What Michigan State football players' new listed weights say about the 2023 roster

EAST LANSING — Who’s bigger? Who’s smaller? Who stayed the same?

It took Michigan State football two weeks of preseason camp to release its updated heights and weights. And there were several changes in the numbers released Wednesday.

One player who stands out the most, though, didn't gain or lose weight: Junior quarterback Noah Kim, who is battling redshirt freshman Katin Houser for the starting job, remained the same 185 pounds he was listed at during the 2022 season, on a 6-foot-2 frame. That's 10 pounds lighter than the lightest starting QB in the Big Ten last season, Nebraska's Casey Thompson at 195 pounds.

“I put on some lean muscle and stuff like that on my body scan,” Kim said earlier in camp. “(Strength/conditioning coach Jay) Novak did a great job with all of us. I feel strong, I feel fast. That's all you really want as a football player.”

Houser, at 6-3, made a slight gain of 2 pounds — up to 215 — and the difference between the two candidates to replace Payton Thorne (6-2, 210) as MSU's starter this season was noticeable to the Big Ten Network crew that visited MSU’s practice Monday.

“I couldn't separate them, other than physically they separate a little bit,” BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo said. “Houser is the bigger of the two.”

Here is a position-by-position look at some other changes to measurables:

Offensive line

This is typically the group with the most fluctuation year over year, particularly with younger players.

Returning starting center Nick Samac and left guard J.D. Duplain both are up 5 pounds, to 305 on their 6-4 frames. Right guard Geno VanDeMark is down 5 pounds, to 320, while left tackle Spencer Brown (6-6) and right tackle Brandon Baldwin (6-7) both held steady at 315.

Redshirt freshman Braden Miller also put on 13 pounds to bring his 6-6 frame up to 310. Junior Dallas Fincher (305) and sophomore Kevin Wigenton (320) both added 5 pounds. Junior college transfer tackle Keyshawn Blackstock (310) and sophomore tackle Ethan Boyd (320) each dropped 5 pounds

The biggest weight change on the team, though, was achieved by freshman walk-on Cooper Terpstra; the 6-4 guard packed on 45 pounds, zooming up to 310 after previously weighing 265 on the initial preseason roster (though that weight likely dated back to his high school days a year ago). And the biggest loser — in the positive sense — was Kristian “Big Dooley” Phillips: The 6-4 redshirt freshman guard plunged 32 pounds, from 347 pounds last season to 315 on the latest roster, and offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic on Wednesday said Phillips has dropped to 305 in camp.

Running back

Nathan Carter’s weight room exploits were the buzz of social media this summer, and the Connecticut transfer added 10 pounds to his 5-10 frame and now weighs in at 200. Returning starter Jalen Berger remained at 6-1 and 215, while 6-2 South Florida transfer Jaren Mangham is up 5 pounds, to 235. And true freshman Jaelon Barbarin not only dropped 5 pounds, coming in at 185, but also grew an inch, measuring out at 5-9.

Tight ends

Four-star true freshman Brennan Parachek beefed up 15 pounds, to 250 ,after arriving in January at 235. Assumptive starter Maliq Carr (260), Boise State transfer Tyneil Hopper (245) and redshirt freshman Michael Masaunus each put on 5 pounds — that's critically needed mass to help them improve as blockers. And 6-7 Norfolk State transfer Ademola Faleye added 10 pounds and is up to 245.

Wide receiver

It was mostly status quo for the three anticipated starting receivers, with Tre Mosley (6-2, 200) and Christian Fitzpatrick (6-4, 220) each gaining 2 pounds and Montorie Foster (6-0, 185) staying the same. The other expected contributors to the passing attack all maintained their weight, though true freshman Jaelen Smith (6-2, 200) is 2 inches taller and 10 pounds lighter than previously listed.

Defensive line

A number of reserves at defensive end saw significant weight changes. Two true freshmen showed big gains: Jalen Thompson (6-3, 250) added 25 pounds and Andrew Depaepe (6-5, 255) is up 20 pounds. Ken Talley bumped up 15 pounds on his 6-3 frame and is now 245 pounds, while fellow redshirt freshman James Schott (6-4, 235) gained 10. Other expected starters and edge rush contributors remained steady, as did the key defensive tackles. One of those interior linemen, 24-year-old sixth-year senior Jalen Sami, remained a team-high 330 pounds but added an inch, reaching 6-7, since arriving this summer from Colorado.

Linebacker

Returning starter Cal Haladay (6-1, 235) is up 5 pounds, while Aaron Brule (6-2, 240) is up 2. Jacoby Windmon (6-2, 250) held steady, but Massachusetts transfer Aaron Alexander (6-1, 225) was among the big gainers on the team by adding 20 pounds. Harold Joiner III arrived at MSU from Auburn as a running back, then moved to safety last season. He’s now at linebacker, where he has lost 5 pounds, down to 215.

Defensive backs

Sophomore Jaden Mangham, projected as a starter at safety, added 10 pounds to his 6-2 frame and now weighs 185. Cornerback Charles Brantley (6-0, 170) remained the same weight from a year ago, and most of the anticipated contributors and starters all stayed within 5 pounds of their previous weights.

Specialists

Talk about dramatic changes. Stephan Rusnak (6-1, 190) gained 20 pounds and fellow kicker Jonathan Kim (6-0, 225) added 15 since arriving from North Carolina, while Ryan Eckley (6-2, 205) is up 10 and fellow punter (and Ohio State transfer) Michael O’Shaugnhessy (6-3, 210) is up 5. There's also the 50 combined pounds added to freshmen walk-on kickers Yousef Obeid (180, up 30) and Tarik Ahmetbasic (210, up 20) since the preseason roster was released a month ago.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football roster has some new weights for players