Talented Youth on Full Display in Win Against Scarlet Knights

Nov. 12, 2016

By Steve Grinczel, MSUSpartans.com Online Columnist

EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" Trishton Jackson had two catches for 67 yards and a spectacularly acrobatic 50-yard touchdown. In addition to two catches for 18 yards, Donnie Corley had the best hit on defense. Cole Chewins helped pave the way for 277 rushing yards and was part of an offensive line that didn't allow a sack.

Josh King, Raequan Williams and Mike Panasuik spearheaded a defensive effort that gave up just 149 yards of total offense, or 3.0 yards per rush and 2.2 yards per pass attempt. What do they all have in common?

They're all first-year players who made significant contributions to Michigan State's 49-0 victory over Rutgers Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.

While youth and inexperience have been cited as factors in the Spartans' just-ended seven-game losing streak, it was a harbinger of things to come, if not in the final two games against Ohio State and Penn State, then in 2017.

"Young players are going to progress and I think it's interesting to note that our seniors have stayed the course, too," said MSU head coach Mark Dantonio. "We've got the makings of a good football team."

Two redshirt freshmen, Chewins at left offensive tackle and Williams at defensive tackle, and Panasuik, a true-freshman defensive tackle, made their first career starts for the Spartans against the Scarlet Knights.

Michigan State has had a different starting lineup in every game this season on both offense and defense, and 23 Spartans have either started for the first time this season or are in their first full-time starting role.

Jackson, who played quarterback in high school, demonstrated explosiveness that could complement Corley at wide receiver for years to come. In the second quarter, he had to turn his head back while running forward to locate a pass thrown by Tyler O'Connor. After making the catch, he kept his balance and strode 50 yards for a touchdown that gave MSU a 21-0 lead.

"I still had jitters going in afterwards because I was eager to get another one, but I was relaxed more after that," Jackson said about his first career touchdown. "I feel as though I've transformed into a full receiver now and like it pretty well."

Jackson, who had three catches for 22 yards coming into the game, doesn't feel like a freshman with two left feet anymore.

"Playing quarterback and switching to wide receiver was a hard task, but I think I have it down pat â€" knowing the offense, reading defenses and telling people what to do," he said.

Chewins played alongside redshirt freshman guard Tyler Higby.

"I think we were just jelling as a unit," Chewins said. "The offensive linemen were doing their jobs, the wide receivers were doing their jobs, the running backs, the quarterbacks, everyone did. Based on the defense we decided to go with the play calling that we did, and it just clicked.

"I am very excited. As you can see we have a lot of talent, a lot of potential, but we just have to stay focused on this year and next week. We need to continue to grow each game, and take each game as a learning point so we can continue to grow as players and people."

Corley had two catches for 18 yards, but it was his play at cornerback that turned heads. In the first quarter, he stood up Knight wide receiver Matt Flanagan with an open-field tackle for a 2-yard gain on third-and-10.

"I was not (expecting his hard hit on defense)," said co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett. "We are at the point in the season where he doesn't have to show us that he can hit like that. He's just a natural-born football player. That was great to see, I can't wait to watch it on film."

Dantonio will take everything MSU's first-year players can give him this season with an eye on years to come.

"I think they played better," Dantonio said. "Corley played about a quarter on defense and had a big play on third down, so we used him on both sides of the ball. He had a big catch and a nice run, but I do think freshmen tend to grow up a little bit more in the offseason than they do during the season because it's pretty chaotic during the season when everything is going on.

"I'm proud of how they played and we have some guys that obviously are playing well."