Michigan State University
OVERVIEW: The Michigan State Spartan football team had an excellent 2011 season, posting an 11-3 record, an appearance in the first Big Ten Championship game, and an exciting three-overtime victory over Georgia in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day. But graduation hit the Spartans hard in some areas, like the skilled positions on offense. Gone are three-year starting quarterback Kirk Cousins; three excellent receivers in B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin, and Keith Nichol; and All-Big Ten starting guard Joel Foreman. The defense was not without loss either, as All-Big Ten defensive tackle Jerel Worthy forwent his senior season to enter the NFL Draft and was selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers. But that doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare for coach Mark Dantonio, as he returns 46 lettermen, including 16 starters, 10 of whom had some kind of postseason honor.
OFFENSE: The first order of business here is to find a replacement for Cousins, who for the past three years showed great poise and leadership for the Spartans. Junior Andrew Maxwell heads to camp atop the depth chart at the position. Last year, Maxwell saw action in four games, throwing for 171 yards and a touchdown. The good thing for Maxwell is that he will be able to hand the ball to 2011’s leading rusher, Le’Veon Bell, and take some pressure off himself. Bell, an honorable mention All-Big Ten performer in 2011, ran for 987 yards and 13 touchdowns last year.
DEFENSE: This unit will definitely be the strength of the Spartans in 2012. Returning talent is everywhere, including at all three linebacker spots, where Chris Norman, Max Bullough, and Denicos Allen come back to terrorize opposing offenses. Bullough led the team in tackles last year with 89, while Allen led the team in sacks with 11. And don’t forget about up front, where 6’7″, 280-pound William Gholston will be wreaking havoc from his defensive end position. If opposing quarterbacks do happen to get off a pass, defensive back Isaiah Lewis returns, after hauling in four interceptions last year.
OUR TAKE: The Spartans will be in every game with the defensive unit they will field. It’s not a bad thing to have a running back like Le’Veon Bell to lean on while a new quarterback gets his footing. If Maxwell gets comfortable and finds his stroke, this could be a dangerous team as the season winds down.
COACH’S COMMENT: “The opportunity to play in an inaugural championship game last year was a great experience for all of us. But we’ve also got some unfinished business in terms of getting to a Rose Bowl. We’ve not been able to accomplish that yet, so that continues to be our goal,” Dantonio said at Big Ten Media Day.
SCHEDULE:
8/31 BOISE STATE 8 p.m.
9/8 Central Michigan 3:30 p.m.
9/15 Notre Dame 8 p.m.
9/22 EASTERN MICHIGAN TBA
9/29 OHIO STATE TBA
10/6 Indiana noon
10/13 IOWA noon
10/20 Michigan TBA
10/27 Wisconsin 3:30 p.m.
11/3 NEBRASKA TBA
11/17 NORTHWESTERN TBA
11/24 Minnesota TBA