Spartans Head East to Face Rutgers

Game 11: Michigan State (4-6, 2-5 B1G) at Rutgers (2-8, 0-7 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Kickoff: 12:03 p.m. EST
Location: Piscataway, N.J.
Stadium: SHI Stadium (52,454)
Surface: FieldTurf
TV/Web/Mobile: FS1/FOX Sports app/FOXSportsGo.com
Announcers: John Strong (play-by-play), Evan Moore (analyst)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 387 (XM), Ch. 976 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Sidearm Live Stats
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 7-3
Series at Rutgers: MSU leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: MSU 14, Rutgers 10 (2018)
Current Series Streak: 5 by MSU (2014-)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 111-57 (13th year)
Overall Record: 129-74 (16th year)
Record vs. Rutgers: 6-1 (5-0 at MSU)

Rutgers Interim Head Coach: Nunzio Campanile
Rutgers Record: 1-5 (first year)
Overall Record: 1-5 (first year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Michigan State heads back on the road to take on Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey, on Saturday, Nov. 23 at noon in SHI Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1 with John Strong and Evan Moore on the call. The Spartans (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten) fell at No. 15 Michigan last Saturday, 44-10, while the Scarlet Knights (2-8, 0-7 Big Ten) had a bye week.

• According to the Jeff Sagarin ratings, Michigan State has played the third-toughest schedule in the nation. MSU has played four teams currently in the AP Top 25 (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 9 Penn State, No. 12 Michigan, No. 14 Wisconsin) and seven opponents have a winning record (previous four teams plus Western Michigan, Indiana and Illinois).

• Saturday's game marks the 11th meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The Spartans lead the overall series, 7-3, including a 5-0 mark in Big Ten play. MSU is 3-1 against Rutgers in New Jersey, including a 40-7 win in Piscataway in the 2017 regular-season finale. Last season, the Spartans beat the Scarlet Knights, 14-10, in the 2018 regular-season finale.

• Junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons has burst onto the scene in his first year as a starter for the Spartans, leading the team and ranking tied for third in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (14.0 for 53 yards). He also leads the team with 72 tackles overall (36 solo, 36 assists) and is tied for third on the team with 3.5 sacks (24 yards) to go along with three pass break-ups and one interception. Simmons started the first eight games at Star (weakside) linebacker but has started the past two games at middle linebacker. Simmons has 138 career tackles, including 16.0 for losses, in 36 games of action.

• Midseason All-American and 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Kenny Willekes, who led the Big Ten in tackles for loss last season with 20.5, has been named one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy. The award is given annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. Willekes ranks first among all FBS players with 1.22 tackles for loss per game and second with 45.0 career tackles for loss overall. He is second on the team this season with 10.0 tackles for loss, including a team-best 6.5 sacks. He is also fourth on the team with 59 tackles. Willekes was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com. He is fourth in school history with 45 tackles for loss in his career; he needs three more TFLs to tie Julian Peterson (48) for the most in school history.

• Senior defensive tackle Raequan Williams is slated to start his 40th consecutive game on Saturday, the longest active streak on the team. Williams would be one of six players in the Mark Dantonio era to start 40 consecutive games or more (Dantonio-era record: DE Shilique Calhoun with 41 straight from 2013-15; LB Max Bullough, LB Denicos Allen, LB Eric Gordon and LB Greg Jones with 40 straight). Williams has 28 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 47 career games, including 6.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks this season.

• Against Illinois on Nov. 9, fifth-year senior quarterback Brian Lewerke became the first Spartan quarterback to eclipse 7,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in his career. Lewerke currently ranks fourth at MSU with 7,392 yards passing and third among QBs with 1,169 yards rushing. The Phoenix, Arizona, native is ranked among the Big Ten leaders in pass attempts (first with 328), pass completions (second with 183), total offense (fourth with 245.5 ypg), passing (fourth with 217.8 ypg) and total passing yards (fourth with 2,178). He is one of three Spartan QBs in school history to throw for 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, joining Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook. Lewerke threw for a career-best 2,793 yards as a sophomore in 2017, 2,040 yards as a junior in 2018, and is at 2,178 yards as a senior in 2019.

• With the triumph over Northwestern on Sept. 21, Mark Dantonio became Michigan State's all-time winningest coach, passing Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty, who collected a 109-69-5 record in East Lansing from 1954-72 (19 seasons). Dantonio owns a 111-57 (.661) record at Michigan State and has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 11 bowl appearances. He is the only active Big Ten coach to win multiple Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), claim a victory in the Rose Bowl (2014), and coach in the College Football Playoff (2015). Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.632, 67-39 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (67), home wins (66) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.661). Dantonio is 11th in Big Ten history in conference wins (67) and tied for 12th in overall victories (111).

• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is 6-1 in his coaching career against Rutgers (5-0 at MSU). Dantonio went 1-1 against Rutgers during his three seasons at Cincinnati (2004-06), including a 30-11 upset win over the seventh-ranked Scarlet Knights in 2006.

• Junior Cody White has 13 catches for 206 yards in his last two games (7 for 128 vs. Illinois; 6 for 78 at Michigan) and is second on the team with a career-high 43 receptions for 605 yards. He ranks eighth in the Big Ten in receptions (43) and ninth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (60.5 ypg) and total receiving yards (605).

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-Fr. Elijah Collins (155 carries for 742 yards, 4.8 avg., 5 TDs)
Passing – Sr.-5 Brian Lewerke (183-of-328, .558, 2,178 yards, 13 TDs, 9 INTs)
Receiving – Sr.-5 Darrell Stewart (47 catches for 694 yards, 14.8 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles – Jr. Antjuan Simmons (72 tackles, 36 solos, 36 assists, 14.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 3 PBUs, 1 INT)

Rutgers:
Rushing – So. Isaih Pacheco (140 carries for 597 yards, 4.3 avg., 7 TDs)
Passing – R-Fr. Johnny Langan (60-of-115, .522, 619 yards, 4 TDs, 8 INTs)
Receiving – Jr. Raheem Blackshear (29 catches for 310 yards, 10.7 avg., 2 TDs)
Tackles – Jr. Tyshon Fogg (92 tackles, 29 solos, 63 assists, 2.0 TFLs, 1 PBU)

A QUICK GLANCE AT RUTGERS (2-8, 0-7 BIG TEN) –
• The Scarlet Knights are 2-8 overall and 0-7 in B1G play, coming off a 56-21 loss to No. 2 Ohio State last Saturday. Rutgers has lost its last two games in a row after a 44-34 win over Liberty on Oct. 26, falling at Illinois, 38-10, on Nov. 2 before a bye week preceded the Ohio State game.

• In the loss to Ohio State, the Buckeyes jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and didn't look back. Rutgers scored on a 26-yard run by sophomore running back Isaih Pacheco late in the opening stanza to get within 21-7, but OSU added two TDs in the second quarter to take a 35-7 lead into halftime. The visiting Buckeyes tacked on two more TDs in the third quarter before the Scarlet Knights countered with a 45-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Langan to junior wide receiver Bo Melton. After another OSU TD, Langan scored on a 1-yard plunge with 1:09 left in the game for the final scoring at 56-21.

• On the season, Rutgers is 13th in the B1G in scoring offense (15.3 ppg) and 14th in scoring defense (38.6 ppg).

• The Scarlet Knight offense is 11th in the league in rushing offense (133.8 ypg) and 13th in passing offense (141.6 ypg), to rank 14th in total offense (275.4 ypg).

• Defensively, Rutgers is 14th in the conference in total defense (447.5 ypg), ranking 14th in rushing defense (200.5 ypg) and 13th in passing defense (247.0 ypg).

MSU/RUTGERS SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday's game marks the 11th meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The Spartans lead the overall series, 7-3, including a 5-0 mark in Big Ten play.

• MSU is 3-1 against Rutgers in New Jersey, including a 40-7 win in Piscataway in the 2017 regular-season finale.

• Last season, the Spartans beat the Scarlet Knights, 14-10, in the 2018 regular-season finale.

• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is 6-1 in his coaching career against Rutgers (5-0 at MSU). Dantonio went 1-1 against Rutgers during his three seasons at Cincinnati (2004-06), including a 30-11 upset win over the seventh-ranked Scarlet Knights in 2006.

THE LAST MEETING –
Nov. 24, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP): Cody White scored on a 22-yard end-around with 3:57 to play, and Michigan State beat Rutgers, 14-10, handing the Scarlet Knights their 11th straight loss.

The Spartans trailed 10-7 when William Przystup's punt pinned Rutgers back at its own 1-yard line with 5:23 remaining. The Scarlet Knights eventually had to punt, and Michigan State took over at the Rutgers 35 following a 14-yard punt return by Brandon Sowards. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi ran for a 13-yard gain on third-and-10, and on the next play, White scored.

The Scarlet Knights drove into Michigan State territory, but Josiah Scott intercepted a pass at the 3-yard line with 1:32 to play.

Michigan State was stopped on fourth down at its own 33 in the first quarter, and Rutgers took advantage of the field position. Giovanni Rescigno threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Travis Vokolek for a 7-0 lead.

The Spartans tied it in the second quarter on an 18-yard scoring strike from Lombardi to Matt Sokol.

Michigan State caught a break late in the half when a punt hit Saquan Hampton of the Scarlet Knights, and the Spartans recovered the loose ball at the Rutgers 13. But when Michigan State attempted a field goal, there appeared to be an issue with the hold, and holder Brian Lewerke eventually tried a pass that was intercepted.

