Michigan State football has lost two right guards to injury, leaving an already shallow unit even more depleted. With Kris Phillips and Gavin Broscious out, the Spartans will first turn to veteran Dallas Fincher to fill the void left at the starting right guard spot.
After Fincher, the Spartans may have to turn to an unlikely source to fill other voids on the offensive line.
Rakeem Johnson, a native of Boise, Idaho, was brought over by the Spartans staff in the 2024 recruiting class. He was rated a middle to low three-star by various recruiting services, but the Spartans may have found a diamond in the rough.
Johnson was the first freshman off the bench in MSU’s win over Prairie View A&M on Saturday, playing 24-of-68 offensive snaps for the Spartans at right tackle. He showed the talent the MSU coaching staff raved about throughout camp.
Outside of the presumed starting five on the offensive line (Brandon Baldwin, Luke Newman, Tanner Miller, Dallas Fincher, Ashton Lepo) MSU only has Stanton Ramil as a backup offensive lineman with any experience or as someone who has shown the needed skills.
The true freshman from Boise is going to have to mature quickly and give the Spartans meaningful snaps at a crucial position.
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