Michigan State University Athletics
2014 Season Outlook
7/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Michigan State football team officially opens preseason practice on Saturday, Aug. 2. Before the team hits the practice field, here's a position-by-position look at the 2014 Spartans.
SPARTAN FOOTBALL NOTES
• After a record-breaking season in 2013, Michigan State enters the College Football Playoff era in 2014 on a 10-game winning streak, primed to make a run at its second-straight Big Ten Championship and a berth in the inaugural four-team playoff. The Spartans return 46 letterwinners and 15 starters from last season's team that won a school-record 13 games, including a 24-20 victory over No. 5 Stanford in the 2014 Rose Bowl Game and a 34-24 win over No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. MSU finished No. 3 in the final 2013 Associated Press and USA TODAY Polls, marking its highest placing in the national polls since 1966. In addition, Michigan State (13-1) became just the third team in Big Ten history to win at least 13 games in a season (Minnesota, 1904; and Ohio State, 2002).
• The Spartans finished their 2013 Big Ten regular-season schedule with a perfect 8-0 record for the first time in school history and claimed their second Legends Division title in three seasons. Michigan State became the 14th Big Ten team to post an 8-0 mark in league play. The Spartans were the first Big Ten team to win all eight of its conference games by double-digit points since the league went to an eight-game schedule in 1971. In addition, MSU became the first undefeated Big Ten team to win all of its league games by double-figure points since Michigan in 1943 (6-0 record).
• The Spartans have won 42 of their last 54 games (.778), dating back to the beginning of the 2010 season. The 42 wins are most in the Big Ten and tied for ninth most in the FBS during that same time period. In addition, MSU has recorded 35 Big Ten victories since 2008, the most of any team in the conference (Note: Ohio State has won 40 games, but had to vacate seven victories following the 2010 season.). Since 2010, the Spartans have won two Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013), two Big Ten Legends Division titles (2011, 2013), and a school-record three-straight bowl games (2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl Game). MSU has produced double-digit win totals three of the past four seasons (11 wins in 2010 and 2011; 13 in 2013).
• Michigan State returns 19 letterwinners and five starters from the Big Ten's top-ranked defense in 2013. The Spartans led the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in total defense for 13 straight weeks and finished the season ranked No. 2 in the FBS, allowing just 252.2 yards per game. MSU was the only school to rank in the top three in the four major defensive stat categories: No. 2 in total defense, No. 2 in rushing defense (86.6 ypg.), No. 3 in scoring defense (13.2 ppg.) and No. 3 in pass defense (165.6 ypg.). In addition, the Spartans led the FBS in pass efficiency defense (92.3 rating) and ranked No. 2 in opponent third-down conversions (.279) and No. 5 in first-downs defense (14.3 pg). MSU's defense allowed just 4.04 yards per play, which also ranked No. 1 in the FBS.
• The Spartans return seven starters and 16 players with starting experience on offense, including junior quarterback Connor Cook, who went 12-1 in his first season as the starter in 2013. MSU also welcomes back its top rusher in senior Jeremy Langford (292 carries for 1,422 yards and 18 TDs) and four of its top five receivers. Overall, the Spartans are returning 97 percent of their total offense from a year ago, 99 percent of their rushing yards and 79 percent of their receiving yards.
• Michigan State has appeared in a school-record seven consecutive bowl games (2007 Champs Sports, 2009 Capital One, 2010 Alamo, 2011 Capital One, 2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose). The seven-year bowl streak is currently the second longest in the Big Ten and tied for 14th longest in the FBS. MSU is also one of only six schools, along with Florida State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas A&M, to win three bowl games in the last three seasons.
• Since 2011, Michigan State's defense has been one of the most consistent in the FBS. The Spartans are one of just four schools, along with Alabama, Florida and Florida State, to rank among the FBS Top 10 in total defense the past three seasons. In addition, Michigan State and Alabama are the only teams to rank in the FBS top 11 the past three years in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense. MSU has led the Big Ten in total defense and rushing defense the past three seasons, becoming the first conference team to accomplish that feat since the league began awarding stat champions in all games in 1985.
PERSONNEL BRIEFING: OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
Junior Connor Cook (6-4, 218) returns for his second season as the starting quarterback in 2014 after leading the Spartans to a Big Ten Championship and a victory in the Rose Bowl Game last season . . . Cook finished his first year as the starter with one of the best statistical seasons in school history, ranking second in the MSU single-season record book in touchdown passes (22), fourth in total offense (2,831 yards) and pass attempts (380), fifth in passing yards (2,755), and sixth in pass completions (223) . . . Cook was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Big Ten Championship Game after throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns against No. 2 Ohio State, and he topped that performance by racking up a career-high 332 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinal while being named the Rose Bowl Game's Offensive MVP . . . sophomore Tyler O'Connor (6-3, 220) and red-shirt freshman Damion Terry (6-3, 226) will compete for the back-up position . . . Dantonio believes that he has more depth at quarterback on this year's roster than he's ever had before while coaching at Michigan State.