Hampton intercepted a pass at the Rutgers 33 in the third quarter, then the Scarlet Knights gave the ball back on the next play. Running back Isaih Pacheco attempted a pass on a trick play, and it was picked off by Scott. Michigan State took over at the Rutgers 34, but the Spartans couldn't get a first down and ended up punting from the 35.

In the fourth, Rescigno was ruled short of the marker on a third-down run, then was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, knocking Rutgers back to the Michigan State 40. So the Scarlet Knights punted, but in doing so, they pinned the Spartans back at their own 8. After the Spartans were forced to punt the ball back, Rutgers took over at the Michigan State 25 and took a 10-7 lead on a 34-yard field goal by Justin Davidovicz.

THE LAST MEETING IN PISCATAWAY –
Nov. 25, 2017, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP): No. 21 Michigan State capped a terrific turnaround season with a dominant performance that probably would have been record-setting if the NCAA kept one for time of possession in a game. Brian Lewerke threw for a touchdown and ran for another and the Spartans held the ball for 47 minutes, 50 seconds in defeating Rutgers, 40-7.

Michigan State got a career-best four field goals from redshirt freshman Matt Coghlin and short touchdown runs by Lewerke, Gerald Holmes and Madre London in the fourth quarter. Coghlin converted from 26, 26, 46 and 32 yards.

Michigan State had a 431-112 advantage in total yards, limited Scarlet Knights' running game to a season-low 14 yards and no first down on six third-down chances in sending Rutgers to its third straight loss.
• Michigan State fell at Michigan, 44-10, last Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor . . . Mark Dantonio is 8-5 during his tenure against the Wolverines and 4-2 in Michigan Stadium . . . the loss snapped MSU's two-game winning streak in Ann Arbor.

LAST TIME OUT VS. MICHIGAN
OFFENSE
• Sophomore fullback Max Rosenthal snared his first career TD catch on a 1-yard reception from Brian Lewerke in the first quarter . . . Rosenthal is the seventh different Spartan with a TD reception this season . . . it was Rosenthal's second reception of the season . . . it marked Rosenthal's second career touchdown (scored on a 0-yard fumble recovery in the end zone at Maryland last season).

• Senior quarterback Brian Lewerke threw his 13th TD of the season and 43rd of his career, moving up to tie for No. 6 on MSU's career TD pass list . . . Lewerke's 166 yards passing Saturday give him 2,178 yards for his career, as he is just the third MSU QB with three straight 2,000-yard seasons . . . for his career, Lewerke has now thrown for 7,392 yards.

• Junior wide receiver Cody White's six catches on Saturday were one shy of his season high set vs. Illinois . . . White has 13 receptions for 206 yards in his last two games . . . White's six catches Saturday give him 43 receptions for the season, a new career best, edging his 42 catches last season . . . for his career, White now has 120 receptions for 1,650 yards.

DEFENSE
• Sophomore safety Xavier Henderson registered a career-high nine tackles Saturday, in sharing the team lead . . . Saturday marked Henderson's fourth game in a row with seven or more stops.

• Senior linebacker Tyriq Thompson shared top tackling honors with Henderson with nine stops . . . Saturday was Thompson's third straight game with eight or more stops . . . Thompson now has a career-high 58 tackles on the season and 106 tackles for his career, becoming the sixth active Spartan defensive player with 100 career tackles.

• Antjuan Simmons had seven tackles, including two tackles for loss (15 yards) and a 12-yard sack . . . he leads the team with 14 tackles for loss this season.

• Kenny Willekes recorded the 22nd sack of his career, tying for sixth place on MSU's all-time list . . . he also has 45 tackles for loss in his career, fourth most at MSU.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• With his 35-yard field goal in the third quarter, junior placekicker Matt Coghlin is now 14-of-21 on the season and has made 47 career field goals . . . the 47 career field goals moves him up to sole possession of No. 7 on MSU's career field goals list.

SPARTAN ROSTER FULL OF EXPERIENCE –
• The Spartan defense features six seniors and a combined 253 career starts among the projected starters on this week's depth chart (Raequan Williams, 39 starts; Mike Panasiuk, 38 starts; Kenny Willekes, 35 starts; David Dowell, 33 starts; Josiah Scott, 27 starts; Tyriq Thompson, 22 starts; Jacub Panasiuk, 21 starts; Josh Butler, 16 starts; Antjuan Simmons and Xavier Henderson, 10 starts each; Noah Harvey, two starts). Three players (Williams, David Dowell, Willekes) have started 28 consecutive games together, and five players (those previous three plus Thompson and Jacub Panasiuk) have started 20 straight games together. Mike Panasiuk had his starting streak of 37 consecutive games snapped vs. Illinois on Nov. 9 after being limited in practice earlier in the week due to sickness; Panasiuk did play in the game against the Fighting Illini and had one tackle and one pass break-up.

