Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
What Michigan State Spartan do we most want to end up on the Lions?
Wil and Matt talk about Michigan State’s latest football commit and where the 2021 recruiting class sits with six players. Then they talk about the NFL Draft and play a game of “You only get one” with the Detroit Lions and MSU prospects.
You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
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Here are 10 prospects who have had pre-draft video calls with the Broncos.
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In previous offseasons, NFL teams were allowed to have 30 draft prospects visit their facilities in the weeks leading up to the draft.
This year, in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, the league told teams that they were not allowed to travel to prospects or have prospects visit their facilities. Teams were permitted to hold video calls with players, though.
The Broncos presumably had pre-draft calls with 30 prospects. We know the names of 10 of the prospects that Denver called leading up to the draft.
We know that the Broncos had video calls with defensive lineman Robert Windsor, wide receiver Denzel Mims, cornerback Kindle Vildor, cornerback Cameron Dantzler, offensive lineman Josh Jones, defensive lineman Leki Fotu, linebacker Joe Bachie, offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, center Matt Hennessy and cornerback Kristian Fulton.
It’s clear that wide receiver, cornerback and the offensive line will be three of Denver’s biggest priorities in the draft. The Broncos will have 10 picks to use in the draft, including the 15th overall pick on Thursday.
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The Bengals have eyes on a Big Ten linebacker.
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The Cincinnati Bengals have been all over defensive prospects ahead of the 2020 NFL draft.
Feel free to add Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie to the list.
According to Russell Brown of Cover 1, Bachie has listed the Bengals as one of the teams showing him the most interest so far.
Bachie joins a long list of prospects, which was recently updated to include big names like Antoine Winfield Jr. and others.
With three years of significant playing time with the Spartans, Bachie drummed up 285 total tackles, seven sacks and five interceptions.
Over at NFL.com, Lance Zierlein grades him as a player with a chance to make a final roster somewhere. While there are some pluses, it comes with a flag:
“His play strength and contact balance are a plus but teams might view them with some skepticism after a failed PED test. He will struggle with man coverage but plays passing lanes from zone effectively. His technique and play recognition will stand out for defensive coaches, but it might not matter if his speed and athletic testing don’t check out.”
But that somewhere could be Cincinnati, where the Bengals continue to completely overhaul the linebacker room, with free-agent Josh Bynes merely the beginning.
If the Bengals pass on a linebacker early — or merely want to add more than one — Bachie is a name to keep in mind in the mid to late rounds.
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he Broncos have scheduled a pre-draft video call with inside linebacker Joe Bachie.
The Denver Broncos have scheduled a pre-draft video call with Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. NFL teams are making calls instead of inviting prospects for pre-draft visits because of COVID-19.
Bachie (6-1, 230 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Bachie as a prospect who “will struggle with man coverage but plays passing lanes from zone effectively.”
Bachie’s one red flag is that he failed a PED test while in college.
During his final three seasons with the Spartans, Bachie totaled 274 tackles, seven sacks, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups and four forced fumbles. He was a play-making linebacker who totaled 28 tackles in the backfield.
Bachie is the 16th-best inside linebacker in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s post-combine rankings for Draft Wire.
The Broncos will have 10 picks to use in the NFL draft (April 23-25).
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A roundup of how the former Michigan State football players tested at the NFL Combine
There were plenty of Spartans participating in the NFL Combine last week in Indianapolis.
Seven former Michigan State football players took part in the week-long job interview, tying for the most combine invitees in the Mark Dantonio era. The players, Brian Lewerke, Kenny Willekes, Raequan Williams, Joe Bachie, Josiah Scott, Cody White, and Darrell Stewart Jr. were put through a number of tests including physical measurements and on-field drills.
Below we have compiled the results from all seven Spartans and in some cases where those test results rank among their position group.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 213
Arms: 32 1/8″
Hands: 10 5/8″
40-yard dash: 4.95 seconds
Bench press: N/A
Vertical jump: 31.0 inches
Broad jump: 113.0 inches
3-Cone drill: 7.14 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.4 seconds
60-yard shuttle: N/A
Height: 6-3
Weight: 264
Arms: 31 1/4″
Hands: 9 1/2″
40-yard dash: 4.87 seconds
Bench press: 32 reps (3rd among DL)
Vertical jump: 32.5 inches (9th among DL)
Broad jump: 119.0 inches (9th among DL)
3-Cone drill: 7.39 seconds (10th among DL)
20-yard shuttle: N/A
60-yard shuttle: N/A
Height: 6-4
Weight: 308
Arms: 33 3/8″
Hands: 9 3/8″
40-yard dash: 5.04 seconds
Bench press: 17 reps
Vertical jump: 25.5 inches
Broad jump: 101.0 inches
3-Cone drill: 7.72 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.78 seconds
Height: 5-9
Weight: 185
Arms: 29 3/8″
Hands: 8 3/4
40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds (5th among corners)
Bench press: 17 reps (T-7th among corners)
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
3-Cone drill: N/A
20-yard shuttle: N/A
60-yard shuttle: N/A
Height: 6-3
Weight: 217
Arms: 32 1/2″
Hands: 10″
40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds
Bench press: N/A
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
Broad jump: 120.0 inches
3-Cone drill: 7.19 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.52 seconds
60-yard shuttle: N/A
Height: 6-1
Weight: 230
Arms: 31 5/8″
Hands: 10 1/4″
40-yard dash: 4.67 seconds
Bench press: 26 reps (2nd among LBs)
Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
Broad jump: 119.0 inches
3-Cone drill: 6.93 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.34 seconds
60-yard shuttle: N/A
40-yard dash: N/A
Bench press: 15 reps
Vertical jump: 35.0 inches
Broad jump: 117.0 inches
3-Cone drill: N/A
20-yard shuttle: N/A
60-yard shuttle: N/A
Height: 6-0
Weight: 212
Arms: 32″
Hands: 9 5/8″
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Michigan State’s Joe Bachie spoke about his failed drug test and subsequent suspension during his NFL Combine interview.
