Under Coach Mark Dantonio, Michigan State football has reached new heights that even ESPN’s favorite Coach, Nick Saban, couldn’t achieve. The 2010s have brought a brave new world. Congrats to MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis, who now has a football program on par with his basketball program. It’s Golden Age of MSU athletics, as double digit win football seasons are now routine.
This season does present new and tougher challenges though as the Spartans must replace Connor Cook, Shilique Calhoun and much more.
It certainly helps to have versatile defensive lineman Malik McDowell on board. The 6-6 280 tour de force took home the preseason “looks the part” award from Kirk Herbstreit. McDowell was “awarded” the honor this week during “the herbies,” as the ESPN analyst was very much moved by the sight of a monstrously sized man wearing a single digit jersey.
I would agree; that’s pretty cool to see, a defensive lineman wearing #4. There are some depth issues inside for Michigan State football, so McDowell will get moved around somewhat. That versatility will help his NFL Draft stock.
Players to Watch:
Tyler O’Connor- Like the cliche says, it all starts with the quarterback. All he has to do is replace the Spartans all time leading passer and all time QB wins leader. The last time MSU replaced a long starter at signal caller, it got off to a very wrong start. You’ll recall 2012, when Dantonio originally picked the wrong guy, Andrew Maxwell, over Connor Cook. The result was a 2012 team that was very boring to watch and very mediocre in their results.
Of course, both Cook and Maxwell had very little help from their receivers. That won’t happen again this time, as State has just too much talent up and down the roster. Expect O’Connor to make a smoother transition and take care of business.
L.J. Scott– He’ll be the workhorse, the feature back, the foundation of the offense.
R.J. Shelton– “He can play corner for us, tailback, wide receiver, put him in the slot or out on the outside so he’s a very versatile performer,” Dantonio said.
“Kick returner, punt returner. There’s not too many guys that can play as a true freshman, especially when you’re 13-1 as we were in 2013.”
In other words, Michigan State football has their own version of a Kordell Stewart, “slash” type player. It’s just like the multi-talented, numerous skill set possessing #5 in Michigan, Jabrill Peppers. Although I’m already dreading the fact that I mentioned and linked a Michigan player article in my Michigan State football preview article.
Guess I won’t be reading the comment section on this one!
Josiah Price- possibly the best overall player on offense, or at the most talented. I also love his sound bite from B1G Media Day about the sloganeering in college football. “Nah, I don’t care about slogans, it’s just a label,” Price said.
Malik McDowell- We brought him up already, and we devoted an entire article to him previously, which you can read at this link. You should read it too, as he’s “kind of a big deal,” as Ron Burgundy would say.
Bottom Line:
Overall, this looks and feels like an 9-3 team. It would not be surprising if they finished 8-4 or 10-2; which would put them in a place that truly conveys a new standard being reached in East Lansing. If you can go 9-3 in a proverbial rebuilding year, and that’s what many believe this is, then you have truly arrived at a new support level in East Lansing. If 9-3 is your bottom, then it proves 2012’s dull mediocre tedium was just an aberration of the Dantonio era.
Essentially, the B1G will be this season what it has been in recent years- Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan, way ahead of everyone else. All three have serious question marks this season though, so all three could finish anywhere within 1-3 in the East division.
Michigan State football opens the season Friday night at home against Furman.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.