Michigan State spring practice - April 14, 2015

Miguel Machado (55) made his first start for Michigan State last week.

(MLive file)

EAST LANSING -- The road Miguel Machado traveled to get here wasn't easy.

The Miami, Fla., native played only one season of high school football, spent two years at Pasadena City College in California and, after being evicted from an apartment, briefly lived with six teammates in the back of a U-Haul before making it to Michigan State.

Last Friday, he made his first career start for the Spartans at right tackle in a 28-13 win over Furman.

"I think about that," Machado said of his past. "It makes me work harder. It's been a long journey, but I just got to keep grinding, keep working."

Machado, 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, had previously committed to both Washington State and Purdue before signing with Michigan State.

"I wanted to part of a disciplined program, I wanted to be part of a program that plays at a high level," he said, singling out head coach Mark Dantonio, offensive line coach Mark Staten and co-offensive coordinator Jim Bollman.

"They cared about me," Machado said. "They were just trying to help me get better."

Of the 23 players Michigan State announced in its 2014 recruiting class, Machado was the only junior college transfer. The difference between Machado and his classmates - his experiences in junior college and his peers coming straight out of high school - wasn't overlooked.

"Me coming in here, I see things from a different perspective," Machado said. "Being from JUCO, everybody is like for their self, everybody is just trying to get recruited and make it to the next level. Here, it's more of a family. We play as a family, we're really a family on and off the field. We're all trying to win together as one."

After redshirting in 2014, Machado appeared in seven games last year. Heading into his final college season, he set a clear goal for himself.

"I had a plan and I had a goal to be a starting right tackle," he said. "Right now I'm starting but I just want to keep my plan, keep coming out here, be the last one out here (after practice) ... coming out going pass progression and read steps. Just keep working my technique because I don't want to stray away from that."

Machado accomplished his goal, but it was only one game and, considering he signed with Michigan State, in part, because the coaching staff didn't sugarcoat anything, he's not either. Machado said he's improved drastically since arriving in East Lansing but isn't going to back off the attitude and work ethic that earned him a starting spot. And, there are improvements to make from his first start last week with a trip to Notre Dame looming next week.

"I feel I could have went harder, I feel like after the ball was gone I could have been running down field and making more blocks down the field," he said. "I definitely feel like I need to improve better. I need to get my hands on guys faster. I want to start stoning them in the pass rush."

While reflecting on his first start, it wasn't until the end of an interview that Machado broke a stone face. That's when the offensive lineman's quickness was brought up.

"I'm a Miami guy - Florida speed. I'm pretty quick here and there," he said with a smile before reverting back to the desire to build off the start. "I've got to work on my endurance. I want to be like that all through the first quarter and the fourth quarter. Through the whole game I want to be down field making blocks."