The Michigan State Spartans are entering the football season as one of the top teams in the country. There is a high possibility that they will be fighting for a College Football playoff bid when the end of the season rolls around. Head Coach Mark Dantonio seems to get better as the years go by, but he has a huge whole to fill with the departure of defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi. For ten years, Narduzzi and Dantonio were linked together, but to no surprise the Spartans should still bolster a top-flight defense.
Harlon Barnett and Mike Tressel were announced as Co-Coordinators for the defense that returns Shilique Calhoun, Darien Harris, and R.J. Williamson. Having a good stable of veterans makes the job a little easier, and the defense has just that. Dantonio and defense are synonymous with one another so it wouldn’t be anything less that the team is stout on that side of the ball.
It’s sort of odd that Michigan State is flying under the radar given the success that they have had over the past few seasons. The offense, which is underrated compared to others, is coming back with a bevy of talent and some fresh new faces that should make an instant impact.
Quarterback Connor Cook will and should be a candidate to garner All-American accolades as well as offensive linemen Jack Conklin. With the departure of Jeremy Langford, many wondered who would step in place to start at running back, and it has been freshman Madre London that has turned the most heads. London will have to shoulder the responsibility to be the featured running back, but that should be no problem as the Spartans have enough help on the offensive side of the ball to make it an easy transition for the freshman.
Saturday against Western Michigan, starts the quest of another storybook season for the Spartans. It’s rare to see a top-tier team fly under the radar such as the Spartans, but with the National Champions Ohio State Buckeyes returning most of the team, and with Jim Harbaugh coming back home it has been just that for the Spartans. Fans in the state of Michigan are ecstatic about the return of the favorite son in Jim Harbaugh, but let’s not overlook the potential that the Michigan State Spartans have to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten as well as all of college football. Memo to fans across the state of Michigan: Don’t forget about the green and white……. It could be a special year.
