For Michigan State to rebound from 2016, its defense will have to make drastic improvements in 2017. Across the board, the Spartans struggled defensively on the way to a 3-9 record. MSU’s lack of pass rush contributed to the ineffectiveness of a vulnerable secondary, and vice versa. Meanwhile, Michigan State got some solid linebacker play, but it was inconsistent because of injuries and general up-and-down performance.
Source: Spartan Tailgate
Hollywood has made movies about Michigan State defensive end Kenny Willekes. OK, not Willekes specifically, but players like him. There’s no better sports story to tell than the one about the unheralded recruit who goes to college as a walk-on but works relentlessly to earn a scholarship and end up helping his team. Those players become fan favorites because they didn’t rely on freak athletic ability and had to earn every opportunity given to them.
Source: Spartan Tailgate
It wasn’t that long ago that Kenny Willekes played running back for Michigan State. Granted, that was never his position. Mark Dantonio used the former walk-on linebacker from Rockford to help simulate former Alabama star Derrick Henry to prepare the Spartans’ defense for the College Football Playoff in December 2015. Now, Willekes is on scholarship and could be on the path to making a name for himself at defensive end.
Source: Detroit Free Press
It’s been an eventful and silent spring for Michigan State’s football program, which has two practices left before breaking until late July. That means there is a lot of ground to cover with who is playing well and who is not. Here’s a look at six Spartans who helped themselves and three who hurt their stock in Saturday’s Green and White scrimmage at Spartan Stadium
Source: Detroit Free Press
One Spartans player just elevated himself from walk-on status to scholarship player. Although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, Michigan State defensive lineman Kenny Willekes was awarded a scholarship by Spartans coaches Tuesday during a team meeting. Willekes, who will be a redshirt sophomore going into the 2017 football season, played in 11 games last season and recorded six tackles.
Source: Land of 10