How Connor Heyward lived up to his family name and rediscovered himself at Michigan State (2024)

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Connor Heyward you see before you today isn’t the same Connor Heyward who arrived years ago. His demeanor is more relaxed and even-keeled now than it was back then. His words are more purposeful, especially when discussing his place on this Michigan State team. This is a man who has been through the wringer and back, returning with the necessary perspective to share what he has learned with the rest of the class.

“Every day, I’m just getting more comfortable with who I am as a person and more comfortable with who I am in my role,” a reflective Heyward said Tuesday, just days before his final home game at Michigan State. “Football’s about the team, and everybody has a role. When guys don’t know their role, that’s when things go south.”

For years, Heyward has been searching for exactly what he has now. As a redshirt senior in his final season, his voice carries more weight than it ever has. When he speaks, people pay attention. He has a clear and defined role on this team, which has opened doors for him and his career. It’s everything he has wanted. The path, however, has not been linear.

Heyward has been emotional. A bit immature. “Hot-headed,” as he described himself Tuesday. Things haven’t always been easy. But the experiences this sport has led him to have shaped the person he has become, as his collegiate career winds down and another one begins.

Football is what the Heyward family is known for. Connor’s older brother, Cam Heyward, was a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2011 and is one of the best players in the league regardless of position. His father, the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, was a Heisman Trophy finalist at Pitt and an 11-year pro who became a fan favorite for his agility and power as a 300-pound running back. He died of bone cancer in 2006 when Connor Heyward was just 7 years old.

This sport served as a lasting connection to his father. With athletes like that in the family, it’s natural to want to live up to the pedigree. Heyward set out to do the same when it was his turn to make a name for himself.

As a gifted athlete capable of playing multiple positions in high school, Heyward had his fair share of suitors as a member of the 2017 recruiting class. His mother, Charlotte, has raised a family of athletes who positioned themselves for scholarships in their respective sport. Cam played football at Ohio State. Corey played basketball at Georgia Tech. Charlotte’s advice to Connor and her other sons was to choose a school they would be comfortable staying at in the event of a career-threatening injury or anything else that would keep them away from the sport they loved.

For Heyward, that school was Michigan State.

Looking forward to continuing my academic and football career at The Michigan State University #GoGreen #V4MSU ♻️🏈 pic.twitter.com/F7izA96YSw

— Connor Heyward (@ConnorHeyward1) December 9, 2016

While he had made his decision, settling on a school was only half the battle for Heyward. His positional home was still to be determined, as the coaching staff experimented with him at a few different spots as a true freshman in 2017. But after losing some depth ahead of the 2018 season, running back became his home.

Realistically, Heyward was never supposed to play as much as he did that season. It was supposed to be a year for him to grow more and more comfortable as he navigated the position change. But when starting running back LJ Scott suffered an ankle injury early into the season, Heyward became Michigan State’s featured back. Young and forced to learn the position on the fly, Heyward struggled at running back. He lacked vision and elusive skills. He didn’t demonstrate the needed attributes to stay there long term.

The following year in 2019, Michigan State began the season with Heyward as its starting running back. As the veteran, the previous staff gave him the nod to start the year based on experience and the hope that improvement was on the way. But it became apparent that his grip on the job was loose. Then-redshirt freshman running back Elijah Collins impressed in Week 1 against Tulsa and got the start the following week against Western Michigan. He emerged as MSU’s lead back that year. Heyward moved to a secondary role.

Behind the scenes, Heyward grew frustrated with his dwindling playing time. He was absent for pregame warmups before the Indiana game that season, and it was later announced that he had left the team. Shortly thereafter, seeing the writing on the wall, Heyward entered the transfer portal.

Thank you Michigan State…✌️ pic.twitter.com/QQKNrvOWpS

See Also

Introducing Reese's University: Where The Cups Are Overflowing With PotentialOklahoma adds three new Sooners for 2024 season via the transfer portalThe Plain Dealer from Cleveland, OhioWaiting Adoptive Family Profile - Jason & Kendy

— Connor Heyward (@ConnorHeyward1) September 30, 2019

“It was just a tough decision,” Heyward said. “I didn’t want to do it, but I knew I could’ve contributed in some type of way.”

The transfer portal, as we’ve come to learn, isn’t an exact science. Some players enter it in search of a better opportunity for themselves and their families, ultimately finding one and setting themselves up for success. Others submit their names and go months on end with little to no contact from other programs. Brighter days aren’t promised.

While he wasn’t with the team, Heyward never left Michigan State’s campus. His plan was to graduate early and transfer. He was hearing from coaches and taking visits. He was still enrolled in classes, going to basketball games, hanging out with friends and living the life of a regular student. But it was the longest he had been away from football since he was a kid. It was an adjustment.

On the outside, Heyward tried to act like everything was normal. But he found himself in a dark place. He was struggling to come to terms with the decision he made and the uncertainty of what was next.

