Michigan State University Athletics
Grinz on Green: Several Spartans Looking to Emerge in 2015
8/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Shilique Calhoun, Jack Allen and Connor Cook represented Michigan State at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
By Steve Grinczel, MSUSpartans.com Online Columnist | @GrinzOnGreen
CHICAGO -- All told, Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook, center Jack Allen and defensive end Shilique Calhoun appear on the watch lists of 11 major postseason awards.
Whether they win any of those honors will depend greatly on the success of the Spartans, who are ranked No. 6 in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, and their surrounding cast will be vital to team and individual aspirations.
With that in mind, every player wearing a Michigan State jersey is on the Cook, Allen and Calhoun Watch List based on the outlook they provided at Big Ten Football Media Days, which concluded on Friday.
Each, however, is watching certain teammates with particular interest in anticipation of breakout seasons, comeback performances and hard work rewarded.
When asked for his personal Spartan watch list, Cook listed every receiver from leading returning pass-catch Macgarrett Kings Jr. (29 receptions, 404 yards, one touchdown) to fourth-year walk-on Matt Macksood.
That comes as no surprise because MSU has to replace nearly half of its receiving production from last season due to the departure of Tony Lippett (65 catches; 1,198 yards; 11 TD) and Keith Mumphery (26, 495, three).
Nevertheless, Cook is pulling for fifth-year senior AJ Troup, a sturdy, 6-foot-2, 218-pound fifth-year senior who has come back from multiple health issues.
"AJ Troup for sure, just for the injuries he's had to deal with," Cook said. "Just to see him competing at the level he's competing at is unreal. I can imagine what he'd be like if he'd never hurt his knees. He's had three ACL surgeries and he's still one of the hardest-working guys on the team, one of the most talented guys on the team and just his work ethic is inspiring for the stuff he's been through."
Troup will enter preseason camp behind Aaron Burbridge at split end. A healthy Troup had seven catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games last season.
"He's my roommate and being able to work out with him this summer and developing that chemistry has been great," Cook said. "I'd love to see burst out on the scene, but I'd also like to see R.J. Shelton have another great year and break out even more in his receiver position than as a running back, Macgarrett Kings get back to the same Kings he was in 2013 (43, 513, three), Burbridge -- I'm just naming off all the receivers.
"Then obviously, whoever's going to be that guy at running back. We've established ourselves with our O-line group -- Kodi Kieler, Jack Conklin, Brian Allen, Jack Allen and Donavon Clark deserve all the credit they're getting. We've got great tight ends, too."
The running back competition to replace Jeremy Langford and Nick Hill is wide open. The depth chart lists sophomore Gerald Holmes, redshirt freshman Madre London and junior Nick Tompkins while incoming freshman LJ Scott will get a chance to make an impact.
Allen, who anchors what will arguably be the best line in nine seasons under head coach Mark Dantonio, took an interesting approach, looking across the line of scrimmage for his candidates for stardom.
"I'm pretty excited for Darien Harris this season," Allen said. "He's a guy that since day one has worked hard. He had a great season last year and he even amped it up even more this summer. I think there are going to be great things coming out of him."
The fifth-year senior outside linebacker was fifth on the team with 48 tackles last season, including 3.5 behind the line.
"I'm excited to see Riley Bullough play," Allen said of the fourth-year junior middle linebacker. "He hits pretty hard and it's not fun pulling around to go after him. Then I would say the young running backs, too, just to see them get in their groove because they're pretty impressive athletes."
Calhoun also couldn't narrow his list down to just one teammate, especially with a defensive line that also could be the best of the Dantonio era.
"I would say I look for big things out of my whole team," Calhoun said. "But specifically, I would say the D-line because that's my unit and I know the potential we have in that room. I have faith in all my teammates but I see the D-line every day."
The first name to roll of Calhoun's tongue was that of fifth-year defensive end Lawrence Thomas, who has battled through injuries and position changes to position himself as one of the top breakout candidates in the nation by the Sporting News. At 6-4, 304 pounds, the nimble Thomas is slated to replace four-year starter Marcus Rush, who played his final season at 6-3, 251.
"L.T., of course he's on a watch list also, but your breakout year for him and my breakout year for him are completely different things," Calhoun said. "I have extremely high expectations for the people in my room, guys like Joel Heath, who I've watched work day in and day out and who is someone who's gained a love and passion for the game. He can do great things at the university."
The 6-6, 293-pound Heath is listed at tackle next to sophomore 6-6, 275-pound nose tackle Malik McDowell.
"Last year (McDowell) was a first-year guy who started as a true freshman who just dabbed his toe in a little bit of cold water to understand the game in the Big Ten," Calhoun said. "With more knowledge under his belt, he can play a lot faster. Even though he was a dominant force for us last year, he's one of those guys who could be an All-American -- not just a freshman All-American."
Calhoun also has high hopes for third-year sophomore Demetrius Cooper, who at 6-5, 245 pounds has often been called a Calhoun clone.
"He is finally filling into that role," Calhoun said. "He's a young guy who's finally getting it. Early on, it was all just a game to him and he didn't completely understand what it takes to compete at this level. Now that he knows the defense, his mind is allowing him to play a lot faster."
The experience MSU is bringing back across the board -- 50 letterwinners, 17 starters and 23 seniors -- should allow the entire team to play fast and show up on the most important list of all.
The championship watch list.
