chart has been released and based off of what Dantonio gave to the media today, barring any injuries, it will stay the same for kickoff.

Depth Chart Takeaways:

• Connor Heyward is listed as the starting running back. His backup is La’Darius Jefferson OR Elijah Collins OR Anthony Williams. Dantonio had said the running back situation is “very fluid” and that “guys are going to get opportunities especially in the first game of the season.”
• LT Cole Chewins not listed. Starting offensive line is AJ Arcuri (LT), Tyler Highboy (LG), Matt Allen or Blake Bueter (C), Kevin Jarvis (RG), Jordan Reid (RT). Dantonio likes Arcuri a lot saying “he could play across the board probably any position with the exception of center.”
• Three true freshman are listed on the Spartans 3-deep depth chart, all on offense. WR Julian Barnett, WR Tre Mosley and RB Anthony Williams.
• Jake Hartbarger is the new holder on special teams. Lewerke is no longer listed.

What are you guys expecting or looking for when the Spartans kickoff on Friday? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!