In late January 2020, Heyward flew to Orlando to see Cam play in the Pro Bowl. During that time, Heyward was struggling with the idea of leaving a place he thought he would finish his career at. The stress showed itself in different ways. He wasn’t eating right, his conditioning wasn’t where it needed to be, and he simply wasn’t feeling like himself.

His family members noticed during that trip to Orlando. They could tell he wasn’t his typically talkative self, and his body wasn’t where it needed to be as a Division I athlete in search of a new home. Ultimately, a conversation with his older brother, Corey, set him straight.

“We all get down there, everybody’s flying in as a family, there to support Cameron,” Corey Heyward told the team-affiliated Spartan Vision recently. “I could tell Connor put a little bit of extra weight on. But obviously, I hate stepping on the scale myself. Sometimes, I refuse to step on the scale. You know that when you look good, you feel good, you play good. As a brother, I just feel like I had to say something. I was like, ‘Connor, what are you doing?’”

Family has a way of putting things into perspective, and the Heywards don’t sugarcoat things. They can tell when things aren’t right. They knew Heyward had to figure out some things and tried to support him as much as they could. But at the end of the day, only Heyward was responsible for his future.

That trip served as the reality check Heyward needed. Up to that point, he had been looking around, trying to figure out his next move. He thought about his standing and whether it was worth it. After finishing a few visits, thinking long and hard about what would get him back to being himself, Heyward came to a conclusion that set the stage for Act 2 of his career.

“Mom, I feel like it’s not over,” Heyward said he told his mother. “I feel like I should stay here.”

“Whatever you want to do, we’re behind you,” Charlotte Heyward responded.

In February 2020, Heyward requested a meeting with new head coach Mel Tucker. Because of his connections in the SEC, Tucker was familiar with Heyward from his days as a prospect. Tucker had recruited some of Heyward’s high school teammates to Alabama and Georgia and got to know Heyward a little bit during his time there.

That existing relationship paved the way for Heyward to withdraw from the portal and return to the roster, given a clean slate by Tucker.

“When the plan was for me to leave, you just don’t know what you’re gonna do from the next step,” Heyward said a year ago. “There were a lot of schools reaching out, and they wanted me to go there. But ultimately, my heart was still here, and I felt like I had some unfinished business.”

The fresh start Tucker gave Heyward was extended to the entire roster. The coaching staff took the entire 2020 season as a year to determine what it had and what would be needed. Every player’s strengths and weaknesses were evaluated. The staff monitored their progress and ultimately set out to find out who could help the team accomplish its goals.

Heyward made the most of his second chance. He dropped weight, getting down to 227 pounds at the start of the season. A lot of the young players looked up to him as a voice in the running backs room. He impressed coaches with his versatility and emerged as the starting running back that year — a surprise given what went down before he entered the portal — and held the role for most of the season. But even with a renewed attitude and a newfound voice on the team, Heyward still wasn’t where he needed to be.

But when the offseason came around, coaches took what they learned in 2020 and put it to good use.

In August, Michigan State’s coaching staff came to Heyward with a proposition. Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker III had locked down the starting job. Collins and Jordon Simmons were back for another season. Auburn transfer Harold Joiner had joined the roster, and a pair of young backs in Donovan Eaglin and Davion Primm rounded out the position. The room was full, and there weren’t many opportunities for carries outside the top two or three. Heyward was on the outside looking in.

So in order to maximize his value on this team and his NFL odds, the idea of a position change was presented to Heyward. He didn’t need much convincing. He knew it was for the best.

“I saw it as a positive thing,” Heyward said. “I knew at the next level, in order for me to have a shot, I was gonna have to make a transition. I’m glad that I made the transition at this time, and I think it was great timing. … It was just a way for me to get on the field, so I saw it as an opportunity.”

“Obviously, that (running backs) room had become pretty crowded,” tight ends coach Ted Gilmore said. “The conversation with (offensive coordinator Jay) Johnson and I was, ‘You know what, let’s get through that first week of training camp and see how it’s going.’ And then as I really watched him and paid attention to him, I was like, ‘You know what, let’s make that move.’ … Week 1, he elevated the room. He is a really good all-around football player.”

Switching from running back to H-back/tight end was, in theory, a move that would best utilize Heyward’s strengths and put him in a position to succeed. You could see the skill set. It was always there. He knew it. The staff knew it. The next step was getting him acclimated to the position.

That happened quicker than expected. A couple of weeks into preseason camp, Heyward clearly had established himself in his new role. He was seen repping with the first-team offense in practice. He looked like a natural in drills. It has since translated to the field, with Heyward emerging as a starter and key player on a Michigan State offense playing its best football in years. His growth this season has been undeniable.

While he hasn’t filled up the stat sheet, Heyward routinely makes winning plays. He has shown the ability to seal the edge for Walker and others, leading to a number of key plays and red zone touchdowns. Heyward had a big catch-and-run against Nebraska, displaying balance and body control and the power to finish through contact. He also has been used on tight-end screens, showing a bit of short-area burst. His stock has gone from non-existent to a draftable prospect as a result.