KENNY WILLEKES NAMED FINALIST FOR BURLSWORTH TROPHY –
• Midseason All-American and 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Kenny Willekes, who led the Big Ten in tackles for loss last season with 20.5, has been named one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy. The award is given annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.

• Willekes joins Ashtyn Davis, a safety and kick returner from California, and Rodrigo Blankenship, a kicker from Georgia, as the finalists for the award. The three finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Dec. 9 at 12:45 p.m. at a luncheon in Springdale, Arkansas, hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club.

• The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on to the Arkansas Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.

• Willekes ranks first among all FBS players with 1.22 tackles for loss per game and second with 45.0 career tackles for loss overall. He is second on the team this season with 10.0 tackles for loss, including a team-best 6.5 sacks. He is also fourth on the team with 59 tackles. Willekes was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com.

• Willekes is fourth in school history with 45 tackles for loss in his career; he needs three more TFLs to tie Julian Peterson (48) for the most in school history.

• Willekes was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and also the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his impressive performance in the season opener vs. Tulsa. Willekes scored his first career touchdown after teaming up on a sack with Raequan Williams and pouncing on the fumble in the end zone to give MSU a 22-0 lead with 4:49 left in the second quarter. Earlier in the second quarter, he recovered a fumble after a bad Tulsa snap to set up an MSU field goal. He also had a 1-yard tackle for loss in the second quarter and a 2-yard sack in the fourth quarter. Overall, Willekes led the Spartans with seven tackles, including 2.5 TFLs (6 yards) and 1.5 sacks (5 yards).

• After leading the Big Ten with 20.5 tackles for loss, Willekes was named the 2018 Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-American by The Athletic. Willekes became the second Spartan to win the award (Shilique Calhoun in 2013), which is named after MSU's Bubba Smith and Penn State's Courtney Brown and given to the Big Ten's most outstanding defensive lineman, and was the first Spartan defensive end to earn first-team All-America honors since Robaire Smith in 1998. Willekes was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches, media, Associated Press, Athlon Sports, ESPN.com, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus, and earned second-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Phil Steele, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.

• 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 nation. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he fully recovered in time for the 2019 season. He was named a first-team preseason All-American by numerous media outlets (Athlon Sports, CBS Sports, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Street & Smith's) and is featured on watch lists for the Walter Camp Award (college player of the year), Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Nagurski Trophy (nation's most outstanding college defensive player) and Hendricks Award (nation's best defensive end).

• A 6-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 3.

• According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes led all edge rushers in the FBS in 2018 with 23 quarterback hits and ranked sixth with 39 QB hurries. Willekes was also the highest-ranked Big Ten edge rusher with a 90.3 grade.

• At the Spartan Football Awards banquet on Nov. 25, 2018, Willekes was named the recipient of the Governor's Award (MVP), becoming the first Spartan defensive end to win the honor since its inception in 1931.

• 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 (tied for sixth in school history with 22) and tackles for loss (fourth in school history with 45). His 45 tackles for loss ranks second among active FBS players and his 1.22 tackles for loss per game average ranks first. He has 210 tackles overall in 37 career games, including 35 starts.

• 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 has recorded two sacks in a game six times in his career (2017: Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland; 2018: Utah State, Maryland; 2019: Western Michigan).

MIKE PANASIUK & RAEQUAN WILLIAMS CONSISTENT IN THE MIDDLE OF SPARTAN D-LINE –
• Defensive tackles Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams have started alongside each other on the interior of the defensive line for 38 games during their careers. The duo had their streak of 37 straight starts snapped against Illinois on Nov. 9 as Panasiuk missed the opening series; the streak dated back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. Williams and Panasiuk are a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018 and ranked No. 2 in 2017.

• Williams is slated to start his 40th consecutive game on Saturday, the longest active streak on the team. Williams would be one of six players in the Mark Dantonio era to start 40 consecutive games or more (Dantonio-era record: DE Shilique Calhoun with 41 straight from 2013-15; LB Max Bullough, LB Denicos Allen, LB Eric Gordon and LB Greg Jones with 40 straight). Williams has 28 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 47 career games, including 6.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks this season.

• Williams, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press in 2018, recorded career bests in tackles (53), tackles for loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (5) as a junior. The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 28 career tackles for loss, including 11.0 career sacks, in 47 career games (39 consecutive starts).

• Panasiuk, a stalwart on the Spartan defensive line with 38 starts at defensive tackle, was named honorable mention All-Big Ten for the second year in a row in 2018. Panasiuk's numbers are hard to measure in terms of impact, but the Roselle, Illinois, native is a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018, allowing just 77.9 yards per game. Panasiuk had 6.0 tackles for loss and two pass break-ups, and led the Spartan defensive tackles unit in production points. He recorded an interception and blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter in the victory over Purdue.

