Spartans Head to Nebraska to Face Cornhuskers

Game 11: Michigan State (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) at Nebraska (3-7, 2-5 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 17
Kickoff: 11:05 a.m. CT/12:05 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (86,047)
Surface: FieldTurf
TV/Web/Mobile: FOX/FOX Sports Go
Announcers: Brian Custer (play-by-play), Ben Leber (analyst), Alex Curry (sideline)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 83 (Sirius), Ch. 83 (XM), Ch. 83 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Nebraska Live Stats
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 8-2

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 106-49 (12th year)
Overall Record: 124-66 (15th year)
Record vs. Ohio State: 2-3

Nebraska Head Coach: Scott Frost
Nebraska Record: 3-7 (first year)
Overall Record: 22-14 (third year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Michigan State heads to Nebraska to face the Cornhuskers on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT in Memorial Stadium. The Spartans (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) are coming off a 26-6 loss to No. 8/7 Ohio State last Saturday in East Lansing, while Nebraska (3-7, 2-5 Big Ten) defeated Illinois in Lincoln, 54-35. The game will be televised nationally on FOX, with Brian Custer calling the play-by-play, Ben Leber serving as the analyst and Alex Curry on the sidelines.

• Saturday's game marks the 11th meeting between Michigan State and Nebraska. The Huskers lead the all-time series, 8-2, including a 5-1 record in games played in Memorial Stadium. MSU is 2-3 against Nebraska in Big Ten games. In the last meeting on Nov. 7, 2015, Nebraska snapped MSU's 12-game winning streak with a 39-38 victory over MSU in Lincoln; the Spartans bounced back from the loss to win four straight, winning the Big Ten Championship and reaching the College Football Playoff. MSU's lone win at Nebraska arrived during the Spartans' 2013 Big Ten Championship season, a 41-28 victory on Nov. 16, 2013.

• Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 76.5 yards per game. The Spartans have held their opponent to under 100 yards rushing seven times this season. MSU also has only given up 22 rushes of 10-plus yards, which is second fewest in the FBS (San Diego State, 20).

• In addition to leading the FBS in rushing defense, the Spartans also rank among the national leaders in third-down conversion defense (14th at .320), scoring defense (17th at 19.7 ppg) and total defense (21st at 327.3 ypg). MSU has held its opponents to 20 or fewer points five times, and although the Buckeyes scored 26 points on Nov. 10, the defense allowed just 17 points (two TDs and one field goal).

• Junior defensive end Kenny Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy. The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. Willekes has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the Big Ten. Named to the All-Big Ten midseason team by Pro Football Focus, he leads the conference in tackles for loss (17 for 79 yards) and ranks second in sacks (8.5 for 60 yards), totals which also rank among the national leaders (tied for eighth in TFLs, tied for 16th in sacks). According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes leads all defensive ends in the FBS with 16 quarterback hits. The native of Rockford, Michigan, is MSU's active leader in tackles for loss (12th overall in school history with 31.5) and sacks (10th in school history with 15.5). Willekes' 17 tackles for loss this season rank tied for sixth most in an MSU season.

• With the win at Maryland on Nov. 3, Michigan State became bowl eligible for the 11th time in 12 seasons under head coach Mark Dantonio. In addition, MSU also won its 700th game in school history. The Spartans own an all-time record of 700-457-44 (.601) in 1,201 games. MSU became the 27th school in the FBS to win 700 games.

• A trademark of Mark Dantonio's Michigan State teams has been their ability to produce wins late in the season. Under Dantonio, Michigan State has compiled a 29-12 record (.707) in November. His teams have won 23 of the last 32 games in November (3-0 in 2010; 4-0 in 2011; 1-2 in 2012; 4-0 in 2013; 3-1 in 2014; 3-1 in 2015; 1-3 in 2016; 3-1 in 2017; 1-1 in 2018). During MSU's three Big Ten Championship seasons (2010, 2013, 2015) under Dantonio, MSU was 10-1 in November. In addition, MSU is 32-16 (.667) in Big Ten road games under Dantonio, including a 26-10 record (.722) since 2010. Dantonio has won at least one road game at every Big Ten stadium.

• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio announced following the Ohio State game that running back LJ Scott will sit out the remainder of the season with an injury. Scott, who saw action as a true freshman in 2015 and led the Spartans in rushing his first three seasons (2015-17), only played in four games this fall due to an injury and will be eligible to return for a fifth year in 2019.

• Sophomore placekicker Matt Coghlin, who is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, has made 14-of-16 field-goal attempts (.875) this season. Coghlin ranks among the Big Ten leaders in PAT percentage (first at 1.000), field-goal percentage (second at .875), field goals made (tied for third with 14) and scoring (eighth at 7.1 ppg). The Cincinnati, Ohio, native ranks first in MSU history with his .829 career field-goal percentage (29-of-35).

• Michigan State and Nebraska will honor Mike Sadler and Sam Foltz in a pregame ceremony on Saturday. Sadler and Foltz were both tragically killed in a car accident on July 23, 2016, while working a kicking camp near Waukesha, Wisconsin. The pregame ceremony will include MSU head coach Mark Dantonio, Nebraska head coach Scott Frost, members of the Sadler and Foltz families, and specialists of both teams. On the field, Sadler was a master of his craft and one of the greatest and most productive punters in program history. In the classroom, he achieved an ever rarer feat, becoming the first student-athlete at Michigan State to earn Academic All-America honors four times. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Sadler earned first-team All-America accolades during MSU's Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season in 2013. He was posthumously inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. Foltz was named the 2015 Big Ten Punter of the Year for the Huskers.

Dowell, Andrew

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – Connor Heyward (74 carries for 359 yards, 4.9 avg., 35.9 ypg, 5 TDs)
Passing – Brian Lewerke (162-of-298, .544, 1,868 yards, 207.6 ypg, 8 TDs, 9 INTs)
Receiving – Felton Davis III (31 catches for 474 yards, 15.3 avg., 67.7 ypg, 4 TDs)*
Tackles – Andrew Dowell (75 tackles, 31 solo, 44 assists, 7 TFLs, 3 sacks, 6 PBUs)
* out for season with injury

Nebraska:
Rushing – Devine Ozigbo (127 carries for 958 yards, 7.5 avg., 95.8 ypg, 12 TDs)
Passing – Adrian Martinez (182-of-272 for 2,212 yards, 245.8 ypg, 15 TDs, 7 INTs)
Receiving – JD Spielman (66 catches for 818 yards, 12.4 avg, 81.8 ypg, 8 TDs)
Tackles – Mohamed Barry (93 tackles, 47 solo, 46 assists, 10 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PBU)

A QUICK GLANCE AT NEBRASKA (3-7, 2-5 BIG TEN) –
• The Cornhuskers are 3-7 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten action, having won three of their last four games, most recently a 54-35 win over Illinois last Saturday . . . Nebraska opened the season 0-6 before getting the first win of the season on Oct. 20 with a 53-28 victory over Minnesota, then followed that up with a 45-9 blasting of Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 27 . . . after a 36-31 loss at No. 10 Ohio State on Nov. 3, Nebraska got back in the win column with the victory over Illinois.

• Nebraska and Illinois traded TDs in the first quarter, until with the score tied at 14, the Cornhuskers scored 17 unanswered points to open a 31-14 lead and never looked back, leading 38-21 at halftime and won going away, 54-35.

• For their performances in the win over the Illini, Huskers senior running back Devine Ozigbo was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Ozigbo had 162 yards rushing on 11 carries, for his fourth Big Ten game with 150-plus rushing yards, and scored a career-high three TDs, scoring on TD runs of 60 and 66 yards for the two longest rushes of his career, and adding a 4-yard scamper.

• Martinez directed a Husker offense that totaled more than 600 yards of offense against the Illini while scoring 54 points, the most points Nebraska has ever scored in a Big Ten Conference game . . . he totaled 345 yards of total offense against Illinois, as he tied the school record with his sixth 300-yard total offense game this season . . . Martinez completed 24-of-34 passes for 290 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns . . . he also ran for 55 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown, tying his career high with four total touchdowns.

