Receiver Marsh is a ‘baller’ Spartans fans will want to know

When Michigan State’s season fell off a cliff last fall and was spiraling into a trench of unknowns, it was understandable as to why committed recruits looked for places that could offer more stability and a clear pathway forward.

Wide receiver Nick Marsh, who was recruited by ousted Mel Tucker, considered it. But in the end, the four-star recruit from

River Rouge always felt a tight connection with Michigan State.

It helped that one of Jonathan Smith’s first visits after taking the Michigan State head coaching job was to meet Marsh at his high school. Wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, the only member of the previous coaching staff who was retained, also built a strong relationship with Marsh and never stopped pursuing him even amid last season’s turmoil.

“(Marsh) loves to be coached, which I absolutely love about him. It’s one of the reasons that when everything went on, that I didn’t let it go,” Hawkins said this spring. “Because I’m like, that’s the kind of kid that I want to coach. That’s the kind of kid that will make Michigan State a better place and a better football program.”

Marsh is a special talent — that’s the consensus from his coaches and teammates this spring. He has All-American potential and could very well hear his name being called at the NFL Draft one day because of his innate skills and workhorse approach to the game.

Quarterback Aidan Chiles said he sees a lot of himself in the young wide receiver.

“We have different attitudes and everything, but he’s young, he’s a baller and he thrives a lot off talent and everything and it helps a lot,” Chiles said. “I did the same thing my freshman year — I thrived off of what I could do talent-wise and athletically.”

Marsh dazzled in his debut in front of fans Saturday during the Spartans’ final spring practice. He had arguably the play of the day — a 75-yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Tommy Schuster to start the second half of the modified scrimmage. Marsh, playing with the second string, finished with three catches for 105 yards and a score.

But it was also the little things — the fine details Hawkins always preaches — that make it clear Marsh could be an impact player for the Spartans as a true freshman.

Marsh used his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame to block defenders when he wasn’t the intended target to allow the ball carrier additional space. That awareness is what will help build Marsh’s case for playing time.