{"id":22585,"date":"2021-10-09T19:29:53","date_gmt":"2021-10-10T00:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=22585"},"modified":"2021-10-09T19:29:53","modified_gmt":"2021-10-10T00:29:53","slug":"michigan-state-university-head-coach-mel-tucker-is-off-to-a-scorching-hot-start-in-east-lansing-in-just-his-second-season-in-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=22585","title":{"rendered":"Michigan State University Head Coach, Mel Tucker, is off to a scorching hot start in East Lansing in just his second season in charge."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Michigan State football: Media reacts to Mel Tucker’s 6-0 start, RB Kenneth Walker’s Heisman Trophy chances<\/h1>\n
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@Coach_mtucker<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Michigan State football team is 6-0 on the season and already bowl eligible following their 31-13 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Head coach Mel Tucker is off to a scorching hot start in East Lansing in just his second season in charge.Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne completed 16 of 27 passes for 339 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the game. <\/strong><\/section>\n
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Wide receiver Jalen Nailor broke Larry Fitzgerald’s single-game receiving record at Rutgers’ stadium by catching five passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.Michigan State’s best player has been running back Kenneth Walker III, the nation’s leading rusher and a Heisman Trophy frontrunner. Against Rutgers, Walker popped for 233 yards on 29 carries with one touchdown.<\/strong><\/section>\n
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“Check out the media’s reaction to Mel Tucker’s unreal start in just his second year with Michigan State and Kenneth Walker’s Heisman Trophy chances below”.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Mel Tucker stock skyrocketing. https:\/\/t.co\/Eq9QzX3P4U<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In just his second season as head coach, Tucker is off to a 6-0 start with the Spartans. During his first year in 2020, Michigan State finished 2-5 in the COVID-19 shortened season.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Michigan State football:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 bowl eligible<\/strong>
\n\u2022 6-0<\/strong>
\n\u2022 11th ranked team in the country<\/strong>
\n\u2022 legitimate Heisman candidate in Kenneth Walker III<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not bad for Mel Tucker\u2019s second season at MSU. pic.twitter.com\/r3ALir6A6l<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kelly (@k_dunbar9) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Michigan State will likely be ranked inside the top ten when tomorrow’s Week 7 AP Poll is released. Their toughest remaining games on the schedule include No. 9 Michigan, No. 7 Ohio State, and No. 4 Penn State.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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6-0 and at a point where you’re winning a road game with some stuff to clean up … pretty damn good stuff from Mel Tucker. https:\/\/t.co\/QqKPC1FGBG<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The Spartans entered today’s game as a 4.5 point favorite and easily covered the spread. They had two turnovers in the game to Rutgers’ one but outgained the Scarlet Knights 588 yards to 377 yards.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Michigan State is the first Power 5 team to become bowl eligible in 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dustin Schutte (@SchutteCFB) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Michigan State is already bowl eligible with six wins on the season, the first team to reach the milestone. The last time Michigan State had at least six wins in a full season was 2019 when the Spartans finished 7-6. The last time they had a double-digit win season was in 2017, finishing 10-3.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It’s pretty wild what Mel Tucker is doing at Michigan State. Either he’s *really* good at all this, or that cupboard in Lansing wasn’t as bare as we all thought… https:\/\/t.co\/dYQJbbGLY1<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andrew G. Haubner (@A_G_Haubner) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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One of the biggest reasons for Tucker’s success in year two was the Spartans landing running back Kenneth Walker III in the transfer portal. Walker is considered a Heisman Trophy candidate through six weeks of the season after spending the last two years at Wake Forest.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Assuming a win at IU next week, Michigan State should be 7-0 heading into Michigan game. Spartans had four TDs today of at least 60 yards. They have five of those on the season, tied with … Michigan for second in the FBS.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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One of the biggest storylines in today’s game was the big plays made by Michigan State’s offense. The Spartans had touchdowns of 63 yards, 63 yards, 65 yards, and 94 yards. Three of them were passing touchdowns from Payton Thorne to Jalen Nailor while one was a rush from Kenneth Walker III<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Michigan State is the fifth team in FBS history to have a 300-yard passer, a 200-yard rusher and a 200-yard receiver in the same game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Payton Thorne: 16-of-27, 339 yards, 3 TDs<\/strong>
\nKenneth Walker III: 29 rushes for 233 yards and a TD<\/strong>
\nJalen Nailor: 5 catches for 221 yards and 3 TDs<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Michigan State’s offense put up historic numbers Saturday, becoming the fifth team ever to have a 300-yard passer, a 200-yard rusher and a 200-yard receiver in the same game.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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HE WOULD NOT BE STOPPED!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kenneth Walker III with a 94-yard TD run, the longest play from scrimmage in Michigan State football history ?? pic.twitter.com\/VAIfOa6bUw<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Walker’s 94-yard touchdown rush was a school record for the longest play from scrimmage. He entered as the nation’s leading rushed and added another 233 yards to his total on the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Kenneth Walker and Jalen Nailor dap up mid-touchdown. Iconic. pic.twitter.com\/3po3pWR8g0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ian Kress (@ian_kress) October 9, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Midway through Walker’s long touchdown rush, he dapped up wide receiver Jalen Nailor. The speedy wideout finished the game with five catches for 221 yards and three scores, breaking Larry Fitzgerald’s record for most receiving yards at Rutgers’ stadium.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mel Tucker<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Melvin Tucker<\/strong><\/caption>\n
\"Mel<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Tucker in 2018<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Current position<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Title<\/strong><\/th>\nHead coach<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Team<\/strong><\/th>\nMichigan State<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conference<\/strong><\/th>\nBig Ten<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Record<\/strong><\/th>\n8\u20135<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Annual salary<\/strong><\/th>\n$5.5 million<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Biographical details<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Born<\/strong><\/th>\nJanuary 4, 1972 (age\u00a049)<\/span><\/strong>
\nCleveland, Ohio<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Playing career<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1990\u20131992, 1994<\/strong><\/th>\nWisconsin<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Position(s)<\/strong><\/th>\nDefensive back<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coaching career (HC<\/a> unless noted)<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1997\u20131998<\/strong><\/th>\nMichigan State<\/a> (GA<\/a>)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1999<\/strong><\/th>\nMiami (OH)<\/a> (DB)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2000<\/strong><\/th>\nLSU<\/a> (DB)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2001\u20132003<\/strong><\/th>\nOhio State<\/a> (DB)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2004<\/strong><\/th>\nOhio State (co-DC<\/a>)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2005\u20132007<\/strong><\/th>\nCleveland Browns<\/a> (DB)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008<\/strong><\/th>\nCleveland Browns (DC)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009\u20132011<\/strong><\/th>\nJacksonville Jaguars<\/a> (DC)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2011<\/strong><\/th>\nJacksonville Jaguars (interim)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2012<\/strong><\/th>\nJacksonville Jaguars (AHC\/DC)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013\u20132014<\/strong><\/th>\nChicago Bears<\/a> (DC)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2015<\/strong><\/th>\nAlabama<\/a> (AHC\/DB)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2016\u20132018<\/strong><\/th>\nGeorgia<\/a> (DC\/DB)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/strong><\/th>\nColorado<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2020\u2013present<\/strong><\/th>\nMichigan State<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Head coaching record<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Overall<\/strong><\/th>\n13\u201312 (college)<\/strong>
\n2\u20133 (NFL)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accomplishments and honors<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Championships<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
As an assistant coach\/coordinator:<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n