College Football

Michigan State Football: 5 players who'll break out vs. Indiana

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:33 p.m. ET

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Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) leads the Michigan State Spartans onto the field prior to a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Which five Michigan State football players will break out against the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday?

Michigan State football is facing one of its toughest matchups in recent memory. While the Spartans were evenly-matched with Wisconsin, the Badgers found a way to force four turnovers and set up great field position on numerous drives. Michigan State’s defense was shaky on third downs and Alex Hornibrook picked apart relaxed coverage.

Indiana is not going to run the ball a ton against the Spartans. Heck, the Hoosiers might not even carry the ball 15 times despite having a solid running back in Devine Redding. However, JUCO transfer Richard Lagow has filled in nicely for Nate Sudfeld and he is coming off a 496-yard performance.

Lagow did, in fact, throw five interceptions in that game against Wake Forest, but the fact that he accounted for 500 yards, basically, should worry the Spartans’ secondary. Someone is going to need to have a breakout game back there — like maybe Vayante Copeland?

Here are five other guys who I believe will have a breakout performance against the Indiana Hoosiers Saturday night.

Josh King

DE, Freshman

Is it too early to predict Josh King as a potential breakout candidate? Well, it’s never too early, especially given the fact that he’s going to play a healthy role on the defensive line now that his redshirt has been burned.

Despite everything you hear about Donnie Corley being the crown jewel of Michigan State’s 2016 recruiting class, which has held true thus far, King was actually the highest-rated recruit the Spartans had. He was one of the top-100 players in the nation and an elite defensive end from Illinois.

King got his feet wet against Wisconsin in garbage time last week, but now that he’s seen the field and knows what to expect, the former four-star end should be a force to be reckoned with.

Indiana has had a tough time trying to protect Richard Lagow, and that might lead to the former all-state wrestler’s first career sack. Heck, he might have a few more tackles with that as well.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) celebrates a touchdown during the second half a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

LJ Scott

RB, Sophomore

It’s hard to believe that LJ Scott has just three 100-yard games in his entire Michigan State career. The sophomore running back is arguably the most talented one in the Mark Dantonio era, but he has yet to really hit his stride. Having a questionable offensive line has led to some of the struggled.

No, Scott hasn’t truly “struggled” ever, but he hasn’t put up the numbers he’s capable of in the backfield. As a true freshman last season, he rushed for a team-high 699 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry.

This season, he has already put up 264 yards and two touchdowns, putting him on pace to break his yardage mark from last season, but he’s still been a little slow out of the gate. His game against Wisconsin is what really slowed him down, rushing 14 times for just 61 yards — 19 of those came on his first carry.

I’m expecting a breakout game for the second-year running back. No, I’m not talking about just breaking the 100-yard mark, but putting up over 150 yards with two touchdowns. Indiana’s defense is nothing special and it struggled against Wake Forest on the ground last week.

Scott is due for a big one, and this will be his breakout performance to start the year.

Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; dMichigan State Spartans linebacker Andrew Dowell (5) celebrates fumble recovery during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Dowell

LB, Sophomore

Two of Michigan State’s starting linebackers are going to be out on Saturday against the Hoosiers. Both Jon Reschke and Riley Bullough have suffered injuries that have kept them out for a few weeks. Reschke’s might be even more serious than Bullough’s and Mark Dantonio has stated how it could be a ‘significant time’ before we see him again.

Filling in for the injured ‘Star’ linebacker, Andrew Dowell is no stranger to starting. He started the first game of the year in place of Reschke, who was injured then as well, and played well enough to get consideration as player of the game.

Dowell, who also happens to have a twin brother (David) fighting for playing time in the defensive backfield, recorded eight tackles and a one-handed interception against Furman. He showed extreme athleticism at the linebacker position and gave the coaching staff a look at the future of the defense.

Against Notre Dame, he recorded four tackles and a sack and then was relatively quiet with less playing time against Wisconsin, finishing with two takedowns.

The sophomore linebacker can cover, read the run and make plays in the backfield, making him a perfect replacement for Reschke. He’s going to have a monster game against the Hoosiers this week.

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 has been the subject of plenty of hype this offseason. The coaching staff, and even fellow players, has talked him up as being a breakout candidate in 2016 and the redshirt freshman is starting to come into his own.

Not many people realize just what type of impact he’s already had on the defensive line, but he’s recorded nine tackles and a team-high two sacks in three games of limited playing time. He also got into the backfield to force a fumble on Wisconsin’s Alex Hornibrook by slapping the ball loose while getting blocked.

Williams is probably the second-most talented defensive tackle the Spartans have but he’s still listed as the backup to Malik McDowell, obviously, as well as Kevin Williams. Not often do you see a guy listed as the backup for two different positions on the line, but that’s just how good he is.

Indiana’s average offensive line is going to have a tough time blocking a couple of true freshman studs as well as McDowell and Williams up the middle. Expect the redshirt freshman to record a couple of sacks and maybe even force another fumble, this time on Richard Lagow.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Avery Sebastian (4) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

R.J. Shelton

WR, Senior

Last year against Indiana, it was R.J. Shelton who broke out and gave Michigan State a huge burst in the fourth quarter, catching a go-ahead touchdown and ensuring the Spartans didn’t look back. The game was back-and-forth for three quarters at Spartan Stadium, but Michigan State pulled away late.

Must Read: MSU Football: 5 players who need to step up vs. Indiana

I’m expecting another big game from Shelton just because he’s been quiet through three games this season. He was looking to be the No.1 receiver for the Spartans coming into the season, but Donnie Corley has seemingly taken that role and Monty Madaris has been second.

Shelton had a big eight catches for 80 yards performance against Notre Dame in Week 3, but that made up for a reception-less Week 1. He followed that up with three catches for 23 yards against Wisconsin — one of which was a ‘technical’ pass on a forward pitch by Tyler O’Connor.

O’Connor is going to need the sure-handed Shelton to be a force in this one and I can see him catching eight passes for 100 yards and a couple of big touchdowns. Heck, he might score one on another shovel pass, taking it the distance.

Michigan State needs a big game from Shelton and he’s going to deliver.