The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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130 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY RYAN TICE Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is in an unfamiliar position as he embarks on his 11th year in charge in East Lansing. After experiencing just one campaign with less than 11 wins since 2010 (7-6 in 2012), the Spartans crashed to their worst record yet under the coach with a 3-9 finish in 2016. It was all the more unpredictable after the team went 36-5 in the preceding three years, including a berth in the 2015 College Football Playoff. Athlon named Dantonio the coach on the hottest seat in the conference heading into the 2017 campaign — "Nobody in the Big Ten is in imminent danger of being fired, but the Spartans have had trouble on and off the field in the last year," the publication noted. After such a campaign, it's hard to say if it's a positive or negative that the program re- turns just seven combined starters on offense and defense. The two returning offensive starters are among the league's best at their positions — junior running back LJ Scott and senior center Brian Allen. Scott ran for 994 yards and added 147 as a receiver while totaling seven touchdowns last year. Like Scott, fifth-year senior Gerald Holmes is also 225-plus pounds and provides a formidable second punch after rushing for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career. Meanwhile, Allen was a second-team All- Big Ten pick by the media a year ago despite starting at all three positions along the inte- rior. If the rest of the offensive line can come along, the ground game should be fine. The aerial attack has several promising pieces to build around, although they are young. Mobile redshirt sophomore quarter- back Brian Lewerke started two games as a freshman before breaking his leg against Michigan after leading a fourth-quarter touchdown drive — he was 6-of-10 passing for 60 yards with a touchdown while rushing three times for 24 yards before the injury. He should regain the starting job and continue to develop chemistry with sopho- more Donnie Corley, the top returning pass catcher after snaring 33 passes for 453 yards and three touchdowns. Classmate Trishton Jackson (five catches for 89 yards and a touchdown in nine games) is another highly thought of youngster checking in 6-1 or taller. Felton Davis is the tallest target at 6-4 and is the second-leading receiver among return- ees after posting 12 catches for 150 yards and a score last year. Rookie Hunter Rison, son of former MSU and NFL star Andre Rison, could make a quick impact. Defensively, there isn't much experience. Senior outside linebacker Chris Frey was the only defender to start all 12 games and returns after pacing the squad with 96 tackles and seven quarterback hurries. On the other side, junior Andrew Dowell opened eight games and totaled 67 tackles, three stops for loss, one interception and six quarterback hurries. Junior cornerback Vayante Copeland was the team's sixth-leading tackler (36) and only played in seven games with five starts. He is also one of the four returners with a pick and has the third most returning starts from the 2016 roster. Fifth-year senior defensive end Demetrius Cooper failed to build off of a promising 2015 campaign that included five QB take- downs, and had just 23 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 11 starts last season. And that was while playing next to defensive tackle Malik McDowell, the 35th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who will be missed. Sophomore Raequan Williams started just three times last year, but finished with 28 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble, and could be the next force along the interior. Michigan State seems to be on its way down, but Dantonio has pulled out of these situations before. He went 6-7 in year three (2009) before back-to-back 11-win cam- paigns, then dipped to 7-6 in 2012 before the trio of top-six finishes that ended in 2015. Last year provides a huge bounce-back opportunity for Dantonio — but it's much tougher now in the East Division against the likes of perennial title contender Ohio State and ascending powers Michigan and Penn State. Maryland and Indiana will likely be in a tight race with Michigan State for fourth in the division, and both return more starters than the Spartans. Notes In Athlon's Big Ten positional rankings, MSU's running backs ranked sixth and its wide receivers/tight ends were listed seventh — but every other spot ranked between eighth and 10th … The magazine predicted they would be bowling again after a 6-6 finish and 4-5 showing in the Big Ten … The Spartans were 1-5 in games decided by 11 points or less in 2016 and 2-7 in contests decided by 17 or less. ❑ Last Year's 3-9 Finish Puts Spartans At Crucial Juncture 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 2 Bowling Green — Sept. 9 Western Michigan — Sept. 23 Notre Dame W, 36-28 Sept. 30 Iowa — Oct. 7 at Michigan L, 32-23 Oct. 14 at Minnesota — Oct. 21 Indiana L, 24-21 (OT) Oct. 28 at Northwestern L, 54-40 Nov. 4 Penn State L, 45-12 Nov. 11 at Ohio State L, 17-16 Nov. 18 Maryland L, 28-17 Nov. 25 at Rutgers W, 49-0 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: LJ Scott, Jr., RB — Ran for a career-best 160 yards on just 19 carries (8.4-yard average) and totaled a career-best 76 receiving yards while scoring both of his team's touchdowns in the one- point loss to Ohio State last year … Also had a big game against Michi - gan in 2016, rushing 20 times for 128 yards (6.4 per at- tempt) and a touchdown while catching two passes for 47 y ards in the 32-23 loss … The 6-1, 231-pounder has averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his career. Defense: Chris Frey, Sr., LB — Led the team with 96 tackles, 40 solo stops, seven quar- terback hurries and one forced fumble in 2016 … His four tackles for loss ranked fifth … Had 49 stops and 2.5 tackles for loss in the final six games … A backup in 2015, but notched five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks among 23 stops. Senior center Brian Allen has started 25 games in his career and is a two-time All-Big Ten second-team pick. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE GAME 5 • MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS • OCT. 7 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 69-35-5 First Meeting: U-M 39, MSU 0 (Oct. 12, 1898, at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 32, MSU 23 (Oct. 29, 2016, at East Lansing, Mich.) Head Coach: Mark Dantonio, 90-42 at Michigan State (11th year) and 108-59 overall (14th) 2016 In Review: 3-9 overall, 1-8 Big Ten (6th East) Final 2016 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 8 (2 offense, 5 defense, 1 spe - cialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2015 (Goodyear Cotton, vs. Alabama, L 38-0) Big Ten Championships (last): 9 (2015) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Brian Lewerke (381 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) Rushing: LJ Scott (994 yards, 6 TD) Receiving: Donnie Corley (453 yards, 3 TD) Tackles: Chris Frey (96) Sacks: Demetrius Cooper (2.5) Interceptions: Four players tied with 1