Michigan State center Nick Samac updates his health heading into 2023

Michigan State starting center Nick Samac has not been a full participant in fall camp for the Spartans, as he works his way back from an upper body issue.

However, both Samac and MSU offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic confirmed on Wednesday that the fifth-year senior is expected to be back in time for the start of Michigan State's 2023 season. While Samac has missed some of the offensive line work in fall camo, he said MSU strength and conditioning coach Jason Novak is getting him prepared from a physical standpoint.

“Feeling better, right on track," Samac said. "Coach Novak has me doing things [since I’m] not getting the full practice. Conditioning, working on my O-line stuff, so I’m right on track to be where I want to be.”

Samac indicated his left shoulder area when asked for more details concerning his status.

“It was a little offseason thing, a little upper body thing I’m dealing with," he said. “I’m just trying to get my body back where it needs to be and be in the best condition possible and ready, basically, to go to war this year.”

Samac was held out of Michigan State's first fall scrimmage last Saturday, and the senior is itching to get back on the field with the rest of the O-lineman.

“Not being in the first scrimmage – part of that stings. It’s my fifth year, I’m here to compete, win and hit. If you’ve seen my film, I love getting in open space and just knocking people over," Samac said.

“It’s not frustration. It’s more me working on my mental part of the game – taking mental reps, and also my leadership. Helping the younger guys, staying locked in, not getting complacent where I’m at, but helping those guys who are going to be out there with me battling every single day.”

While Michigan State likes the depth its developed along the offensive line, Kapilovic said the Spartans are at their best with Samac in the starting rotation.

“We’re much stronger," Kapilovic said. "It’s another guy, Samac, that’s had as many starts as he’s had. The experience he has, his athleticism, he’s a guy that’s on the Rimington list. Every scout who comes in talks to me about him. He’s a factor. Having him in there definitely makes us stronger. There’s no question.”

Should Samac's upper body issue linger or flare up in-season, Michigan State is prepared to have other guys fill the center role. Kapilovic said he has eight-to-ten guys practicing snaps throughout the year. Redshirt senior J.D. Duplain, who is expected to start at left guard, is one of those guys taking reps at center.

“He’s been snapping since I’ve been here," Kapilovic said of Duplain. "He’s getting more live reps at it, which is good. For him, with his aspirations of playing in the NFL, he’s going to have to play that spot. So, this is good for him and it’s good for us because we’re trying to figure out, beside Samac, who’s the next best center and what combination is best for us. He’s done a good job there.”

That said, Kapilovic is confident that Duplain could help out a younger center option should the fifth-year senior remain at guard even in the potential absence of Samac.

“If he’s a guard, and Nick’s not at center, I know that he can help that kid that’s at center to kind of maybe relieve some of that burden," Kapilovic said of Samac.

Other center options outside of Samac include redshirt sophomore Geno VanDeMark, who is projected as MSU's starting right guard this season but Kapilovic trusts him at center as well. Should Duplain and VanDeMark stay at guard, redshirt junior Dallas Fincher is another option.

“Fincher is getting a lot of reps at center," Kapilovic said. "We need to see him continue to grow. He's trying to become a guy who can push for time or know that if you don’t have a guy at center, he can go.”

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