EAST LANSING -- Sophomore fullback Niko Palazeti comfortably walks between two worlds on the Michigan State football team.
Sometimes he works with the running backs in practice, showing the skills that helped him rush 224 times for 1,279 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior at Novi Detroit Catholic Central. The Shamrocks finished a perfect 14-0 and won the Division 1 state title.
"We'll come in and do 7-on-7 and I'll come in and do work with the skill group," Palazeti said. "And then I'll work down and start doing drill work with the offensive line."
"I lift with them, I train with them in certain drills," Palazeti said. "There's a big relationship between the O-line and the fullback."
What is a fullback supposed to do at Michigan State?
"He's supposed to pave the way," Palazeti said with a big grin. "There's no question in the fullback's role here. We block first. Everything else second.
"I love my role here. I love what the coaches expect from me. It's really fun to know a role and excel in it."
Asked about the running plays he's getting in practice, Palazeti laughed and said: "Zero."
"Occasionally there's a pass here or there, a check down," Palazeti said. "I know my role. We joke around with the offensive line, saying I'm just a guard moved five yards back. I get it from the O-line."
Palazeti (6-foot-1, 250 pounds) said he appreciates that MSU coach Mark Dantonio recruited him as a fullback. A lot of schools don't even recruit the position, or if they do, they're looking to convert a player, as MSU did last season with departed senior Todd Anderson.
"A lot of times you can take a linebacker or tight end," Palazeti said. "For Michigan State to offer me and give me an opportunity to play here is a gift."
Palazeti played in five games last season as a redshirt freshman and caught one pass for two yards in a win over Indiana.
"I'm not looking for a lot of accolades," Palazeti said. "Fullbacks don't really get much. If the running backs that I block for are happy with me and say 'great job, great block,' their personal success reflects back on me.
"I'm proud when they score a touchdown. I feel like I helped them in a little way. If they do well then I do well."
Doesn't he miss running the ball?
"I had a lot of carries in high school," Palazeti said. "Coach (Tom) Mach, he loves to run the fullback. Even in high school, I knew I had a blocking role.
"The coaches say I had enough carries in high school to last for my college career. I have no problems just blocking."
Contact George Sipple: 313-223-4796 or gsipple@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @freepspartans.
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