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Michigan State jobs up for grabs include punter
Among the questions facing Michigan State as the Spartans begin training camp is one that sometimes gets overlooked: Who will be the new punter?
For the past four years, Mike Sadler handled those duties, but someone new will be in the job when the Spartans open the season at Western Michigan on Sept. 4.
Redshirt freshman Jake Hartbarger, who was rated the No. 1 punter in the nation two years ago by 247Sports.com, is expected to take over for Sadler, but he is not the only option. Backup quarterback Tyler O'Connor was recruited as a punter as well.
"Hartbarger had a tremendous first day, and he can be as good as there is, but he's young, he's a freshman, so we need to test him throughout camp and make sure his go times are right, which they are," Dantonio told reporters in East Lansing on the team's media day. "We've got a great snapper, so we should be good, but it's new territory, new ground. As he moves forward, he'll get more accustomed to things, and he needs to take a leadership role with our punt team.
"But we also have Ty back there, who I think is an experienced football player and can handle pressure situations. (We're) not afraid to put him in there. He's been good, as well."
