MSU's Higby gaining trust from coaches
EAST LANSING – The play call came in, and Michigan State wanted to run the ball to the left.
Right over Tyler Higby’s side of the offensive line.
Madre London took the handoff and saw a big hole in the Indiana defense. His left guard advanced to the next level and helped create even more room, a 24-yard gain the end result.
“I mean, I don’t really think much of it,” Higby said Tuesday. “I just do my job and get my guy, and hopefully it springs a big run.”
That the Spartans’ coaches feel comfortable running behind the redshirt freshman, however, is a sign that Higby is starting to earn their trust and grasp what they want from him.
“I think Higby has played pretty well,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said this week. “He’s been coming. He’s had two, I think, solid games, so he’s playing and he's maturing.”
Higby will be even more pivotal Saturday against BYU (3:30 p.m./ABC). The Spartans have moved starting right guard Brandon Clemons predominantly to the defensive line due to the injury of Raequan Williams and first-half suspension of Malik McDowell.
That means Higby will get more snaps at left guard with the offensive line shuffling. The 6-foot-4, 302-pound Houston native is listed as second-string left guard, but offensive line coach Mark Staten expects senior Benny McGowan to fill to Clemons’ spot at right guard. That leaves Higby and former starting left tackle David Beedle to split time to the left of center Brian Allen.
“Learning the offense during fall camp was tough, trying to get into the flow of things since I didn’t play last year because of injuries and then redshirting,” Higby said. “Now, I’m just getting physical.”
That physical play is something Staten expects from his linemen up front. He told Higby the next step is to continue that production and development.
It’s critical for MSU to develop depth after using just six linemen early in the season, whereas Staten prefers to use an eight- or nine-man rotation. The loss of Clemons to defense takes it back down to five of those regulars, with Higby and potentially true freshman Thiyo Lukusa getting more time this week.
“Higby’s been really good,” said Kodi Kieler, who expects to move to left tackle. “He’s a big, strong kid. I think for him, he just has to get more comfortable at it. The more reps, the more time he’s watching film, he’s gonna be good.”
HICKS FUNERAL: Mark Dantonio and the Spartans on Friday will attend the funeral of former MSU player Mylan Hicks, who was shot and killed Sept. 25 in Calgary, Alberta. The service will be at 11 a.m. at New Providence Baptist Church in Detroit.
MSU also released a photo of its tribute to Hicks for Saturday’s game, with his No. 6 embedded in the helmet logo at midfield of Spartan Stadium. The school did the same for former punter Mike Sadler’s No. 3 at the Wisconsin game.
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@chrissolari.