EAST LANSING — Connor Heyward is a pure football player from a football family.
His father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, was a star running back at Pitt and in the NFL. His brother, Cam, is a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers who shined at Ohio State.
There have been a number of flashes over the years for the younger Heyward for Michigan State football. Powerful kickoff returns and long touchdown runs. Yet Mark Dantonio and his staff rarely maximized his diverse skills and nearly lost him to transfer.
Then Mel Tucker arrived.
After spending 2020 at running back, Heyward started at tight end/H-back for the Spartans during last Friday’s 38-21 win over Northwestern.