• Nebraska ranks fourth in the B1G and 40th in FBS in scoring offense (32.3 ppg), boosted by scoring 30-plus points in the last five games . . . defensively, Nebraska ranks 12th in the league and 103rd in the nation in scoring defense (33.8 ppg).

• The Cornhuskers are second in the conference and 13th in the country in total offense (482.6 ypg), ranking third in the league and 42nd in the nation in passing offense (256.1 ypg) and fourth in the B1G and 22nd in the FBS in rushing offense (226.5 ypg).

• Nebraska's defense is 13th in the Big Ten and 107th in FBS in total defense (449.4 ypg), ranking 12th in the conference and 101st in the country in passing defense (255.4 ypg) and 12th in the league and 90th in the nation in rushing defense (194.0 ypg).

• Martinez is 182-of-272 passing for 2,212 yards (245.8 ypg) with 15 TDs and seven INTs, adding 116 carries for 535 yards with seven TDs, to rank second in the B1G and 14th in FBS in total offense (305.2 ypg) . . . he also is second in the conference and 21st in the country in points responsible for per game (15.1 ppg), as well as third in the league and 32nd in the nation in passing yards per game (245.8) and fourth in the conference and 34th in the country in passing efficiency (148.3) . . . Martinez is 13th in the league in rushing yards per game (59.4) and 11th in rushing TDs (7).

• Ozigbo leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth in FBS in rushing TDs (12), as well as ranking second in the Big Ten and fifth in FBS in rushing yards per carry (7.54), with 127 carries for 958 yards with 12 TDs, ranking fifth in the conference and 24th in the country in rushing yards per game (95.8) . . . he also leads the league and ranks 12th in the nation in total touchdowns (12) and is sixth in the conference in overall scoring (7.2) . . . Ozigbo also has 17 catches for 164 yards (9.6 ypc/16.4 ypg).

• JD Spielman leads Nebraska with 66 receptions, while Stanley Morgan Jr. has 59 catches . . . Spielman is second in the Big Ten and 16th in FBS in receptions per game (6.6), while ranking fourth in the league and 32nd in the nation in receiving yards per game (81.8) with 81 yards on the 66 catches (12.4 ypc) . . . Morgan is third in the Big Ten and 26th in FBS in receiving TDs (8), as well third in the conference and 26th in the country in receiving yards per game (85.6), as well as sixth in the league and 32nd in the nation in receptions per game (5.9), with 856 yards on the 59 catches (14.5 ypg).

• Mohamed Barry is second in the Big Ten and 36th in the FBS in tackles per game (9.3) with 93 total, ranking third in assists (46), to go with tied for fifth in solo stops (47) . . . he is also tied for 10th in the league with 10.0 tackles for loss, also ranking tied for 10th in TFL/game (1.0), adding two sacks and one pass break-up along with four QB hurries.

• Senior linebacker Luke Gifford is tied for fifth in the B1G with 12.0 tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks, as part of his 55 total tackles . . . he adds one pass break-up and one forced fumble, along with five QB hurries.

• Sophomore cornerback Dicaprio Bootle tops the Big Ten and ranks seventh in FBS in passes defended (15) all on pass break-ups, ranking first in the conference and eighth in the country with 1.5 passes defended per game . . . Bootle adds 34 tackles and one forced fumble.

• Junior punter Isaac Armstrong took over punting the last five games and has 24 punts for a 44.8 ypp average, which ranks second in the B1G, with a long of 73 yards, part of six of 50-plus yards and has six inside the 20 . . . junior punter Caleb Lightbourn handled punting duties the first five games of the season and also has 24 punts, with a 41.6 ypp average with a long of 52 yards, one of three of 50-plus yards and a three inside the 20.

