2017 B1G Previews: Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State Spartans (East Division)

Location: East Lansing, MI

Stadium: Spartan Stadium (75,005)

Coach: Mark Dantonio (11^th year): 90-42 at MSU/108-59 overall, 53-31 v B1G

2016 Michigan State Spartans (3-9)(1-8)                 2017 Michigan State Spartans

28        Furman                        13                                S2        Bowling Green

36        at Notre Dame            28                                S9        Western Michigan

  6        Wisconsin                    30                                S16      idle

21        at Indiana                    24 (OT)                       S23      Notre Dame

14        BYU                             31                                S30      Iowa

40        Northwestern              54                                O7       at Michigan

17        at Maryland                28                                O14     at Minnesota

23        Michigan                     32                                O21     Indiana

27        at Illinois                     31                                O28     at Northwestern

49        Rutgers                          0                                N4        Penn State

16        Ohio State                   17                                N11      at Ohio State

12        at Penn State               45                                N18      Maryland

                                                                                    N25      at Rutgers

After celebrating the conference championship and making the playoff, Michigan State suffered a stunning reversal of fortunes in 2016 and all eyes will be on Coach Mark Dantonio and his staff to see how they respond in 2017.

Michigan State needs better quarterback play after using three different starters in 2016.  Sophomore Brian Lewerke came out of spring practice as the front-runner, with senior Damion Terry and redshirt freshman Messiah deWeaver also in the hunt.  Lewerke and Terry played in a handful of games, with Lewerke completing 54 percent of his throws for 381 yards and two touchdowns and Terry was just under 50 percent for 2563 yards and a score.  Fortunately, the Spartans have experience at RB in Dantonio’s run-heavy offense.  Junior LJ Scott ran for 994 yards and six touchdowns and will bear the brunt of the MSU rushing attack.  Also back there will be dependable FB junior Collin Lucas to block for Scott.  The offensive line should also be improved with the return of senior center Brian Allen, an Outland candidate, and sophomore LT Cole Chewins.  Sophomore Tyler Higby impressed the coaches in spring practice and should take over at LG, while junior David Beedle figures to get the nod at RG.  The RT spot has been up in the air and right now, freshman Luke Campbell appears to have the edge going into preseason drills.  Michigan State has some young, but talented receivers, highlighted by sophomore Donnie Corley and junior Felton Davis III.  Corley started two games a year ago and is their leading returning receiver (3^rd on the team last year) with 33 receptions for 453 yards and three scores.  Davis III also started two games and managed 21 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown.  The Spartans will benefit from sophomore Trishton Jackson, a speedster, and incoming freshman Hunter Risen, son of former MSU star Andre Rison.   Junior Matt Sokol should get the starting nod at TE.  Used mainly for blocking, Sokol may be called upon more as a receiver.  

                                            RB L.J. Scott

The defense needs work after allowing 27.8 points per name.  The line didn’t have a player with more than 2.5 sacks last season and loses all conference performer Malik McDowell.  The coaching staff will build the defensive line around senior DE Demetrius Cooper and sophomore DT Raequan Williams.  Williams started the last three games of the season and overall, turned in some impressive play, with 28 tackles, five TFLs and three sacks.  Cooper did almost as well, with 23 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.  Sophomore Mike Panasiuk and junior Robert Bowers will start at the other DT and DE spots respectively.  Both played well in back up roles a year ago, with Panasuik garnering 14 tackles and a sack, while Bowers picked up 12 tackles and a sack.  The Spartans received good news in the linebacking corps, as Chris Frey will return for his senior year.  The leading tackler with 96 a year ago, Frey’s leadership will be critical for this defense.  Joining him will be junior Andrew Dowell and sophomore Joe Bachie.  Dowell is second behind Frey in returning defenders with 67 tackles and three TFLs to go along with an interception, while Bachie will see his first start in the opener after garnering 12 tackles and two TFLs in his reserve role last year.  The secondary was weak on the perimeter last year.  Junior Vayante Copeland is the most experienced of that group.  Despite starting only five games and playing in seven, Copeland was sixth on the team in tackles with 36 to go along with an interception.  They also get junior Matt Morrissey back at one safety spot after he was in on 20 tackles.  The corner spot opposite Copeland will be filled by sophomore Justin Layne, who did well in limited playing time last year with 18 stops, a TFL, and an interception.  Sophomore David Dowell looks to lock down the other safety spot as a first-time starter after getting ten tackles and recovering a fumble in limited action.  

                                            LB Chris Frey

Senior Jake Scanlon looks to fill the big shoes of the departed kicker Michael Geiger, while junior Jake Hartbarger is back to handle the punting chores after averaging nearly 41 yards on his 54 punts last year.

The Spartans will not have an easy road to regain their usual role of being in the thick of challenging for the top of the East Division.  They have a tough stretch in the beginning against Notre Dame, Iowa, and at Michigan which could determine what kind of season the Spartans will have.  Then, they’ll have to face Penn State at home and travel to Ohio State back-to-back in November.  Coach Dantonio will bring the Spartans back.  It just may not happen this year.

PREDICTION: 7-5 (4-5) 4^th in B1G East