Michigan State will be without the services of two expected contributors for their opener against Tulsa (7 p.m FS1).
True freshman running back Anthony Williams Jr. will not dress against the Golden Hurricane. Mark Dantonio said Williams Jr. got knicked up in MSU’s first scrimmage. Williams Jr. was seen using a cart to get around the next week at practice. There was a chance he wouldn’t be ready for the game and it looks like he will have to wait at least another week to make his Spartan debut.
Williams was expected to compete for touches in the crowded MSU backfield. His absence leaves Michigan State with four backs expected to play tonight. Connor Heyward is expected to start while La’Darius Jefferson and Elijah Collins are expected to get opportunities to carry the ball. True freshman Brandon Wright is also in the mix.
Left tackle Cole Chewins is out with a back injury that has nagged him the entire offseason. Dantonio told media on Tuesday that Chewins would be out for today’s game so him not dressing is no surprise. Chewins has dealt with a back injury through fall camp. He was Michigan State’s starting left tackle last season when healthy.
AJ Arcuri was expected to start in his place, but Tyler Higby was running at left tackle with the first group in warmups. We’ll have to wait and see how MSU’s line rotation shakes out without Chewins.