NFL teams are looking for players like Heyward — swiss-army-knife types who can help in a variety of ways. At 6-foot, Heyward isn’t big enough to play tight end permanently. He doesn’t have the vision or speed to be a full-time running back. But NFL scouts see him as an H-back/fullback who can give you a little bit of everything.

Heyward is a player who’s capable of paving the way for running backs in the backfield or splitting out wide and catching a pass. He has some of the best hands on the roster and a body that allows him to take and distribute blows. In other words, he’s a football player.

Perhaps equally as important as the game tape Heyward has accumulated this season is the access scouts have received to watch him do his thing. Michigan State, once widely regarded as one of the worst visits for scouts coming from out of town to evaluate prospects, is now viewed as one of the most open and accommodating visits out there.

This was a point of emphasis for Tucker when he got to Michigan State. As a coach who spent 10 years in the NFL, working directly with scouts to acquire the talent needed to win, Tucker understands how important it is to open practice and make his players and coaches available.

“We have NFL scouts, personnel guys in here daily,” Tucker said. “We’ve opened up our operation to the NFL. They’re able to come here whenever they want. They watch practice, they watch film, they talk to myself, they talk to the staff, they talk to trainers, academic folks — we’re wide open. We want it to be a very inviting place for the NFL so that they can evaluate and so they can get good information and accurate information on the guys. … They want to know everything. So that’s why we’re wide open. It makes their job easier, so they can get better information. It’s better for our players because they get the exposure.”

“It’s been awesome,” Heyward said. “It’s an open-door policy. Every day, you’re seeing an NFL scout in here. Coach Tucker knows how the business goes. Sometimes, guys are gonna leave early. Some guys might stay. Just being able to have that open-door policy with him and the scouts has just helped everybody’s stock. Ultimately, it just comes down to us producing on Saturdays. That’s what the NFL is. In order to get your shot, you have to go out there and produce.”

Scouts have watched Heyward do just that — produce. They’ve been in and out of East Lansing since preseason camp began, hoping to get a closer look at MSU’s draft prospects. Heyward’s name increasingly has been discussed as we inch closer to the 2022 NFL Draft.

While he has another year of eligibility if he wants it, Heyward has done enough this season to catch the attention of Jim Nagy and the Senior Bowl staff — the premier college All-Star game. Part of the Senior Bowl experience includes a week of practice and hands-on work with NFL coaches while being evaluated by GMs and scouts. It’s a huge platform for seniors and upperclassmen hoping to impress the folks who ultimately are responsible for putting together NFL rosters.

Heyward was offered a Senior Bowl invitation a few weeks ago.

OFFICIAL! Please welcome TE Connor Heyward (@ConnorHeyward1) from @MSU_Football to the 2022 @Reeses Senior Bowl!!! #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ @JimNagy_SB @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/UeQQRspiP1

— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) November 22, 2021

“He’s a tough matchup,” Senior Bowl area scout Andy Dengler said earlier this month. “You underestimate this guy. He’s kinda fleshy on the hoof, but he really catches the ball. He’s got some really good instincts. The eyeball test is not gonna be good, but everything else is. … I like the make-up of this guy. The more you see, the more you like. I think he’s a late-fifth-round pick.”

Heyward didn’t immediately announce his invitation at the time it was extended. He thought about his future and contemplated running it back for another year with the teammates who welcomed his return with open arms. But Heyward is at peace with his time at Michigan State. While the NFL was never the barometer of living up to the family name, Heyward has positioned himself for a shot in the NFL, just like his father and brother. That’s not lost on him.

“I just kept it all underneath the carpet because I hadn’t decided what I was gonna do moving forward,” Heyward said Tuesday, recalling the process of mulling things over. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity that I can’t pass up.”

Heyward’s career has been a process of trial and error. It is for most players at this level when you really think about it. Recruits step on campus as teenagers with goals and dreams, hoping to see their potential realized, but so much of their success hinges on factors beyond their control. The staff in place, roster turnover, scheme and positional fit, opportunity. Players want to be the best version of themselves, but not everyone gets there in the end.

Heyward has gotten there, and he’s ready for whatever’s next.

“This will be my last home game in The Woodshed,” Heyward said. “It’s bittersweet. I’ve been in college for five years now, and I think it’s time to move on. I think I’ve done a lot for this program. It’s been an amazing roller coaster. The highs and the lows, everything. It’s just been amazing. But I think I’m ready for that next challenge of my life.”

It has taken time, perhaps a bit of patience and understanding along the way, but Heyward finally has developed into the player he always thought he could be. In his final season, he has found comfort in his own skin. He’ll leave Michigan State as a different person than he was when he arrived because he’s now mature enough to see the value and appreciate the twists and turns along the way.

That’s a story worth sharing. No matter how long it takes to write.

(Photo: Zach Bolinger / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)