Two Michigan State players, punter Bryce Baringer and cornerback Ameer Speed, heard their names called in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft Saturday and learned they would continue as teammates with the New England Patriots.

The pair were the second and third Spartans selected in the draft, respectively, after wider Receiver Jayden Reed was selected Friday in the second round (Green Bay Packers), and they would be the last Spartans selected in the 2023 NFL Draft as well.

Both players spoke briefly with media following their draft announcement.

Baringer is the reigning Big Ten Punter of the Year and a 2022 consensus first-team All-American. He became the first Spartan punter to be drafted to the NFL since Brandon Fields in 2007.

Interestingly, he actually started his college punting career as a walk-on at Illinois in the fall of 2017. Baringer realized he didn't want to be there after his first semester and transferred to Michigan State where he participated in a few tryouts before being advised there wasn't a spot on the roster for him at the time.

Baringer got the call that fall of 2018 and was pressed into action that season after fellow punters Jake Hartbarger and Tyler Hunt went down with injuries. He finished out the season before losing his spot on the 2019 roster. After missing the 2019 season, then-head coach Mark Dantonio — who retired shortly afterward in February 2020 — managed to convince Baringer to return to the Spartans, and the rest is history, so to speak.

"I'm very grateful, very thankful for for Mr. (Robert) Kraft and and Coach (Bill) Belichick bringing me in," Baringer said about his reaction to being drafted. "Definitely a lifelong memory for sure. It's been a lifelong dream to be able to play in the NFL and I'm just thankful that this organization was able to to select me. I'm just so grateful and very excited."

Asked about the contact he had with the Patriots ahead of the draft, Baringer said that it was "just the normal kind during the Senior Bowl and then throughout the (NFL Scouting) Combine and into the post-combine time-frame along with some of the other clubs."

Baringer made history in more ways than one Saturday as the Patriots drafted both Baringer and Maryland Terrapins kicker Chad Ryland in the fourth round. The pair being drafted made it just the second time two specialists were selected by a NFL franchise in the same draft since it was expanded to seven rounds in 1994, and the first since the Oakland Raiders did so in 2000.

"It feels awesome," Baringer said about being selected in the same draft as Ryland. "You know, Chad and I have known each other for a long time, back from his days at Eastern Michigan, then into the Big Ten with him at Maryland this year. We were teammates at the Senior Bowl. So that was really awesome just to kind of see him go and then to get the call. It will be fun to be with him."

A Patriots reporter also asked Baringer how he feels about kicking in cold weather and snowy games, apparently not familiar with some of the tape from Baringer's college career or Michigan and general Big Ten weather patterns late in a college season.

"Yeah, I feel good," Baringer said about the weather in New England. "You know, thankfully, just being from the Midwest and from Michigan, I've been able to have the chance to play in some some snow games. We did two years ago against Penn State and (I've) played in some windy games. So, you know hopefully I'll be able to bring that knowledge out to Foxborough."

Speed finished his college career at Michigan State in 2022 after spending his first five seasons at Georgia. He started in 11 games at cornerback and played in all 12 this past season, totaling 62 tackles and one tackle for a loss, while also breaking up five passes.

He also took 87 snaps on special teams, a role he played with the Bulldogs extensively during his time in Athens. Speed was Georgia's 2019 co-winner of Special Teams Most Improved Player award and was asked about the award, though he didn't remember some of the details of it.

"It's the person who is the most locked in," Speed explained about the team honor. "When your name is called, whether it's first quarter, second quarter, blowout, down, tie game, (it's) being there, being able to help the team in any way necessary. Special teams are serious. It's a one-play series and it's part of the game, and being able to take that series and try to do what's best on that play. I believe I executed and I did my best that year and that's why I got that award."

With ideal size, speed and other traits, Speed looks to be a developmental pick in the NFL who can excel on special teams for the Patriots, something head coach Bill Belichick values. His one season in East Lansing was beneficial for him as well, however.

"My decision to transfer to Michigan State had a lot to do with Coach (Mel) Tucker and Coach (Harlon) Barnett," Speed said. "Those were the two coaches I was deciding between coming out of high school, so the fact those two guys were together so I could take the opportunity to come in and help them on special teams and defense and just have a chance to play on TV. And they gave me the opportunity to do that and to be a player, and I thank them for that and I'm very blessed because it helped me be where I am today."

As for the type of player he see himself as and the chance to play in the NFL?

"I'm ready to come into work," Speed said about his excitement for the opportunity. "I feel like I'm a versatile player and whether it's special teams, defense, whatever, I'm ready to come in and help the team any way necessary."

Speed later went on to add that, "I've always felt like I was an NFL talent player. I knew I could get to the NFL. So if I had a chance to go out there and be a player, it's a blessing, and I'm very thankful for having my chance and opportunity."

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Discuss this article in our premium forums by clicking here.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

For video content, including our Red Cedar Radar podcast, find us on YouTube and consider subscribing.