A freshman running back has apparently caught the eye of Michigan State offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren.
The Spartans have opened up fall preseason camp, with Michigan State again taking the field for practice on Thursday. Following practice, Lindgren caught up with the local media to field questions about the Spartans offense. As part of that media availability, Lindgren discussed the running backs where he noted that he has been “really impressed” with true freshman Jace Clarizio.
Check out the full quote from Lindgren on Clarizio in the post below — courtesy of Spartan Shadows Emmett Matasovsky:
Brian Lindgren: “I’m really impressed with Jace Clarizio. Since the second half of the spring, he’s shown the growth.”
— Emmett Matasovsky (@E_Matasovsky57) July 31, 2025
Clarizio was a big-time recruiting win for the Spartans in the 2025 cycle, with Michigan State beating out Alabama for the East Lansing High School product. He was a high-end three-star prospect and ranked as the No. 34 running back in the 2025 class on 247Sports.
Lindgren also said the running back position battle is still up for grabs with sophomores Makhi Frazier and Brandon Tullis currently in the lead. Sacramento State transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver will also be in the mix for the starting role, but at a minimum, it sounds like Clarizio could also see himself getting some carries. If anything, it’s always nice to see a big-time recruiting win already proving to be a valuable addition to the current and future roster.
Michigan State opens the 2025 season on August 29 against Western Michigan. Kickoff from Spartan Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET with the game set to be televised on FS1.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU OC Brian Lindgren ‘really impressed’ by true freshman RB Jace Clarizio