• In 48 career games, Panasiuk has 91 tackles, including 16.5 for losses with four sacks. This season, Panasiuk has recorded career highs in tackles (27), tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (2.0). He posted a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack and forced fumble, at No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 5.

ANTJUAN SIMMONS MAKING THE MOST OUT OF HIS STARTING OPPORTUNITY –
• Junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons has burst onto the scene in his first year as a starter for the Spartans, leading the team and ranking tied for third in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (14.0 for 53 yards). He also leads the team with 72 tackles overall (36 solo, 36 assists) and is tied for third on the team with 3.5 sacks (24 yards) to go along with three pass break-ups and one interception. Simmons started the first eight games at Star (weakside) linebacker but has started the past two games at middle linebacker. He leads the team in production points (unofficial team stat) with 189.

• Simmons played behind former three-year starting Star linebacker Andrew Dowell in 2017 and 2018. Simmons has 138 career tackles, including 16.0 for losses, in 36 games of action.

BRIAN LEWERKE IN HIS THIRD SEASON AS SPARTAN STARTING QB –
• Quarterback Brian Lewerke is in his third season as the starting quarterback for the Spartans. He is just the second Spartan quarterback under Mark Dantonio to be named a captain twice (Kirk Cousins, three times, 2009-11). After a record-setting sophomore season in 2017, Lewerke's junior year was hampered by a shoulder injury he suffered in the win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13, but he is back and healthy for his senior season.

• Lewerke is ranked among the Big Ten leaders in pass attempts (first with 328), pass completions (second with 183), total offense (fourth with 245.5 ypg), passing (fourth with 217.8 ypg) and total passing yards (fourth with 2,178). He was named one of 20 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top senior college quarterback. The Phoenix, Arizona, native has completed 183-of-328 passes (.558) for 2,178 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

• Against Illinois on Nov. 9, Lewerke became the first Spartan quarterback to eclipse 7,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in his career. Lewerke currently ranks fourth at MSU with 7,392 yards passing and third among QBs with 1,169 yards rushing.

• Lewerke is one of three Spartan QBs in school history to throw for 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, joining Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook. Lewerke threw for a career-best 2,793 yards as a sophomore in 2017, 2,040 yards as a junior in 2018, and is at 2,178 yards as a senior in 2019.

• Lewerke also ranks among the school leaders in pass attempts (third with 1,141), pass completions (fourth with 644), total offense (fourth with 8,561 yards), passing yards per game (fifth with 194.5 ypg), and passing TDs (tied for sixth with 43).

• Lewerke had a season-high 378 total yards of offense against Indiana (300 passing, 78 rushing) on Sept. 28, the ninth-highest single-game total in school history and fourth highest of his career (475 vs. Northwestern in 2017; 425 vs. Penn State in 2017; 396 vs. Notre Dame in 2017).

• Lewerke has thrown for more than 300 yards passing seven times in his career and more than 200 yards passing 18 times (tied for fourth in MSU history).

• In his first full year as the starter in 2017, Brian Lewerke became the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 2,500 yards and rush for more than 500 yards in the same season. Lewerke finished 2017 with the second-most yards of total offense in an MSU season with 3,352 (Drew Stanton with 3,415 in 2005). He also finished the 2017 campaign ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in passing completions (third with 246), passing attempts (fourth with 417), passing yards (seventh with 2,793) and touchdown passes (tied for eighth with 20). He rushed for 559 yards on 124 carries with five TDs. In 10 games in 2018, Lewerke rushed 90 times, gaining 351 yards and losing 167 for a net total of 184.

• In 2017, Lewerke set MSU sophomore records for total offense (3,352 yards), passing yards (2,793), passing attempts (417) and passing completions (246). He also finished the season with 559 yards rushing on 124 carries, the fourth most by a Spartan quarterback in a single season and the most since Drew Stanton had 687 in 2004.

• Lewerke was named the 2017 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after finishing with 286 yards of total offense against Washington State. He was 13-of-21 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns, and set a Spartan bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (14 carries for 73 yards). Lewerke was 9-of-10 passing for 162 yards and two TDs in the second quarter alone. Lewerke's three touchdown passes tied a Spartan bowl record (accomplished three previous times).

• Lewerke set school single-game records for passing yards (445), total offense (475) and completions (39) in the triple-overtime loss at Northwestern on Oct. 28, 2017. His 57 passing attempts also marked a career high and tied for the second most in school history (record: 61 by Brian Hoyer vs. Penn State in 2006); MSU's previous single-game records were 400 passing yards (Bill Burke vs. Michigan, 1999), 416 yards of total offense (Connor Cook vs. Indiana, 2015) and 35 completions (Jeff Smoker vs. Ohio State, 2003). Lewerke also threw a career-high four touchdowns against the Wildcats, tied for the second most in school history (accomplished 13 previous times). Lewerke's 445 yards passing and 475 total yards against Northwestern were both the most by a Big Ten quarterback in a single game in 2017.