RUNNING BACKS
A year after losing All-American Le'Veon Bell to the NFL Draft, the Spartans return 99 percent of their rushing yards from 2013, including leading rusher and fifth-year senior Jeremy Langford (6-1, 208) . . . Langford led the Big Ten with 18 rushing touchdowns and also ranked among the Big Ten leaders in total touchdowns (first with 19), scoring (third with 8.1 ppg.) and rushing (sixth with 101.6 ypg.) . . . Langford ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in touchdowns (third with 19), rushing touchdowns (fourth with 18), rushing attempts (sixth with 292) and rushing yards (eighth with 1,422) . . . he established a school record by rushing for more than 100 yards in eight consecutive games . . . fifth-year senior Nick Hill (67 carries for 344 yards, 1 TD) and sophomore Delton Williams (38 carries for 238 yards, 1 TD) return as letterwinners . . . red-shirt freshman Gerald Holmes (6-0, 221) will also complete for carries . . . junior Trevon Pendleton (6-0, 249) returns as the starter at fullback after emerging as a key blocker in MSU's running attack last season . . . two tight ends, fifth-year senior Andrew Gleichert (6-5, 264) and red-shirt freshman Dylan Chmura (6-4, 245), could also see time at fullback this season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Michigan State returns 79 percent of its receiving yards in 2014, losing only fifth-year senior Bennie Fowler. Although Fowler led the team in receiving yards (622) and touchdown receptions (6) and ranked third in receptions (36), MSU returns four receivers with multiple years of starting experience, including fifth-year seniors Tony Lippett (6-3, 185) and Keith Mumphery (6-1, 211) and juniors Aaron Burbridge (6-1, 201) and Macgarrett Kings Jr. (5-10, 186) . . . Lippett led the Spartans with a career-high 44 catches for 613 yards and two TDs in 2013 and emerged as a consistent playmaker as the season progressed, leading the team in receptions (31) in Big Ten games while also delivering the game-winning touchdown in the Rose Bowl Game with his 25-yard catch in the fourth quarter against the Cardinal . . . Kings also posted career numbers with 43 receptions for 513 yards and three TDs . . . a year after leading the Spartans in receptions with 42 in 2012, Mumphery recorded a career-high three touchdowns as a junior in 2013, including a career-long 72 yarder against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game . . . converted running back R.J. Shelton (5-11, 204) is also a playmaking threat and should contribute even more in his sophomore season for the Spartans . . . now in his third season at Michigan State after transferring from Tennessee, DeAnthony Arnett (5-11, 185) stood out in spring practice and is expected to compete for playing time as a junior . . . returning letterwinners Andre Sims Jr. (5-9, 180) and Matt Macksood (5-11, 195) add depth at the position.
TIGHT ENDS
Four of the five tight ends that earned letters for the Spartans last season are back in 2014. The group combined for 28 catches for 317 yards and five TDs . . . sophomore Josiah Price (6-4, 251) led the unit with 17 receptions for 210 yards and four TDs in his first season . . . fifth-year senior Andrew Gleichert (6-5, 264) had a career-best six catches for 49 yards and one score . . . sophomore Jamal Lyles (6-3, 251), who moved over to offense after playing defensive end in 2012, caught five passes for 58 yards . . . junior Paul Lang (6-5, 259) also saw time at the position . . . Michael Dennis, who started six games and was primarily used as a blocking tight end, graduated in May 2014 and elected not to use his final year of eligibility.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Although the Spartans lost three starters (RT Fou Fonoti, RG Dan France, LG Blake Treadwell) from the strongest offensive line of the head coach Mark Dantonio era, MSU brings back five veterans that have played extensively up front . . . fifth-year senior Travis Jackson (6-4, 291) has 18 starts to his credit, including his first career start at right guard in the Rose Bowl Game in place of injured starter Dan France; Jackson will open preseason camp as the No. 1 left guard . . . junior center Jack Allen (6-2, 299), who has been named to the Outland Trophy (nation's most outstanding interior lineman) and Rimington Trophy (nation's top center) Watch Lists, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media last season and is back for his third year in the starting lineup and his second at center . . . sophomore left tackle Jack Conklin (6-6, 303), who is also featured on the Outland Trophy Watch List, started 13 games in his first season, including the last 10 at left tackle, and was named a first-team Freshman All-American . . . junior Donavon Clark (6-4, 306) appeared in all 14 games last season, including four starts at left tackle, and will open preseason camp as the No. 1 right tackle . . . fifth-year senior Connor Kruse (6-5, 325) played all five positions on the offensive line last year and saw regular time in the playing rotation as a guard; he will begin preseason camp as the No. 1 right guard . . . sophomore Kodi Kieler (6-6, 304) can play either tackle or guard and will likely see time in the playing rotation after an impressive spring practice.