THE LAST MEETING –
Nov. 7, 2015, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP): Michigan State fell to Nebraska, 39-38, on a Tommy Armstrong 30-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Reilly with 17 seconds left to play. Armstrong drove Nebraska 91 yards in 38 seconds, hitting Reilly with a 30-yard touchdown pass that survived a video review with 17 seconds left to hand sixth-ranked Michigan State its first loss.

Connor Cook completed 23 of 37 passes for 335 yards and Gerald Holmes ran 22 times for 117 yards. Cook's four TD passes gave him a school-record 68 for his career, two more than Kirk Cousins had from 2008-11.

After a Nebraska TD cut the lead to 38-33 with 1:47 remaining, Michigan State went three-and-out after recovering an onside kick. Four plays later, Armstrong found Reilly for the winning score. Reilly went out of bounds and came back in to make the catch, but officials ruled it was legal because cornerback Jermaine Edmondson forced him out.

The Spartans got a final chance, but Cook passed the ball out of bounds from the Nebraska 41 as time ran out.

Cook matched his career high with four touchdown passes and Michigan State used a drive that lasted almost 9 minutes of the fourth quarter to go up 12 points, 38-26, capped by a 1-yard Holmes TD run.

SPARTANS OWN TWO VICTORIES OVER CURRENT AP TOP 25 TEAMS –
• Two of Michigan State's six wins this season have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25. MSU defeated Penn State, 21-17, on Oct. 13 in Beaver Stadium; the Nittany Lions were ranked eighth at the time and currently sit at 16th in this week's AP Poll. MSU also defeated Utah State in the season opener, 38-31; the Aggies have not lost since and at 9-1 are ranked 14th in this week's AP Poll.

• The Spartans have played five teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 (No. 4 Michigan, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 14 Utah State, No. 16 Penn State, No. 24 Northwestern).

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 10 OHIO STATE 26, NO. 18 MSU 6
• No. 10 Ohio State defeated No. 18 Michigan State, 26-6, last Saturday before a crowd of 74,633 at Spartan Stadium . . . OSU leads the all-time series, 32-15, including a 17-5 mark in East Lansing.

OFFENSE
• Cody White recorded the third 100-yard receiving game of his career with eight catches for 115 yards . . . he also had 100-yard games at Northwestern last year (165 yards) and at Arizona State on Sept. 8 (113 yards).

• Rocky Lombardi collected 142 yards of total offense (92 passing, 49 rushing) . . . his 47-yard rush in the third quarter was the longest of the season by a Spartan quarterback.

• Brian Lewerke became the 10th Spartan quarterback in school history to surpass 5,000 career passing yards . . . he was 11-of-28 for 128 yards and now has 5,042 passing yards.

DEFENSE
• The Spartans held Ohio State to 120 yards rushing, the third-lowest output of the season for the Buckeyes.

• MSU had two sacks and tied a season high with nine tackles for loss (23 yards).

• Three Spartans collected career highs in tackles: Khari Wills (15), Andrew Dowell (14) and Kenny Willekes (13).

• Willekes also registered a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss (8 yards) and one sack (3 yards) . . . Willekes has 17 tackles for loss (79 yards) and 8.5 sacks (60 yards) on the season . . . the 17 tackles for loss are tied for sixth most in a Spartan single-season.

• For the second time this season, Justin Layne broke up four passes in a game . . . he also tied his career high with 10 tackles . . . Layne has 12 pass break-ups and 65 tackles on the season.

• Jon Reschke had a season-high nine tackles, including a 1-yard tackle for loss.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin made 2-of-3 field-goal attempts (missed 51-yard in second quarter; made 44-yarder in second quarter; made 38-yarder in third quarter) to improve to 14-of-16 on the season.

• In his collegiate debut, true freshman William Przystup punted five times for 231 yards (46.2 avg.), including two inside the 20 and a long of 52 yards . . . Przystup is the fifth Spartan to punt this season and the fourth full-time punter (Jake Hartbarger; Tyler Hunt; Bryce Baringer; quarterback Rocky Lombardi punted once at Arizona State).