• A week after setting numerous school records at Northwestern on Oct. 28, 2017, Lewerke had another impressive game against Penn State on Nov. 4, becoming the first Spartan quarterback to throw for 400 yards in back-to-back games. He threw for a school-record 445 yards at Northwestern, and for 400 against Penn State; the 400 yards tied for the second-most yards by a Spartan QB in a single game (Bill Burke with 400 in win over Michigan in 1999). Lewerke became one of just three Big Ten quarterbacks in the last 20 years to throw for 400 yards in two consecutive games (Drew Brees, Purdue, 1998; C.J. Bacher, Northwestern, 2007).

• Lewerke played in four games and started twice (Northwestern, Maryland) as a redshirt freshman in 2016 before suffering a season-ending injury (broken tibia) in the fourth quarter of the Michigan game on Oct. 29. He bounced back quickly from the injury and fully participated in all of spring practice in 2017. In 2016, Lewerke became the first Spartan freshman quarterback to start a game (Northwestern) since 2004 (Stephen Reaves vs. Central Michigan).

DARRELL STEWART HAVING A CAREER YEAR IN 2019 –
• Although he's missed the last two games with an injury, fifth-year senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart still ranks among the Big Ten leaders in receiving yards per game (third at 86.8 ypg), receptions per game (tied for third at 5.9 pg), receptions (fourth with 47) and receiving yards (seventh with 694). Stewart's 694 receiving yards and four touchdowns catches are career highs.

• Stewart has three 100-yard receiving games and put together back-to-back 100-yard receiving games (career-high 185 yards vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 7 and 121 vs. Arizona State on Sept. 14) for the first time at MSU since Aaron Burbridge had four straight 100-yard games in 2015. Stewart's impressive performance to start the season made him a late add to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

• Stewart leads MSU with 14 catches of 20-plus yards; although he led MSU in receptions in 2018 with 48, he had just two catches of 20-plus yards last season.

• Stewart had a career-high 185 yards receiving on 10 catches against Western Michigan on Sept. 7; the 185 receiving yards are tied for the 12th-most by a Spartan in a single game (Plaxico Burress, 13 catches for 185 yards vs. Florida on Jan. 1, 2000). In addition, Stewart's 10 catches were the second most in his career (11 at Northwestern in 2017); he had eight catches for 152 yards and one TD in the first half alone. Stewart had four catches of 20-plus yards (42 yards for TD; 33 yards, 22 yards, 21 yards) and also threw a 17-yard pass to Brian Lewerke. Stewart also had two kick returns for 41 yards to compile a career-high 226 all-purpose yards.

• Stewart led Michigan State in 2018 with 48 receptions and ranked third on the team with 413 receiving yards. Stewart missed two games (Central Michigan, Penn State) with an ankle injury.

• The Houston, Texas, native is tied for fourth in the school record book with 148 career receptions and leads all active Spartans with 1,637 receiving yards (23rd in MSU history) and seven TDs in 42 career games, including 20 starting assignments.

ELIJAH COLLINS EMERGING AS ONE OF THE TOP FRESHMAN TAILBACKS IN THE FBS –
• Redshirt freshman Elijah Collins is averaging a team-best 74.2 yards rushing per game (155 carries for 742 yards; 4.8 avg.), which ranks sixth in the Big Ten. His 74.2 ypg also ranks second in the conference and eighth in the country for freshman running backs. A native of Detroit, Collins has three rushing touchdowns.

• In his first career start at tailback on Sept. 7 against Western Michigan, Collins recorded 192 rushing yards on 17 carries, the second most by a Spartan freshman in a single game (Javon Ringer had 194 yards at Illinois in 2005). In addition, Collins' 192 rushing yards were the most by a freshman starting running back in school history. Collins had three rushes of 20-plus yards (career-long 58-yarder in third quarter; 29-yarder on second play from scrimmage; 24-yarder in second quarter).

• Collins recorded his second career 100-yard rushing game with 170 yards on a career-high 28 carries against Illinois on Nov. 9. The 170 rushing yards were the second most by a Spartan against Illinois (Javon Ringer with 194 in 2005). Collins also scored two TDs for the first time in his career.

• Collins' 742 rushing yards are the most by a Spartan freshman since Javon Ringer had 817 rushing yards as a true freshman in 2005.

• Collins redshirted in 2018 and played a total of six offensive snaps in three games.

CODY WHITE RANKS SECOND ON TEAM IN RECEIVING –
• Junior Cody White has posted career highs for both receptions (43) and receiving yards (605) this season, ranking second on the team in both of those categories.