PERSONNEL BRIEFING: DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Spartans return the best defensive end duo in the Big Ten in 2014, according to ESPN.com, in fifth-year senior Marcus Rush (6-3, 251) and junior Shilique Calhoun (6-5, 256) . . . a three-year starter, Rush has started 40 of his 41 career games and has 11 sacks and 27 tackles for loss . . . a second-team All-American, Calhoun was named the 2013 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after racking up 7.5 sacks (45 yards) and 14 tackles for loss (75 yards); he also tied for the FBS lead with three defensive TDs and ranked tied for second with four fumble recoveries . . . Calhoun is featured on preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year . . . two-year letterwinner Lawrence Thomas (Jr., 6-4, 309) also will contribute at defensive end and possibly on the inside as well . . . red-shirt freshman Demetrius Cooper (6-5, 246) stood out during spring drills and should see time in the playing rotation at defensive end in his first season of action . . . MSU will have to fill holes in the middle of the line left by the departures of fifth-year senior starters Tyler Hoover and Micajah Reynolds . . . reserve Mark Scarpinato also retired to focus on medical school . . . juniors Joel Heath (6-6, 285) and Damon Knox (6-5, 280) enter preseason camp listed as the starters on the interior of the line . . . fifth-year senior James Kittredge (6-4, 298) and junior Brandon Clemons (6-3, 290) also will see playing time along the defensive line . . . a heralded class of incoming freshmen, including Craig Evans (6-2, 320), Malik McDowell (6-6, 286) and Enoch Smith Jr. (6-2, 276), also will have a chance to compete for playing time.
LINEBACKERS
The Spartans must replace two of the most decorated linebackers in school history after losing three-year starters Denicos Allen and Max Bullough . . . Bullough, a middle linebacker, was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss (30.5) and tackles (299) . . . at Sam (strong side) linebacker, Allen finished his career ranked third in MSU history in tackles for loss (46) and sixth in sacks (19.5) . . . senior Taiwan Jones (6-3, 252) started 13 games at Star (weak side) linebacker last season and is MSU's second-leading returning tackler after posting a career-high 67 as a junior; he will open preseason camp as the starter at Mike (middle) linebacker . . . red-shirt freshman Jon Reschke (6-2, 236) will back up Jones in the middle to begin the season . . . junior Darien Harris (6-0, 231) shared middle linebacker duties with Kyler Elsworth in the Rose Bowl Game against Stanford and collected a career-high four tackles; Harris is slated to start at the Star (weakside) position and could also play in the middle . . . fifth-year senior Mylan Hicks (5-11, 197) will also see time at Star linebacker . . . junior Ed Davis (6-3, 242) recorded 17 tackles, including four sacks, as a sophomore in 2013 and is poised to take over Allen's spot at Sam linebacker . . . sophomore Riley Bullough (6-2, 227), who moved to offense as a running back and fullback in 2013, is back to his natural position of linebacker and will see time in the playing rotation.
SECONDARY
Michigan State, which led the FBS in 2013 in pass efficiency defense and ranked No. 3 in pass defense, should field another excellent secondary with nine letterwinners returning to the position group in 2014 . . . junior Trae Waynes (6-1, 182) appears to be next line as MSU's lock-down cornerback, following in the footsteps of 2013 Jim Thorpe Award winner and unanimous All-American Darqueze Dennard . . . featured on the Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists, Waynes had three interceptions in the final three games of the season, including a pick in the Rose Bowl Game against Stanford . . . sophomore Darian Hicks (5-10, 180) enters preseason camp listed as the starter at field corner . . . junior Arjen Colquhoun (6-1, 195), a two-year letterwinner, and sophomore Jermaine Edmondson (6-0, 182) will also compete for time at cornerback . . . at safety, fifth-year senior Kurtis Drummond (6-1, 202) returns for his third year as a starter . . . Drummond, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior in 2013 with a career-high 91 tackles, four interceptions and six pass break-ups, has been named to preseason watch lists for the Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy . . . sophomore Demetrious Cox (6-1, 200) will back up Drummond at free safety . . . junior RJ Williamson (6-0, 214), who started twice last season, will move into a full-time starting role in 2014 at strong safety; he recorded 44 tackles and two pass break-ups as a sophomore . . . red-shirt freshman Jalyn Powell (5-11, 210) showcased his potential in the spring and should also see time on the field behind Williamson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore Michael Geiger (5-8, 189) set an MSU single-season record for field-goal percentage as a true freshman, making 93.8 percent of his attempts (15-of-16); that percentage also ranked first in the Big Ten and tied for fourth best in the FBS . . . Geiger, who was 8-of-8 from 40-plus yards, was named a first-team Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America . . . he will also compete for kickoff duties, along with Kevin Cronin (So., 6-1, 213), with the departure of fifth-year senior Kevin Muma . . . fifth-year senior Mike Sadler (6-0, 175) returns for his fourth and final season as the starting punter . . . a valuable weapon on special teams, Sadler ranked first in the FBS last season in punts inside the 10 (24) and tied for second in punts inside the 20 (33) . . . he ranked fourth in the Big Ten with a 42.5-yard punting average . . . Sadler was tabbed a first-team All-American by ESPN.com and CBSSports.com, and also was a first-team Academic All-American . . . junior Taybor Pepper (6-5, 220) returns for his third season as the starting long snapper . . . sophomore R.J. Shelton led the Spartans last season with nine kick returns for 199 yards (22.1 avg.) . . . junior Macgarrett Kings Jr. ranked third in the Big Ten in punt returns in 2013 (206 yards on 20 returns, 10.3 avg.).