LJ SCOTT TO TAKE REDSHIRT SEASON AFTER BATTLING INJURIES IN 2018 –
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio announced following the Ohio State game that running back LJ Scott will sit out the remainder of the season with an injury. Scott, who saw action as a true freshman in 2015 and led the Spartans in rushing his first three seasons (2015-17), only played in four games this fall due to an injury and will be eligible to return for a fifth year in 2019.

• Scott started the first two games of the year vs. Utah State (Aug. 31) and Arizona State (Sept. 8), but suffered an ankle injury at ASU. After missing four straight games, he returned to the starting lineup against Michigan (Oct. 20) and Purdue (Oct. 27), but left the Purdue game early with an injury. Scott closes the season with 180 yards on 55 carries (45.0 ypg; 3.3 avg.).

• The 6-1, 225-pound Scott is one of 10 Spartan running backs in school history to rush for more than 2,700 career yards. He currently ranks 10th in the MSU record book with 2,771 rushing yards. In addition, his 25 career rushing touchdowns are tied for 12th in the school record book.

• Scott has nine career 100-yard rushing games, including three in 2017 (career-high 194 yards at Minnesota on Oct. 14; 147 vs. Maryland on Nov. 18; 110 vs. Washington State on Dec. 28).

• In 42 career games, including 22 starts, Scott has rushed for 2,771 yards (66.0 ypg; 4.7 avg.) and 25 touchdowns. Scott ranks ninth in MSU history in carries (586), 10th rushing yards (2,771) and tied for 12th in rushing touchdowns (25).

• In Scott's absence, sophomore Connor Heyward (74 carries for 359 yards), who played five different positions in high school (QB, WR, RB, S, P), and true freshman La'Darius Jefferson (67 carries for 227 yards), a high school quarterback, have received the bulk of the workload in the backfield. Redshirt freshman Weston Bridges has also seen brief time in the playing rotation with 16 carries for 53 yards.

STOPPING THE RUN –
• Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 76.5 yards per game. The Spartans have held their opponent to under 100-yards rushing seven times this season.

• MSU also has only given up 22 rushes of 10-plus yards, which is second fewest in the FBS (San Diego State, 20).

• MSU's opponents have only run the ball 300 times (44 percent of snaps, 30.0 avg.), the sixth-fewest allowed in the FBS; however, MSU's opponents have attempted 389 passes (56 percent of snaps, 38.9 avg.), third most among FBS teams.

• Stopping the run has been the main theme for MSU on defense in the Dantonio era, and it led to ranking No. 1 in the NCAA FBS in rushing defense in 2014 (88.5 ypg). Since the Big Ten began awarding stat champions in all games in 1985, Michigan State (2011-14) became only the second team in conference history to lead the league in rushing defense four years in a row (Michigan, 1990-93). The Spartans have ranked in the Top 25 in rushing defense seven times in the last nine seasons, including a run of five straight years in the top 11 (2011-15). MSU led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2017 (95.3 ypg).

• In 155 games under Dantonio, Michigan State has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing 79 times (51 percent). MSU is 68-11 (.861) in those games, including a 58-6 (.906) record since 2010.

MSU KEEPING OPPONENTS OFF THE SCOREBOARD –
• MSU has held its opponents to 20 or fewer points five times, and although Ohio State scored 26 points on Nov. 10, the defense allowed just 17 points (two TDs and one field goal).

SPARTANS RANK TIED FOR 18TH IN FBS WITH 12 INTERCEPTIONS –
• Michigan State ranks fourth in the Big Ten and tied for 18th in the FBS with 12 interceptions in 10 games this season.

• Nine different players – LB Joe Bachie, CB Shakur Brown, S David Dowell, CB Justin Layne, S Matt Morrissey, DT Mike Panasiuk, LB Antjuan Simmons, LB Tyriq Thompson and S Khari Willis – have recorded interceptions this season for MSU.

• Redshirt freshman cornerback Shakur Brown returned an interception 69 yards for a TD in the first quarter at Indiana to give MSU a 14-0 lead. It was MSU's first pick six since Tyson Smith vs. Bowling Green in 2017 and it marked MSU's 30th defensive TD in the Dantonio era.

