Tag: Michigan State Football

Michigan State is officially a playable team in the Madden 21 career mode

It was announced on Tuesday that Michigan State will be one of 10 playable teams featured in Madden 21’s career mode.

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Fans of the long-dormant NCAA Football video game franchise will soon get a taste of once again playing college football in a video game as Madden NFL 21 will let players choose from one of 10 college programs to play out two seasons in the game’s career mode. Spartan fans should be especially excited about this development: Michigan State will be one of those 10 playable teams.

The news was announced on Tuesday. College football has been missing a video game since NCAA Football 14, a fact made especially painful considering the team that graced that game cover (Michigan’s Denard Robinson).

Here is the full list of playable schools:

  • Michigan State
  • Nebraska
  • Oklahoma
  • Florida
  • LSU
  • Clemson
  • Oregon
  • USC
  • Miami
  • Texas

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WATCH: Michigan State LBs review running backs’ Spotify playlist in the Battle of the Aux

It’s the final position group matchup the the Battle of the Aux

The Battle of the Aux rages within the (virtual) walls of Michigan State football.

A few weeks ago (and for a primer on what the hell I’m writing about) the offensive and defensive lines–dubbed “Juice Squad” and “A.W.O.L” (Animals Without a Leash), respectively, battled by putting together Spotify playlists to represent the position groups. Then they reviewed each others’ playlists and fans voted on the winner. The defensive line won that first matchup going away. After that, the QBs “Gunslingers” went up against the TEs “The Arsenal” with the QBs coming out on top. That was followed by the DBs “No Fly Zone” taking on the receivers “Ice Gang.” The defensive backs took home the win in that one.

Our final matchup is the running backs “Chain Gang” against the linebackers “Bomb Squad.”

First up we have the linebackers checking out the songs the running backs put on their playlist.

 

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Michigan State Football makes top-8 for 3-star CB Chase Lowery

The Spartans have made the top-8 for the recruitment of Texas cornerback Chase Lowery.

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In the world of Michigan State athletics recruiting, it has been the basketball team that has garnered much of the (well-deserved) attention this week after top high school basketball recruit Emoni Bates committed to the Spartans, but that’s not to say that Mel Tucker and his football staff aren’t still hard at work. MSU’s 2021 football recruiting class took another important step forward today with the announcement from 3-star cornerback Chase Lowery’s top-8, a list that included Michigan State.

Here is the full list of teams that made the top-8:

  • Texas Tech
  • Arkansas
  • San Diego State
  • Purdue
  • Michigan STate
  • Memphis
  • Pitt
  • Oregon State

Lowery currently attends Frisco High School in Texas where he is the No. 112 ranked player in that loaded state. 247Sports has him listed as the No. 54 ranked cornerback in the 2021 recruiting class.

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Every former Michigan State Football player currently on an NFL Roster

We listed out every former Michigan State Football player who is currently active on an NFL roster.

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The Mark Dantonio era may have ended at Michigan State, but his legacy will continue in the NFL, as a large group of his former players have all found professional teams, at least as of right now. There are currently 23 former Spartans on NFL rosters, and we listed them all out below.

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Brian Allen Los Angeles Rams Center
Joe Bachie New Orleans Saints Linebacker
Le’Veon Bell New York Jets Running Back
Shilique Calhoun New England Patriots Linebacker
Garrett Celek San Francisco 49ers Tight End
Jack Conklin Cleveland Browns Offensive Tackle
Kirk Cousins Minnesota Vikings Quarterback
Andrew Dowell New Orleans Saints Linebacker
William Gholston Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive End
Joel Heath Denver Broncos Nose Tackle
Tyler Higby Minnesota Vikings Guard
Brian Hoyer New England Patriots Quarterback
Justin Layne Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
Brian Lewerke New England Patriots Quarterback
Mike Panasiuk Las Vegas Raiders Defensive Tackle
Josiah Scott Jacksonville Jaguars Cornerback
Matt Sokol Detroit Lions Tight End
Darrell Stewart Jr. Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver
Trae Waynes Cincinnati Bengals Cornerback
Cody White Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver
Kenny Willekes Minnesota Vikings Defensive End
Raequan Williams Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle
Khari Willis Indianapolis Colts Safety

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The top ten highest-ranked Michigan State Football recruits since 2000

We took a look at the top ten highest-ranked MSU Football recruits in the last twenty years, according to their 247Sports rankings.

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Earlier this week, we took a look at the top ten recruits in the modern era of Michigan State Basketball. Today, we are going to do a similar exercise with the football program, listing out the top ten recruits in the MSU Football program in the last twenty years according to their 247Sports recruiting rankings.

We start our list with a recent running back who delivered some memorable moments to the program…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11

MSU recruiting target Michael Trigg plans to play two sports in college

Michigan State Football 2021 top recruiting target Michael Trigg recently said he wants to play 2 sports in college. Read more details.