• The Novi, Michigan, product had season highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (128) against Illinois on Nov. 9.

• White has four career 100-yard receiving games (seven catches for 128 yards vs. Illinois in 2019; nine for 113 yards and one TD at Arizona State in 2018; eight for 115 vs. Ohio State in 2018; nine for 165 at Northwestern in 2017).

• White was having a sensational start to his second season in the Green and White with 20 catches for 300 yards in the first four games of the 2018 season, but unfortunately White suffered a broken left hand in the second quarter of the Central Michigan game on Sept. 29 while diving for a catch in the end zone. White was forced to sit out four games but returned to action on Nov. 3 at Maryland; although he missed four games, he still led the Spartans in receiving yards (555; 61.7 ypg) and ranked second in receptions (42).

• A BTN All-Freshman Team selection in 2017, White closed his first year in the Green and White with the most receiving yards by a true freshman in school history with 490. His 35 catches were second most by a true freshman (Sedrick Irvin with 40 in 1996) and most by a true freshman wide receiver (B.J. Cunningham had 41 catches for 528 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2008). White recorded 30 of his 35 catches in the second half of the season.

• In his first career start, White was named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after setting a Spartan freshman single-game record with 165 receiving yards at Northwestern on Oct. 28, 2017. That total was also the 20th-most overall by an MSU player in a single game and the third most by a Spartan against Northwestern.

• In 32 career games, including 23 starts, White has 120 catches 1,650 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranks tied for 16th in MSU history in receptions (120) and 22nd in receiving yards (1,650).

SPARTANS HAVE PLAYED 13 TRUE FRESHMEN THIS SEASON –
• Michigan State has played 13 true freshmen this season, matching the 2017 season for the most in one season under Mark Dantonio; however, entering the Rutgers game, only four players have played more than four games. Beginning in the 2018 season, true freshmen can play in up to four games and still preserve their redshirt season.

• Here's a look at the true freshmen who have seen game action thus far in 2019: WR Julian Barnett, TE Adam Berghorst*, OT Devontae Dobbs*, OG J.D. Duplain, DE Michael Fletcher*, S Tate Hallock*, K Evan Morris*, WR Tre Mosley*, LS Jude Pedrozo, OL Nick Samac*, LB Charles Willekes*, RB Anthony Williams, RB Brandon Wright*

* Has not played more than four games

MARK DANTONIO ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES IN BIG TEN HISTORY –
• Now in his 13th season as head coach of the Spartans, Mark Dantonio owns a 111-57 (.661) record. Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 11 bowl appearances. He is the only active Big Ten coach to win multiple Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), claim a victory in the Rose Bowl (2014), and coach in the College Football Playoff (2015).

• The winningest coach in school history with 111 victories, Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.632, 67-39 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (67), home wins (66) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.661). Dantonio has 10 winning seasons in his 12 years in East Lansing, including a school-record 11 bowl bids (Daugherty owns school record with 11 winning seasons from 1954-72).

• With the triumph over Northwestern on Sept. 21, Dantonio became Michigan State's all-time winningest coach, passing Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty, who collected a 109-69-5 record in East Lansing from 1954-72 (19 seasons). Daugherty won four National Championships (1955, 1957, 1965, 1966), two Big Ten Championships (1965, 1966) and the 1956 Rose Bowl. A two-time National Coach of the Year (1955, 1965), Daugherty coached 29 different players to first-team All-America honors and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

• Dantonio's incredible run at Michigan State ranks among the best in Big Ten history. Dantonio is one of just six Big Ten coaches to have at least six 10-win seasons on their resume (Bo Schembechler, Michigan; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Joe Paterno, Penn State; Lloyd Carr, Michigan; Urban Meyer, Ohio State) and one of four to have at least five 11-win seasons (Tressel, Paterno, Meyer).

• Dantonio is one of just 14 coaches in Big Ten history to record 100 victories. He is currently tied for 12th in Big Ten history with 111 wins.

• Overall, Dantonio owns a 129-74 (.635) record in his 15-plus seasons as a head coach (18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati; 111-57 in 12-plus seasons at MSU). Dantonio's 129 career wins rank 12th among active FBS coaches and second most in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz; 171).

• Dantonio won his 71st game at MSU on Oct. 25, 2014, against Michigan to move into second place all-time in victories in school history. Dantonio won his 100th career game as a head coach on Oct. 17, 2015, at Michigan Stadium as the Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines, 27-23, on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired. His career record stands at 129-74 (.635) in 15-plus seasons.

• Dantonio's .632 winning percentage (67-39) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games). He ranks second in school history in conference wins (record: Duffy Daugherty, 72), which also ranks 11th in Big Ten history.

• Dantonio led the Spartans to the 2015 Big Ten Championship with a 16-13 victory over previously undefeated and fourth-ranked Iowa. It marked Dantonio's third Big Ten Championship (2010, 2013, 2015), establishing a school record (previous: Daugherty and George Perles with two each).