• Michigan State has recorded at least two interceptions in a game five times this season (Utah State, Indiana, Central Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue), including a season-high three vs. Purdue.

HISTORY OF STINGY DEFENSES UNDER DANTONIO –
• Michigan State finished 2017 ranked among the FBS leaders in rushing defense (No. 2 at 95.3 ypg), total defense (No. 7 at 297.6 ypg), first-downs defense (No. 9 at 206), pass efficiency defense (No. 17 with 113.5 rating), third-down defense (No. 18 at .328) and scoring defense (No. 19 at 20.0 ppg).

• The Spartans led the Big Ten in rushing defense for the fifth time in the Dantonio era (2011-14, 2017). MSU also ranked third in the Big Ten in total defense.

• Michigan State finished No. 7 in the FBS in total defense (297.6), marking the fifth time the Spartans have finished in the FBS Top 10 in total defense under Dantonio (No. 6 in 2011, No. 4 in 2012, No. 2 in 2013, No. 8 in 2014, No. 7 in 2017).

LINEBACKER JOE BACHIE LEADS SPARTAN DEFENSE IN THE MIDDLE –
• Joe Bachie, who started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017 and led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.), was named the recipient of the Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.

• A team captain, Bachie is right back at it this season, ranking second on the Spartans and 16th in the Big Ten with 7.3 tackles per game (73 total; 34 solo and 39 assists). Against Utah State, Bachie had 11 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. He sealed the victory after he batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage and then dove for the interception with 1:15 left in the game. Bachie had 10 tackles and a 2-yard sack at Arizona State, and also posted 10 tackles vs. Michigan.

• Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career after helping lead MSU past Maryland on Nov. 3. Bachie was all over the field in the 24-3 victory over the Terrapins. The Brook Park, Ohio, native forced a career-high three fumbles, recovering one, and also had seven tackles, two tackles for loss (5 yards) and tied a career-high with two pass break-ups. Bachie's impressive performance helped Michigan State hold Maryland to season lows in total yards (100) and rushing yards (26). In addition, the Spartans recorded five sacks (43 yards) and nine tackles for loss (54 yards).

• A third-team All-Big Ten choice by the coaches and media, Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2017. In last season's win at No. 7 Michigan, Bachie became just the second Big Ten linebacker and fifth in the FBS in the last five years (since 2012) to record double-digit tackles (10) and at least one interception, one forced fumble, one sack and one pass break-up in the same game.

• In 29 career games, including 23 consecutive starts, Bachie has 185 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, seven pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He has recorded double-digits in tackles eight times in his career.

Kenny Willekes vs. Ohio State

KENNY WILLEKES NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR BURLSWORTH TROPHY –
• Junior defensive end Kenny Willekes, an All-America candidate who leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss (17 for 79 yards) and ranks second in the conference in sacks (8.5 for 60 yards), has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy. The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.

• Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the Big Ten. Named to the All-Big Ten midseason team by Pro Football Focus, Willekes not only leads the Spartans in tackles for loss (17) and sacks (8.5) through the first 10 games of the season, but also leads all Big Ten defensive ends in tackles (64). According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes leads all defensive ends in the FBS with 16 quarterback hits, and also leads the Big Ten with 48 quarterback pressures.

• A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. The native of Rockford, Michigan, is MSU's active leader in sacks (10th in school history with 15.5) and tackles for loss (12th in school history with 31.5). He ranks fourth in the FBS among active career leaders with 1.31 tackles for loss per game (Ed Oliver of Houston leads active players with 1.64 TFL/game), and is sixth among active players with 0.65 sacks per game.

• After playing in just one game as a redshirt freshman in 2016, Willekes earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 with a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

• Willekes entered this season on the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end of the year), and began his junior season with a two-sack performance against Utah State. He has recorded two sacks in a game five times in his career (2017: Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland; 2018: Utah State, Maryland).