It is quite a strange factoid in MSU Football history that two of their best middle linebackers in the past decade, Max Bullough and Joe Bachie, were both suspended and unable to finish their senior seasons. The reason for Bullough’s suspension, which was called a ‘violation of team rules’, was never officially revealed, despite some rumors. Bachie, on the other hand, discussed his suspension in length today at the NFL Draft, and you can watch the video below.
The video was posted by Angelique Seremtis of The Detroit News:
Joe Bachie at the combine on the failed test and suspension pic.twitter.com/j6pio0B1Oh
— angelique seremetis (@chengelis) February 27, 2020
Bachie’s side of the story is that he failed a drug test due to an over the counter pre-workout. He says that he passed a drug test shortly after his failed attempt and tried to appeal his suspension through the Big Ten but it didn’t go through. Bachie said that after his suspension, he acted as somewhat of an assistant coach and was still with the team at practices and lift sessions.
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The seven invites ties a record for most MSU players invited under Dantonio
Mark Dantonio’s last season as Michigan State head coach could be his most prolific in terms of players sent to the NFL.
Seven former Michigan State Spartans have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, which is tied for the most under Dantonio with the 2016 group. The players invited are quarterback Brian Lewerke, linebacker Joe Bachie, wide receivers Cody White and Darrell Stewart Jr., cornerback Josiah Scott, and defensive linemen Kenny Willekes and Raequan Williams.
The NFL Scouting combine is the premier job interview for NFL hopefuls and a large majority of players in attendance will get drafted. In 2016 five of the seven Spartans at the combine heard their names called during the NFL Draft. The 2012 NFL Draft saw seven Spartans taken, highlighted by Kirk Cousins and Jerel Worthy.
The Scouting Combine begins Sunday, February 23. Kenny Willekes will be raising money for the Helen Devos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids during his bench press test at the event.
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After losing his appeal to the NCAA, Joe Bachie’s Michigan State Football career has now concluded.
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On Saturday, Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio made it official. The Spartans star linebacker Joe Bachie, who was recently suspended after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, will never play another game for Michigan State. His collegiate career is over.
This comes after his appeal to the NCAA was denied, Mark Dantonio told reporters on Saturday. It remains unclear what substance Bachie tested positive for. Bachie finished the season with 71 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, and an interception. Bachie was a three-year starter and two-time captain.
“We lost a great linebacker, as you guys know, in Bachie,” Dantonio said. “We’ve sort of been working through it. It just depends on who we play (for) where we play people.”
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Michigan State football suffered an incredibly tragic defeat at the hands of Michigan, 44-10. Here are three key takeaways from this game
Michigan State Football suffered an a horrific loss at the hands of interstate rival Michigan, 44-10. The Spartans kept it relatively close at first, but, the Wolverines took over in the third quarter. This lead to a landslide victory for the University of Michigan.
Here are three key takeaways from this game:
Remember the start of this season? When Mark Dantonio surpassed Hugh Daugherty as the most winningest coach in Spartan history. Those days now seem long gone. Nearly every Michigan State fan has turned on Dantonio.
There are certain fans that want Dantonio to retire, others want Dantonio to be fired. Does it have to be this way? I understand the frustration. He had a chance to clean house in the offseason and start fresh but did not do so. Does his success not warrant any good faith from fans?
It is possible to chalk up this season to the coordinator staff, injuries, and lack of talent. The Ohio State loss clearly displayed the disparity in talent between the Buckeyes and the Spartans. The offensive line is absolutely depleted and Joe Bachie is suspended. WR Darrell Stewart went down with an injury just as WR CJ Hayes came back.
Out for MSU today: Darrell Stewart, Joe Bachie, Matt Allen, Cole Chewins, Tyler Higby, Kevin Jarvis.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 16, 2019
I know it is easy to succumb to frustration, but, coaching decisions must be backed by logic and rational thoughts. Do not think about just the present, instead consider the future. Who will replace Dantonio? Are they a better coach? If not, then you set yourself up for failure by firing him.
Michigan and Michigan State offer up one of the most heated rivalries in all of sports. The players do not like each other, the fans do not like each other. This was on full display yesterday. The game started out chippy and it only grew from there.
Later in the game, Jacub Panasiuk hit Shea Patterson late and was flagged for roughing the passer. The referees ejected Panasiuk from the game for this hit. No doubt this was the culmination of frustration for Michigan State.
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In between the chippy play, there were celebrations galore. Cody White was flagged for taunting after a nice catch over a Michigan defender. On the other hand, Michigan WR Tarik Black was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after flexing on Josh Butler. This rivalry has not taken a step back whatsoever.
I’ve spent almost all year defending Brian Lewerke. Last week, I gave this up. I cannot do this anymore. Lewerke is not a terrible QB, but, he is certainly not a winning QB. He had an absolutely horrendous outing against the Wolverines.
Michigan QB Shea Patterson won the QB duel yesterday against Lewerke. Patterson dropped 384 yards, completing 24 of his 33 pass attempts. This lead to Patterson throwing four touchdown passes, three more than Lewerke. Brian only put up 166 yards, completing 17 of his 30 attempts.
It is not easy to bench a senior QB and maybe that won’t even happen. Personally, I think it’s time for Rocky Lombardi and Theo Day to get some snaps. Especially late in a blowout game. These reps can help shape the offseason perspective and QB scenario moving forward. It’s time to think about the future.
Michigan State football travels to SHI Stadium to play against Rutgers University on Nov. 23. The game starts at 12:00 P.M.
Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.
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