In his first season at Michigan State, Mel Tucker has thrown down the gauntlet for his players: step up or step aside.
"Everything’s an evaluation. And halfway through the season, at this point, we have a pretty good idea of who can do what,” Tucker said Tuesday. “You can anticipate seeing some movement on our roster, whether it’s portal-related or otherwise.”
Sure enough, sophomore running back Anthony Williams put his name in the transfer portal Wednesday. Williams can now be contacted by other schools as he considers his next move.
A three-star recruit in 2019, Williams had 38 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown in 12 games last season -- decent production for a true freshman. But he has just four carries for five yards and a fumble in two games this season.
Tucker has played four running backs over Williams, led by true freshman Jordon Simmons who has 42 carries for 147 yards. The first-year head coach said "nothing's set in stone" in regard to the team's roster and depth chart moving forward.
“It’s compete and show us what you can do. Earn your spot, earn your playing time, earn your right to even stay on the team. This is not a recreational type of situation," Tucker said. "This is compete to play, compete to stay.”