SENIOR CAPTAIN KHARI WILLIS NAMED FINALIST FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD –
• Michigan State senior safety Khari Willis is having a career year – both on and off the field. On Oct. 24, Willis was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Former Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins won the award in 2011.

• Willis was also a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete. The award is also widely known as the "Academic Heisman." This marks the seventh time in the past eight years that the Spartans have had a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy. The Spartans had a finalist three of four years from 2011-14 (QB Kirk Cousins in 2011, LB Max Bullough in 2013, P Mike Sadler in 2014). Center Jack Allen, tight end Josiah Price and center Brian Allen were semifinalists the past three seasons.

• A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Willis owns a 3.24 grade-point average as an interdisciplinary studies in social science major, with an emphasis on community governance & advocacy. He was voted a captain by his teammates entering his senior season and has 183 tackles, 13 pass break-ups and four interceptions in 43 career games, including 27 starts. Through 10 games this season, Willis has recorded 71 tackles, seven pass break-ups and two interceptions for the Spartans, including a career-high 15 stops against Ohio State. He was named to the Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten midseason team.

• Willis was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Spartans with a season-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in MSU's 21-17 win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13. The Jackson, Michigan, native also forced a fumble on PSU quarterback Trace McSorley in the first quarter, and recorded his fifth pass break-up of the season later in the game. Willis' effort helped the Spartans hold Penn State to then-season lows in points (17) and first downs (14).

• Willis was the keynote player speaker at the 2018 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon in Chicago, and delivered an inspirational speech calling on his fellow Big Ten players to make a difference in their communities. He received a standing ovation and video of his speech went viral across social media (158,000 views on Twitter; 98,000 views on Facebook; nearly 10,000 on YouTube). The Jackson, Michigan, native was a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented annually to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement, and was MSU's nominee for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team.

MIKE PANASIUK & RAEQUAN WILLIAMS CONSISTENT IN THE MIDDLE OF SPARTAN D-LINE –
• Junior defensive tackles Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams have started alongside each other on the interior of the defensive line for 26 consecutive games, dating back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. The duo is a big reason why MSU ranks No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense this season and ranked No. 2 in the FBS in rushing defense last season.

• Williams ranks second on the team with nine tackles for loss, which already is a career high. The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 20 career tackles for loss, including six career sacks, in 34 career games.

• Panasiuk, a native of Roselle, Illinois, has 57 tackles, including 6.5 for losses, in 35 career games.

ANDREW DOWELL SAVING HIS BEST SEASON FOR LAST –
• After recording a career-high 14 tackles against Ohio State, senior linebacker Andrew Dowell leads Michigan State with a career-high 75 stops this season (31 solo, 44 assists). He also leads all active Spartans with 238 career tackles in 48 games, including 26 consecutive starts (31 overall). Dowell also has collected career highs in sacks (three for 10 yards), tackles for loss (seven for 24 yards) and pass break-ups (6) in 2018.

JUSTIN LAYNE MAKING IMPACT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL –
• Junior cornerback Justin Layne played both offense and defense in the win over Purdue on Oct. 27. Layne tallied a career-high four pass break-ups and registered seven tackles in playing 64 defensive snaps against the Boilermakers, and caught one pass for 11 yards and was targeted four times in 16 offensive snaps. He was named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week for his performance vs. Purdue. Layne began his career as a wide receiver in 2016 before transitioning to cornerback midway through the season.

• The 6-3, 185-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, is having a career year on defense. Layne has collected a career-high 65 tackles and ranks third in the Big Ten with a team-leading 12 pass break-ups. He also has one interception.

MATT COGHLIN NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR LOU GROZA AWARD –
• Sophomore Matt Coghlin has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, which is given annually to the nation's top placekicker. Coghlin ranks among the Big Ten leaders in PAT percentage (first at 1.000), field-goal percentage (second at .875), field goals made (tied for third with 14) and scoring (eighth at 7.1 ppg).

• The Cincinnati, Ohio, native is 14-for-16 in field-goal attempts this season (.875), which ranks second in the Big Ten (minimum 10 attempts). He ranks first in MSU history with his .829 career field-goal percentage (29-of-35).

