Tag: Michigan State Football

2021 NFL Draft early preview: Which MSU Football players could be drafted next?

With the 2020 NFL Draft in the books, we take a look at who might be the next Spartans drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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While the Michigan State Football program only had two players selected in the 2020 NFL draft, that was enough to extend the school’s NFL Draft streak to 80 years. With two players leaving school early for the pros in 2020 (Josiah Scott, Cody White), MSU is a little short of NFL Draft talent for the 2021 Draft.

That being said, there are eight Spartans who I feel are in the position to at least earn their way into the draft conversation, with at least one of those players being a lock in my eyes.

Click through the slideshow to see our thoughts on the eight MSU players who are in the best position to work towards a selection on draft day next year.

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Locked On Spartans Podcast: Aaron Henry declares for the NBA Draft, Hampton Fay, NFL Draft

It’s a jam-packed episode of Locked On Spartans

Wil and Matt discuss Aaron Henry declaring for the NBA Draft, MSU’s new QB recruit Hampton Fay and the NFL Draft.

You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

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Watch the moments where Josiah Scott and Kenny Willekes find out they were drafted

Michigan State players Josiah Scott and Kenny Willekes were both drafted this year. You can watch the moments they were drafted here.

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Michigan State had two players representing the program when they were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Those players were cornerback Josiah Scott (4th Round, Jacksonville Jaguars) and DE Kenny Willekes (7th Round, Minnesota Vikings).

The Michigan State Football team Twitter account posted awesome videos on Sunday showing the exact moment when Scott and Willekes found out that they were being selected.

You can watch both videos below:

Both picks have been largely praised by draft analysts, with some even calling Willekes one of the steals of the draft.

A host of other Spartans who weren’t drafted have been finding teams via free agency. You can see the full list of who has signed here.

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Michigan State Football QB Brian Lewerke signs with New England Patriots

Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke has signed with the New England Patriots as a UDFA according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

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Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke didn’t hear his name called on draft day, but it didn’t take long for him to find a team as Adam Schefter announced that the Spartans QB will be signing with the New England Patriots, joining fellow former Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer in New England.

Lewerke was one of many Spartans who were passed over in the draft and who are now landing with teams through free agency, and Lewerke echoed a similar message of positivity in regards to the situation that we have heard from many of the undrafted MSU players and it looks like it has paid off with a good opportunity with the Patriots.

Aside from Brian Hoyer, Lewerke will also be competing with former Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham who was drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots last year. While I would expect Stidham or Hoyer to helm the Patriots this season (barring a major trade or signing), neither player is considered a strong starter in the NFL and there is an outside chance Lewerke could see an opportunity at some point this season, perhaps more so here than if he landed with a team with an established starter.

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Kenny Willekes named one of the biggest steals of the 2020 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings selecting Kenny Willekes in the 7th Round has been named one of the biggest steals of the draft by DraftWire.

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I think most Michigan State fans walked away from the 2020 NFL Draft feeling like the MSU Football players available were overlooked. The Spartans only had two out of fourteen eligible players drafted this year, and the two players that did get selected were taken much later than projected. Kenny Willekes specifically was in the 4th/5th round range on many draft boards, but fell to the 7th round where he was finally taken by the Minnesota Vikings. Due to their ability to get a player like Willekes in the final round, the selection of the MSU defensive end has been named one of the biggest steals of the draft by DraftWire.

Here is what our sister site DraftWire had to say about the pick:

“Willekes comes in ranked 154th overall on the Draft Wire board, with a fourth-round grade, but Mike Zimmer was able to find him in the seventh round. Everson Griffin remains unsigned, and the team could use depth. Willekes racked up 26 career sacks for the Spartans while earning Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2018. He was awarded the Burlsworth Trophy given to an outstanding player who started as a walk-on.”

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Draft-eligible Michigan State Football players react to going undrafted

There were twelve draft-eligible Michigan State players who went undrafted in 2020 and a few of them took to Twitter to comment.

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Out of the fourteen draft-eligible Michigan State Football players in the 2020 NFL Draft, only two players were selected. Either rightly or not, that leaves twelve Spartans who will be looking to land with teams over free agency, and more importantly, will be looking to prove the teams who passed over them in the draft wrong.

S David Dowell:

LB Tyriq Thompson:

QB Brian Lewerke:

WR Cody White:

LB Joe Bachie:

CB Josh Butler:

Out of the Spartans who commented on the draft above, Cody White and Joe Bachie have already landed on teams via free agency.

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Michigan State WR Cody White signs with Kansas City Chiefs as UDFA

Michigan State Football wideout Cody White has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

For the second year in a row, the Kansas City Chiefs have signed a Michigan State wide receiver as an undrafted free agent. Last year, the Super Bowl champions signed Felton Davis III as an UDFA. This year, they will take a look at Cody White, signing the MSU junior shortly after the NFL Draft.

Felton Davis III didn’t play a game for the Chiefs this year due to a shoulder injury, but he still earned a Super Bowl ring with the team. Cody White will look to join his former Spartan teammate and help lead Kansas City to a repeat.

While Cody White’s bet to leave MSU a year early to test the NFL Draft didn’t pay off in a draft selection, it looks like it will at least earn him an opportunity with the Super Bowl champs.

I first saw the news reported by NFL Draft Diamonds on Twitter:

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Michigan State offensive lineman Tyler Higby signs with Minnesota Vikings as UDFA

Michigan State OL Tyler Higby has reportedly signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

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Moments after the 2020 NFL Draft concluded, undrafted Michigan State Football players started flying off the free agency list. One player who was able to quickly find a home was MSU offensive lineman Tyler Higby, who has reportedly signed with the Minnesota Vikings, joining his former teammate Kenny Willekes who was drafted by the Vikings in the 7th round along with Vikings QB and former Spartan Kirk Cousins.

I first saw the news reported by NFL Draft Diamonds on Twitter:

Higby was one of twelve draft-eligible players for Michigan State who left the draft as free agents, with only Willekes and Josiah Scott (Jacksonville Jaguars) getting selected.

If Higby can stick with the team through camp he could find himself blocking for former Michigan State signal-caller Kirk Cousins.

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MSU Football DT Raequan Williams signs with Philadelphia Eagles as UDFA

Michigan State defensive tackle Raequan Williams has signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent.

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There were a few surprises in this year’s 2020 NFL Draft for Michigan State fans. Only two Spartans were selected in this year’s draft, and players who had looked like locks to be drafted last summer were pushed to undrafted free agency. One such player was defensive tackle Raequan Williams, who has reportedly signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a UDFA.

Williams was someone who, before the 2019 football season was seen on some draft boards as a mid-round pick, but that wasn’t the reality on draft day.

Here is the report on Williams signing with the Eagles, which I first saw from NFL Draft Diamonds:

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Michigan State LB Joe Bachie signs with New Orleans Saints as UDFA

MSU Football captain Joe Bachie has reportedly signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.

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Only two Michigan State Spartans were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, but a host of Spartans were quickly signed in free agency after the draft concluded. One such player was MSU co-captain and middle linebacker Joe Bachie, who has signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.

Bachie was an interesting case heading into the draft. He is a smart player and a great tackler, but he was critiqued by analysts for a lack of on-field speed and for his perceived lack of ability to shed blocks and disrupt plays.

Here is the report, which I first saw from NFL Draft Diamonds:

Bachie had a very successful career with Michigan State before he was suspended for the final five games of his career due to testing positive for PEDs. Bachie will have a shot to prove his doubters wrong with the Saints this season:

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