• Dantonio became the first coach in Big Ten history to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span (11 in 2010; 11 in 2011; 13 in 2013, 11 in 2014; 12 in 2015), and his five 11-win seasons are tied with Joe Paterno of Penn State for third most in Big Ten history (Urban Meyer of Ohio State with seven; Jim Tressel of Ohio State with six; Paterno with five at Penn State as Big Ten member). Prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU had not recorded an 11-win season in its history, and had just two 10-win seasons (1965, 1999).

• A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2010, 2013), Dantonio has led Michigan State to Top 25 finishes seven times (2008: No. 24 in both polls; 2010: No. 14 in both polls; 2011: No. 10 USA TODAY/No. 11 AP; 2013: No. 3 in both polls; 2014: No. 5 in both polls; 2015: No. 6 in both polls; 2017: No. 15 AP/No. 16 USA TODAY). His seven AP Top-25 finishes are tied for the most in school history. Duffy Daugherty's teams posted seven Top-25 finishes during his 19-year tenure from 1954-72.

• Michigan State extended its school record by playing in a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season in 2015 (2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at Cotton Bowl).

• Dantonio also ranks first in school history with 11 bowl appearances, including a school-record streak of nine straight bowl games from 2007-15. He is 5-6 in bowl games at Michigan State, including a school-record four-game winning streak (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton). Dantonio has led his teams to 13 bowl berths in 15 seasons as a head coach (11 at MSU, two at Cincinnati).

• Dantonio is one of just four Spartan head coaches to coach in at least 100 games at MSU and ranks second in Spartan history with 168 games coached at Michigan State (Duffy Daugherty: 183; Dantonio: 168; George Perles: 139; Charlie Bachman: 114).

• Dantonio is the third-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: 21st season; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: 14th season) and eighth-longest in the FBS at the same school.

DECADE OF SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE –
• Michigan State is in the midst of its winningest decade in school history based on total wins, as the Spartans are 89-40 (.690) since the beginning of the 2010 season. The 89 wins this decade are third most in the Big Ten and 14th most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. During that span, MSU has won five bowl games (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2017 Holiday), three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and three Big Ten Division titles (2011, 2013, 2015). MSU's .690 winning percentage this decade is fourth best in school history. MSU was the only school to finish in the top-six of the national polls from 2013-15 (No. 3 in 2013, No. 5 in 2014, No. 6 in 2015) and the 36 wins from 2013-15 marked the winningest three-year stretch in the history of the program.

• In addition, the Spartans have earned 11 bowl bids since 2007, including a school-record four consecutive bowl victories (2012 Outback against No. 18 Georgia, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings against TCU, 2014 Rose Bowl Game against No. 5 Stanford, 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic against No. 4 Baylor), which also tied a Big Ten record.

• MSU's highest winning percentage by decade is currently the 1950s (.766, 70-21-1 record), but the 89 wins this current decade are already the most of any previous decade in school history (previous: 70 in 1950s).

• The Spartans have had sustained success in the Big Ten Conference under Dantonio. MSU has won two of the past six Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015) and three overall this decade, also claiming a championship in 2010. Dantonio is second in school history and 11th in Big Ten history with 67 conference wins. The Spartans are 54-28 (.659) in regular-season Big Ten play since 2010.

DOMINIQUE LONG NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT –
• Michigan State junior safety Dominique Long has been named to the 2019 Academic All-District Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Long owns a 3.71 grade-point average as a mechanical engineering major.

• An Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2018, Long is on track to earn his third letter for the Spartans this fall. Through 10 games, he leads the team with nine special teams tackles (seven punt return, two kick return). He has a career-high 13 tackles overall and one pass break-up. In the season opener against Tulsa, Long blocked his first career punt.

• Long now advances to the Academic All-America ballot. The Academic All-America Team will be announced in December.

Game 11: Michigan State (4-6, 2-5 B1G) at Rutgers (2-8, 0-7 B1G)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Julian Barnett

Adam Berghorst

Josh Butler

Matt Coghlin

Elijah Collins

Devontae Dobbs

Andrew Dowell

David Dowell

J.D. Duplain

Michael Fletcher

Tate Hallock

Noah Harvey

Xavier Henderson

Gerald Holmes

Brian Lewerke

Rocky Lombardi

Madre London

Dominique Long

Evan Morris

Tre Mosley

Jacub Panasiuk

Mike Panasiuk

Jude Pedrozo

William Przystup

Max Rosenthal

Nick Samac

Josiah Scott

Antjuan Simmons

Matt Sokol

Brandon Sowards

Tyriq Thompson

Cody White

Charles Willekes

Kenny Willekes

Raequan Williams

Brandon Wright