• Coghlin kicked two field goals in the first half (43 yards, 48 yards) against Purdue on Oct. 27 to extend his school-record streak to 18 straight, but he had a 37-yard attempt blocked in the third quarter to snap the streak. Coghlin bounced back to connect on a 34-yard attempt later in the third quarter that put MSU on top, 16-6. It marked Coghlin's second game of the season and fourth of his career with at least three field goals. Coghlin's 48-yard field goal was the second longest of his career behind a 49-yarder vs. Utah State (Aug. 31). He has three field goals of 40+ this season, and is 7-of-9 on field goals of 40-49 yards for his career.

• Coghlin was named the Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance at Indiana. He scored on a 6-yard touchdown run on a fake field goal in the third quarter to give MSU a 28-7 lead over Indiana, becoming the first Spartan to score a touchdown and then kick the PAT on his own TD since Sam Williams in 1958 against Wisconsin. Coghlin also connected on all five of his PATs in MSU's 35-21 win at Indiana.

• Coghlin also was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking the game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired against No. 7 Penn State last season.

SPARTANS ONLY TEAM IN FBS TO USE FIVE DIFFERENT PUNTERS –
• Michigan State is the only team in the FBS to use five different punters this season. Entering the 2018 season, Michigan State had only three full-time starting punters in the Mark Dantonio era: Aaron Bates (2007-10), Mike Sadler (2011-14) and Jake Hartbarger (2015-present); however, Hartbarger was injured in the fourth quarter at Arizona State on Sept. 8 – just one quarter after he booted a career-long 74-yarder – and Dantonio announced on Oct. 9 that Hartbarger would be out the rest of the season and will apply for a sixth year of eligibility.

• Redshirt freshman walk-on Tyler Hunt, who started five games in place of Hartbarger, was also lost for the season after suffering a non-contact knee injury (torn ACL) in practice before the Purdue game.

• Redshirt freshman walk-on Bryce Baringer, who joined the team in mid-September, has started three times (Purdue, Maryland, Ohio State) and has played in four games overall. He is averaging 32.4 yards per punt (15 punts for 486 yards), including four inside the 20 and two for 50-plus yards.

• True freshman walk-on William Przystup made his collegiate debut vs. Ohio State on Nov. 10 and punted five times for 231 yards (46.2 avg.), including two inside the 20.

• A 6-2, 219-pound native of Gobles, Michigan, Hunt started five games at punter before his season-ending injury. He tied a school record with 11 punts for 457 yards (41.5 avg.) against Michigan on Oct. 20. His 41.5-yard average was a season high. The 11 punts as a team tied for second most in a single game in school history (record: 12 vs. Florida State in 1987; Greg Montgomery had 11 punts and one was blocked).

• Hunt placed a career-high five of his seven punts inside the 20 against Northwestern on Oct. 6, averaging 40.9 yards on seven punts, including a career-long 63-yarder. He punted 10 times at Penn State on Oct. 13. Hunt averaged 40.1 yards per punt and placed 15 of his 36 punts inside the 20 (42 percent).

• Back-up quarterback and redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi was the emergency punter at Arizona State, and filled in once for Hartbarger, punting his only attempt 32 yards in the fourth quarter.

Game 11: Michigan State (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) at Nebraska (3-7, 2-5 Big Ten)

Players Mentioned

Brian Allen

Joe Bachie

Weston Bridges

Shakur Brown

Matt Coghlin

Felton Davis III

Andrew Dowell

David Dowell

Jake Hartbarger

Connor Heyward

Gerald Holmes

Tyler Hunt

La'Darius Jefferson

Justin Layne

Brian Lewerke

Rocky Lombardi

Matt Morrissey

Mike Panasiuk

William Przystup

Jon Reschke

LJ Scott

Antjuan Simmons

Tyson Smith

Tyriq Thompson

Cody White

Kenny Willekes

Raequan Williams

Khari Willis

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