EAST LANSING – Jayden Savoury’s role in Michigan State’s offense continues to grow.
Two weeks into his first sustained taste of college football, the redshirt freshman tight end continues to build the trust in his coaches and his quarterback to get him the ball and believe in his growth.
“Honestly, I feel like a more of a complete tight end,” Savoury said after practice Tuesday, Sept. 15. “I feel like my blocking from last year has gotten a lot better. I feel like my routine has gotten a lot better. Spiritually, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better.”
The Spartans (2-0) have been hunting for playmakers on offense after losing much of their firepower and weapons from a year ago, either to graduation or the transfer portal. So far, Savoury has emerged
as a potential weapon and should be a focal point of the defense for No. 3 Notre Dame (2-0) when MSU hits the road for the first time this season Saturday. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana (NBC).
The 6-foot-5, 253-pound Orchard Lake St. Mary's product from Canton got a brief taste of action last season, playing in four games while preserving a redshirt season. Savoury caught one pass against Boston College for 12 yards, a leaping one-handed grab that flashed his dynamic athleticism and basketball skills that he showed as a teammate of current Michigan guard Trey McKenney with the Eaglets. He won state titles in sports there.
Instead of following McKenney’s path in hoops, Savoury joined four of his former OLSM classmates – offensive lineman Antonio Johnson, running back Darrin Jones Jr., linebacker DeJae White and wide receiver Bryson Williams – in becoming teammates in college with MSU.
“I think all the basketball is out of me now,” Savoury said with a laugh. “In high school, I was a dual-sport athlete, so it was kind of handling both. But this year, I feel like it’s all football. … I feel like I’ve learned so much about football. I’m still pretty new to it, it’s going on my fourth year of football, so still pretty new. And I’ve been learning a lot and just soaking everything in.”
Through two games into this season, Savoury has eight catches – four for 36 yards against both Toledo in the opener and four more for 51 yards in Saturday’s 35-7 win over Eastern Michigan. It’s a major development in the Spartans’ passing game after losing last year’s starter, Jack Velling, to graduation and Michael Masunas to transfer.
“He’s done a great job just getting open, being a reliable target when I need him, especially third downs and situations like that,” quarterback Alessio Milivojevic said Tuesday about Savoury. “I’m just excited to see him continue to grow in this offense and continue to make plays, as he has done already.”
Savoury and junior Brennan Parachek (one catch, 10 yards) have assumed the bulk of the snaps at tight end this season. Paracheck got the start in the opener against Toledo, and new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan opened the EMU game with a two-tight end set featuring both him and Savoury. Senior Kai Rios also has been a blocking presence along with those two.
“He’s getting better and better,” Sheridan said Tuesday of Savoury. “And there’s still things that he can improve on. … He’s an ascending player, and we’re real excited about him.”
With Milivojevic still in the developmental stage of his young career, heading into his seventh career start this week against the toughest competition he has faced, his tight ends should be on his radar. The old football axiom is that a young quarterback’s best friend should be his tight end, as a safety valve and check-down option when plays break down.
But in Savoury, Milivojevic also has found a connection and a burgeoning downfield target who can be a matchup nightmare for defenses.
“Big-bodied guy, athletic, can go up and get it,” Milivojevic said. “It’s a QB’s dream to have a guy like that playing for you.”
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jayden Savoury is still new to football and already emerging as TE weapon for Michigan State
