MSU O-Line Not About 'Taking Jobs'

Originally posted on Michigan State Spartans on SI
By Aidan Champion | Last updated Aug 15, 2025 3:59 PM ET

Michigan State's offensive line battle is probably the deepest on the team right now.

Coach Jonathan Smith said this week that the program has "close to 10 guys" competing for a starting five spot. In some ways, that may be surprising considering who they brought in and who returns with starting experience. But if you know offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, you would know spots are always up for grabs up front.

While it's a "battle," the group has a unique approach to the competition as it looks to improve each week throughout fall camp.

"We don't really look at it as, 'I'm trying to take your job.'" - Kristian Phillips

"We don't really look at it as, 'I'm trying to take your job,'" said redshirt junior guard Kristian Phillips, a veteran who comes off a significant injury and is expected to be a key piece of this year's line. "We're just here really just competing, playing football with each other. And I feel like that's something that separates us from the whole conference, is that we're not looking to take over or be a starter. We're just looking to go out there and play football.

"And I feel like with that mentality right there -- because we haven't really had no issues where, 'Oh, I want to be the starting guy.' We're just going out there and just competing and doing our job and learning each day. That's all we're doing."

Phillips' fellow classmate, redshirt junior guard Gavin Broscious, added to that message.

"I mean, at the end of the day, it's going to be the best five guys that go out there," he said. "So, we don't know -- I could be playing left, I could be playing right, he could be playing right, he could be playing left. We just don't know.

"It's a battle every single day, but we can't play the numbers game. We can't play those games because that's how you sink as a player. I think the best way to go about it is not counting your reps, (but) stacking your reps as a player. And that's when you really see the results and taking the steps forward."

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This article first appeared on Michigan State Spartans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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