Grinz on Green Blog: Miller, Willis Enjoy Memorable First Starts Against U-M

Oct. 18, 2015

By Steve Grinczel, MSUSpartans.com Online Columnist

ANN ARBOR, Mich. â€" Finally, the John Miller family of Georgetown, Kentucky, has something else to talk about at the dinner table when Michigan State-Michigan week comes around than the time he intercepted four Wolverine passes in 1987.

John Miller's son Grayson, a true freshman Spartan safety, made his first career start on Saturday against U-M in Michigan Stadium. In addition to giving a solid all-around performance, he played a key role in the final play of the game that allowed the MSU to return home with an incredible 27-23 victory.

With 10 seconds remaining and the Wolverines lined up to punt from midfield on fourth down, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio called for an 11-man punt block.

The Spartans got the break they were hoping for when rugby-style kicker Blake O'Neill muffed the long snap and Miller and fellow legacy player Matt Morrissey, a red-shirt freshman defensive back and son of former standout MSU linebacker Jim, capitalized.

Together, they rammed into O'Neill, forcing him to cough up the ball a second time. Red-shirt freshman defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped up the fumble and scored the winning touchdown with a 38-yard return as time expired.

"I blitzed off the edge and Matt Morrissey and I hit the punter as he was bobbling it," Grayson said. "I was on the ground and just saw Jalen taking off. Before I knew it, he was in the end zone. I saw he was fumbling the snap and that's why I just took off after him."

John Miller was a four-year Michigan State letterwinner from 1985-88. A two-time All-Big Ten safety, John became a part of Spartan lore when he broke the school record and tied the conference mark with four pickoffs to lead MSU to 17-11 victory against Michigan in Spartan Stadium en route to the '87 Big Ten Championship.

Grayson's chapter in the history of Spartan football is off to a spellbinding start.

"I had some crazy finishes in high school but I've never experienced a feeling like this before," he said. "In my first career start, this is something special. This is something you tell your grandkids about.

"I've started my story, so I'll have stuff to tell everybody."

Grayson, who like his father wears No. 44, learned earlier in the week that he and Khari Willis, also a true freshman, would start against Michigan. The risky move allowed MSU to bolster its injury-depleted secondary by moving Demetrious Cox back to cornerback.

"At the beginning of the week they told me what our plan was," Grayson said. "Khari and I knew what we had to do and went out there and executed the game plan. They're confident in us, so we felt that belief and it just happened to be the Michigan game.

"What a great start to our careers."

Grayson, a sure tackler, finished the game with six stops and Willis had three.

"I thought they played very well," Dantonio said. "We felt like we needed to play Cox out at corner, so that took a safety out of the way. Montae Nicholson played in our nickel situation but we felt like we needed to make a change to give somebody else an opportunity at that position."

Willis debunked the notion that the game slows down for players in intense situations, such as the final play.

"Nothing about this game was slow-motion," said Willis, who was also on the punt-block team. "Everything was fast, so that's good. I saw the ball on the ground. Then I saw the punter pick it up and try to make something happen with it. And then I just saw a white wave take it into the end zone and I just tried to secure it as a teammate.

"It hit me when he crossed the goal line. I'm like, ‘Jalen, you won us the game. It's over.' It was the finest moment of my life."

GoG Notes & Quotes: The offensive line also continued to mix-and-match players to compensate for injuries. Jack Conklin was back at left tackle after missing two games, and right tackle Kodi Kieler, who missed three games earlier in the season, toughed it out in the second-straight game.

However, standout senior center Jack Allen, who injured his leg in the previous game at Rutgers, did not dress for the Wolverines and was replaced by his brother Brian, who moved over from left guard. Before he was injured, the 6-foot-2, 296-pound Jack Allen took Conklin's place at left tackle.

Rushing yards were tough to come by, as the Spartans gained a season-low 58 yards on 33 carries. But, Michigan gained just 62 yards on 33 carries against MSU, and Michigan State held a 386-230 advantage in total offense.

"A lot of teams, when your starting left tackle goes down and you have a 6-foot-2, 300-pound kid playing left tackle, some people see that and go, ‘Oh no,'" Brian said. "But we never felt sorry for ourselves. Next guy steps up, someone has to play a different position. That's what it is and that's what we're gonna do."

The team that won the rushing battle in the MSU-Michigan matchup lost the game for just the fourth time in the last 46 meetings.

With Riley Bullough starting at middle linebacker, the Bullough family's MSU record against Michigan improved to 11-8. In addition to Riley, the roster is made up of grandfather Henry, father Shane, uncle Chuck and brothers Max and Byron.

Riley is the fifth Bullough to win in Michigan Stadium.

"I just think he's proud," Riley said of his grandfather. "People don't realize how deep this rivalry really goes in our family. It's part of who we are. That's how we identify ourselves, as Spartans. It's how we've always been.

"So to come in here, it makes it that much sweeter to get the win and I'm sure every Spartan everywhere is proud."