The Spartans had a precipitous drop from 37 sacks in 2015 during their run to the College Football Playoff to 11 during the disastrous, bowl-less 2016 season. Then last season, with minimal starting experience returning and a number of first-year producers, MSU’s pressure increased. Now-junior defensive end Kenny Willekes got a team-high seven of the Spartans’ 28 sacks as the unit finished second to only Alabama in run defense and seventh nationally in overall defense.
Source: Detroit Free Press