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Michigan State Football: 5 players who could break out vs. Wisconsin
Which five Michigan State football players could break out against Wisconsin this Saturday in East Lansing?
Michigan State football is gearing up for what looks to be another bloodbath of a battle with an old foe. Each time the Badgers and the Spartans link up, it seems to be an instant classic. The last time the two teams met was 2012 and Michigan State marched into Madison and stole an overtime victory from the Badgers.
Wisconsin has made one of the biggest jumps in the AP Poll of any program in the nation this season, going from unranked to No. 9 after beating No. 5 LSU to start the year. The Badgers are back down to No. 11 after a Week 3 struggle with Georgia State at home, but this is still one of the must-watch games of the week.
The Big Ten regular season is underway and this could easily be a preview
Take a look at the five players who could break out for a big game against the Wisconsin Badgers this Saturday afternoon.
Ed Davis
LB, Senior
It’s been two years since Ed Davis recorded a tackle. Heck, it’s been over a season since the newly-granted sixth-year senior has even set foot on a field of play during live action.
Sure, Davis has been practicing with the Spartans, but he didn’t play against Notre Dame because Mark Dantonio didn’t believe he was ‘100 percent’ ready. Now that he’s likely to see the field against Wisconsin, he’s a perfect breakout candidate.
Davis was a force when he started and saw the field as a linebacker in 2014 and was expected to be an All-Big Ten performer in 2015 before he suffered a knee injury that ended his season before it even began.
Expect the linebacker to slowly get back to his aggressive play, but when he does, he’s going to make the linebacking unit even stronger.
Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans tight end Josiah Price (82) makes a catch for a touchdown in front of Furman Paladins safety Trey Robinson (2) during the second half at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Josiah Price
TE, Senior
I’m not trying to pick on Josiah Price here, but calling him a breakout candidate after he’s been a prominent member of the offensive scheme for a few years is a little harsh. Yes, he’s already been a breakout player in the past, but his play has lulled coaches and fans to sleep lately.
Price might be thought of as a third option when he’s on the field just because of the play-calling. Obviously during a passing play, the receivers are going to be top options, but when a team has a tight end as talented as Price, he should be watched closely as well.
The senior has caught just three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown through two games, but he’s capable of so much more. After his sophomore season, it looked like he was going to have a record-breaking career at Michigan State for tight ends, but he has been relatively tame since.
Coming off a nice game against Notre Dame in which he had two receptions for 24 yards as well as a two-point conversion catch, Price might domino that into more production against a tough Wisconsin defense.
Well, the secondary struggled against Georgia State in Week 3, so that might be even better news for Price’s breakout potential.
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Durham Smythe (80) has catch broken up by Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyson Smith (15) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Tyson Smith
CB, Sophomore
No, I’m not one of those members of the ‘Darian Hicks should be benched’ club. The senior cornerback has had a couple rough plays on the season thus far, but he’s not in the danger zone, in my opinion. He has played well enough to retain his starting job through two games, but sophomore Tyson Smith has also impressed.
According to Sean Scherer of 247Sports, Mark Dantonio was pleased with his young cornerback from West Bloomfield, stating that Smith “played hard and pretty well” on Saturday against Notre Dame.
Dantonio did say this before he watched the game film extensively, but he did take note of some plays that the sophomore made on defense. He was never burned deep and wasn’t flagged for defensive hold nor pass interference against talented Notre Dame wide outs.
With an increased role on the defensive side of the ball, Smith could be one of the breakout stars against a Badgers offense that hasn’t really mastered the pass game yet this season. A first-year starting quarterback could make some mistakes and a young guy like Smith could capitalize on them for a big game.
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) celebrates after MSU defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 36-28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Donnie Corley
WR, Freshman
Donnie Corley is already a name buzzing around Michigan State’s campus. This entire week has been Corley praise week, it seems, seeing as the true freshman wide out made some big-time plays against Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday.
Yes, he technically had a breakout game as a Spartan already, but this is another chance for Corley to cement himself as the real weapon in the passing game.
R.J. Shelton, Monty Madaris and Felton Davis III are all starters at the receiver positions for the Spartans, but Corley and Darrell Stewart might just fly under the radar and steal some catches from the first-stringers.
Last week against the Fighting Irish, Corley became a household name within Spartan Nation for those who hadn’t already been singing his praises. He was one of the highest-rated recruits in the 2016 class and he lived up to the hype, snagging a huge touchdown before halftime in which he ripped the ball away from the defender’s hands.
Corley finished with four catches for 88 yards and that score and could be on his way to a huge Week 4 performance against the Badgers.
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) runs the ball for a touchdown against Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Raequan Williams (99) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Raequan Williams
DT, Freshman
Raequan Williams is the next big star of the football program — at least on the defensive side of the ball. If you read any of the headlines over the summer, you would have realized the redshirt freshman was making huge strides to start next to Malik McDowell on the defensive line.
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At Big Ten Media Days, Riley Bullough was asked which player who casual fans of the conference didn’t know about would break out in 2016 and he mentioned the redshirt freshman. Williams is receiving praise from just about everyone, but a quiet season-opener against Furman had fans worried.
Williams appeared on the depth chart at No. 2 behind Kevin Williams, a transfer from Nebraska, as well as McDowell. It’s rare to see a guy listed as the backup for both tackle positions, but that’s just the type of talent he is.
After an impressive performance against Notre Dame in which he recorded a couple of tackles and his first collegiate sack, it’s clear that the game has slowed down for him and he’s ready to take advantage of an increased role.
Wisconsin’s offensive line is going to have a tough time trying to block both Williams and McDowell at the same time Saturday, likely leading to a big game for both tackles.
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