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2021 4-star TE Michael Trigg put Michigan State Football in his top-10 choices for college earlier this month. Now, Trigg is receiving dual-offers from multiple schools to play both football and basketball.

Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers recently spoke to Michael Trigg about incoming dual-offers from schools for both basketball and football. Trigg has already received some dual-offers from Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina, and USC.

Here is what Jake Weingarten wrote of Trigg’s dual-sport decision:

Trigg has made it evident that he would love to play both sports in college and is currently committed to that, saying “I’ll be playing both in college for sure.”

Michigan State Football has already made an offer to Trigg, however, the basketball program has not yet done so.

I would absolutely love to see Michael Trigg play basketball and football for Michigan State. Trigg’s 6-foot-5 and 230-pound frame would be a problem defenders both on the football field and on the basketball hardwood.

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Former Michigan State Football WR Gene Washington recalls experiences with racism in America

Former Michigan State Football WR Gene Washington discussed experiences with racism in America with Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press.

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Former Michigan State WR Gene Washington sat down for a discussion with Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press this week. Gene Washington played WR for the Spartans between 1964 & 1967.

During the discussion, Washington spoke of his own experiences with racism in America, specifically discussing racial segregation. He even talks about the horrific death of George Floyd.

You can read the entire article here.

Here is a quote from George Washington on racism and segregation in the 1960s, per The Detroit Free Press:

“We were always at the mercy of the police people,” he said. “I mean, we had all those segregated laws that we thought were unfair you know in terms of sitting in the back of busses and trains, whites and blacks couldn’t go to school together. … That’s all I experienced when I was growing up down there in segregation. They were quick to write tickets and quick to put you in jail if you didn’t sit in the right place on the bus. And all the restaurants were closed to us as well.”

Gene Washington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1967 NFL Draft and played in the 1969 Super Bowl. Washington also played for the Denver Broncos during the 1973-74 season as well.

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2021 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot includes former Michigan State Football players

The 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot includes former Michigan State Football players and one former MSU coach.

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The 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot was released this past Tuesday. The 2021 Ballot includes two former Michigan State Football players, OT Flozell Adams and Placekicker Morten Andersen, along with former Michigan State coach Darryl Rogers.

Check out the capsule bio on each potential inductee offered by the Football Foundation:

OT Flozell Adams

“1997 First Team All-American and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year
Three-time All-Big Ten performer who helped Spartans to three consecutive bowl appearances
Helped running backs rush for more than 100 yards in 21 games throughout career and allowed only two QB sacks in 1997 season.”

Kicker Morten Andersen

“1981 First Team All-American who left MSU as the Big Ten’s all-time leader in field goals (45)
Set still-standing conference record with 63-yard field goal in 1981 and was a three-time All-Big Ten performer
Led the Spartans in scoring for three seasons.”

Coach Darryl Rogers

“Took Fresno State to two bowl games…Achieved an unprecedented national ranking at San Jose State
Named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1977 and National Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 1978
Won the Big Ten title in 1978.”

The 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class is presented by ETT and will be officially inducted on Dec. 7, 2021, during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown.

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The Detroit News includes Kenny Willekes among best Michigan State football players in past 25 years

The Detroit News selected the best Michigan State Football players in the past 25 years and included Defensive End Kenny Willekes.

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The Detroit News put together an impressive list of the best Michigan State football players in the past 25 years. This list features recent Spartan DE Kenny Willekes. Willekes started at Michigan State in 2016 and just wrapped up his tenure in 2019. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 7th round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Here is what Matt Charboneau of The Detroit News wrote about Willekes:

“A former walk-on, Willekes finished his career as Michigan State’s all-time leader in tackles for loss with 51 and ranked third with 26 sacks. He won the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on, and was named the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the conference with 20.5 tackles for loss. Willekes earned second-team All-American honors twice.”

Stroll down memory lane with this list of MSU football players from the past 25 years. I think you will certainly enjoy it.

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Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker gives Magic and Cookie Johnson customized Spartan jerseys

Magic Johnson and Mel Tucker meet for the first time since Tucker was hired in February.

File this under things you love to see.

Michigan State legend Magic Johnson is back in the mitten to celebrate Father’s Day and he and his wife Cookie stopped by the residence of MSU football coach Mel Tucker to break some bread. Johnson tweeted out a couple of pictures from the meeting and you can see he and Cookie are sporting some custom MSU football uniforms.

Magic is obviously one of the most important members of Spartan nation so it’s nice that he and Tucker were able to meet.

(Side note: Magic is listed at 6-foot-9 and while he’s noticeably taller than Tucker, he isn’t dwarfing him like he would most normal people.)