Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Three Spartans Earn All-Big Ten Honors on Defense
12/16/2020 2:34:00 PM | Football
Shakur Brown, Antjuan Simmons and Drew Beesley garner All-Big Ten accolades.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Three Spartans have earned All-Big Ten honors on defense, the conference office announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Redshirt junior cornerback Shakur Brown was named to the first team by the coaches and the second team by the media, while senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons was named to the second team by the media and the third team by the coaches. Redshirt senior defensive end Drew Beesley was an honorable mention choice by both the coaches and media.
Brown is tied for first in the FBS with five interceptions, including four in the last four games (two each vs. Indiana and Northwestern). Brown, who has started two games at nickelback and five games at cornerback this season, also has a team-high four pass break-ups this season to rank second in the Big Ten in passes defended (nine total: five interceptions, four pass break-ups).
With his two picks against Indiana, Brown became the first Spartan to record two interceptions in the same game since David Dowell in 2017 vs. Penn State, and he followed that effort with another two picks vs. Northwestern.
Brown has seven career interceptions, and his 186 career interception yards rank eighth most in MSU history.
Brown becomes the ninth different Spartan to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors in the secondary under cornerbacks coach Harlon Barnett (S Otis Wiley in 2008; S Trenton Robinson in 2011; CB Johnny Adams in 2011-12; CB Darqueze Dennard in 2012-13; S Isaiah Lewis in 2013; S Kurtis Drummond in 2013-14; CB Trae Waynes in 2014; S David Dowell in 2017).
Simmons ranks second in the Big Ten in tackles, averaging 10.7 per game (75 total), and is fourth in tackles for loss (9.0). He has recorded double-digit tackles in six of MSU's seven games this season (11 vs. Rutgers, 11 vs. Michigan, 14 vs. Indiana, 13 vs. Northwestern, 12 vs. Ohio State, 10 vs. Penn State). A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Simmons leads all active Spartans with 231 career tackles and 26.0 career tackles for loss.
After helping MSU limit Northwestern to 20 points and 63 yards rushing in the win over the No. 8 Wildcats on Nov. 28, Simmons was selected the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. He logged a game-high 13 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a 4-yard sack, against the Wildcats.
Simmons, who had a breakout season with a team-leading 90 tackles and a career-best 15 tackles for loss as junior in 2019, has started 20 consecutive games for the Spartans.
Beesley has started all seven games for the Spartans and has a career-high 27 stops, including 5.5 TFLs and a team-best three sacks. In the opener against Rutgers, Beesley had a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, including a 7-yard sack, with six tackles overall. He had a career-high two sacks (18 yards) and tied his career high with 2.5 TFLs (19 yards) in the win over No. 8 Northwestern.
Michigan State (2-5) wraps up the regular season at Maryland (2-3) on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in College Park. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Redshirt junior cornerback Shakur Brown was named to the first team by the coaches and the second team by the media, while senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons was named to the second team by the media and the third team by the coaches. Redshirt senior defensive end Drew Beesley was an honorable mention choice by both the coaches and media.
Brown is tied for first in the FBS with five interceptions, including four in the last four games (two each vs. Indiana and Northwestern). Brown, who has started two games at nickelback and five games at cornerback this season, also has a team-high four pass break-ups this season to rank second in the Big Ten in passes defended (nine total: five interceptions, four pass break-ups).
With his two picks against Indiana, Brown became the first Spartan to record two interceptions in the same game since David Dowell in 2017 vs. Penn State, and he followed that effort with another two picks vs. Northwestern.
Brown has seven career interceptions, and his 186 career interception yards rank eighth most in MSU history.
Brown becomes the ninth different Spartan to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors in the secondary under cornerbacks coach Harlon Barnett (S Otis Wiley in 2008; S Trenton Robinson in 2011; CB Johnny Adams in 2011-12; CB Darqueze Dennard in 2012-13; S Isaiah Lewis in 2013; S Kurtis Drummond in 2013-14; CB Trae Waynes in 2014; S David Dowell in 2017).
Simmons ranks second in the Big Ten in tackles, averaging 10.7 per game (75 total), and is fourth in tackles for loss (9.0). He has recorded double-digit tackles in six of MSU's seven games this season (11 vs. Rutgers, 11 vs. Michigan, 14 vs. Indiana, 13 vs. Northwestern, 12 vs. Ohio State, 10 vs. Penn State). A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Simmons leads all active Spartans with 231 career tackles and 26.0 career tackles for loss.
After helping MSU limit Northwestern to 20 points and 63 yards rushing in the win over the No. 8 Wildcats on Nov. 28, Simmons was selected the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. He logged a game-high 13 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a 4-yard sack, against the Wildcats.
Simmons, who had a breakout season with a team-leading 90 tackles and a career-best 15 tackles for loss as junior in 2019, has started 20 consecutive games for the Spartans.
Beesley has started all seven games for the Spartans and has a career-high 27 stops, including 5.5 TFLs and a team-best three sacks. In the opener against Rutgers, Beesley had a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, including a 7-yard sack, with six tackles overall. He had a career-high two sacks (18 yards) and tied his career high with 2.5 TFLs (19 yards) in the win over No. 8 Northwestern.
Michigan State (2-5) wraps up the regular season at Maryland (2-3) on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in College Park. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
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