EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan State is headed into its first season under Jonathan Smith and has three players on preseason watch lists: Tight End Jack Velling, running back Nathan Carter, and punter Ryan Eckley.

Velling, a transfer from Oregon State, is on the John Mackey watch list for the top tight end in the nation. Last year, he had eight touchdowns, an Oregon State single-season record for a tight end, as he made the All-Pac 12 second team. He started 11 games and recorded 438 yards on 29 catches.

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Carter was eighth in the Big Ten in rushing last year with a career-high 798 yards, and he is on the Doak Walker watch list. Last year was his first at MSU after transferring from UConn, and he had three 100-yard rushing games and four rushing touchdowns.

Eckley is on the Ray Guy Award list as one of the top punters in the nation. Averaging 46.8 yards per punt last season, he was second in the Big Ten and eighth in the country. He was a Football Writers Association of America first-team freshman All-American and posted 24 punts that were 50-plus yards.

MSU opens the 2024 season on Friday, August 30, at Spartan Stadium, hosting Florida Atlantic at 7:00 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.