Jayden Savoury has spent the first six games turning himself into Michigan State’s most dependable option in the passing game, and the numbers back it up. The redshirt freshman has piled up 228 receiving yards, putting him among the Big Ten’s most productive tight ends and only 10 yards behind Wisconsin’s Jacob Harris, who has 238.
The bigger story for the Spartans is how quickly Savoury has become a fixture for quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. He has led Michigan State in receptions in four of the first six games, giving Milivojevic a target he can trust when the offense needs a clean answer.
Savoury is not just a fallback option, either. His separation ability makes him a first-read threat, and once the ball is in his hands, he can turn a routine catch into a chunk play with his long strides and burst.
That blend of speed and body control showed again in Michigan State’s 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois. Savoury finished with a team-high six catches, the first time a Spartan had reached six receptions in a game since the season opener against Toledo, when two Michigan State players did it. He also led the team with 49 receiving yards in that game, adding another strong line to what has been a steady start.
Across the season, Savoury has caught four or more passes in four of the six games. That’s no small thing in a tight end room that includes Brennan Parachek, Carson Gulker and Kai Rios. He has pushed through that competition and established himself as one of the offense’s top receiving weapons.
He also sits tied with Chris McCray for the team lead in receptions with 23, while trailing Rodney Bullard Jr. by just 14 yards for the team lead in receiving yards. Bullard has 242 yards, Savoury 228.
The one thing missing so far is a touchdown. Savoury is still looking for his first score of the year, but the Spartans have thrown only five touchdown passes through six games, so the chances have not been plentiful.
Even so, Milivojevic keeps looking his way, and with good reason. Defenders can crowd him, drape over him, and still Savoury seems to find the catch anyway. He has become the kind of reliable target every passing game wants - and Michigan State clearly knows it.
In Other News...
Tom Izzo May Be Leaning Toward A Surprise Starter Vs UConn
Michigan States first real test against UConn on Oct. 20 is still a little ways off, but Tom Izzo already seems to be sorting out one of the more interesting questions on his roster. Recent practice photos, along with what unfolded in the exhibition against Incarnate Word, point to true freshman Ethan Taylor as a possible starter at center, a development that would give the Spartans a different look in the frontcourt as they continue to build toward the regular season.
Anton Bonke was brought in to help stabilize that spot, so a freshman jump into the opening lineup would be worth watching closely. Izzo has never been shy about using the preseason to test combinations and see what sticks, and this appears to be one of those early decisions he is still weighing as Michigan State prepares for a challenging exhibition against a veteran opponent. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Deep Rotation Could Force A Big Cam Ward Shift
Michigan States preseason puzzle is less about finding enough bodies and more about fitting them all into the right spots. With a deep roster and multiple lineup combinations under consideration, the Spartans are weighing how to spread minutes in a way that keeps the group fresh while still maximizing the best matchups on the floor.
Cam Ward looks like one of the biggest variables in that equation. The sophomore forward could be in line for a larger role, and Tom Izzo has already acknowledged the possibility of using him at center to open up small-ball looks and add more tactical flexibility, a move that could end up shaping how the entire rotation settles in once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Jaziun Patterson Just Changed Michigan State's Offensive Ceiling
Jaziun Patterson has quickly become one of the most important pieces of Michigan States offense, and Saturdays game against Illinois showed why the Spartans keep leaning on him. The starting running back accounted for four touchdowns, mixing one score through the air with three on the ground, and finished with 119 yards on 20 touches as Michigan State kept pushing its ground-and-pound identity.
His expanded role has only grown since Cam Edwards was ruled out for the season, and Patterson has responded with steady production over six games. He now has 255 rushing yards and six touchdowns, giving the Spartans a reliable centerpiece even as the defense has struggled to hold up its end of the bargain. [Read more 🡒]