Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 125 BY BRYAN DRISKELL The fall from grace has been fast and hard at Michigan State. In December 2015, the Spartans were in the College Football Play- off following a 12-1 season and a Big Ten championship. A 3-9 campaign and an offseason filled with suspensions, transfers, and the arrest and subsequent dismissal of three players for sexual assault has the program in disarray. "The number one priority of the offsea- son has been reinstituting team unity and leadership," said Jim Comparoni, editor of SpartanMag.com. "Michigan State expe- rienced a major cultural fumble last year. Now, Michigan State is working to recover that fumble. There has been progress in that area in the spring and summer." Culture wasn't the only problem for the Spartans last season. Michigan State's de- fense was the driving force behind the three Big Ten titles it won under head coach Mark Dantonio (2010, 2013 and 2015), but it took a major step back last season. The Spartans gave up 27.8 points per game and allowed five opponents to rush for at least 190 yards. From 2013-15 — when MSU went 36-5 — it allowed opponents to surpass that mark just four times. "You can't have a defense without a qual- ity defensive line," Comparoni said. "Michi- gan State is solid at defensive tackle … they are the type of defensive tackles that can help a team contend for a Big Ten title some day." Defensive end is another matter. Senior Demetrius Cooper had yet to be reinstated to the program as of mid-June, and sophomores Joshua King and Auston Robertson were both kicked off the team following arrests. The Spartan offense should get a boost from the return of sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke. "The coaches love him," Comparoni said. "He has a good arm and good mobility, and I like his brain. "Can he be that decisive and consistent when facing a different defense each week? That's the variable. If so, he'll be a plus quarterback soon." ✦ 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 2 Bowling Green — Sept. 9 Western Michigan — Sept. 23 Notre Dame W, 36-28 Sept. 30 Iowa — Oct. 7 at Michigan L, 32-23 Oct. 14 at Minnesota — Oct. 21 Indiana L, 24-21 Oct. 28 at Northwestern L, 54-40 Nov. 4 Penn State L, 45-12 Nov. 11 at Ohio State L, 17-16 Nov. 18 Maryland L, 28-17 Nov. 25 at Rutgers W, 49-0 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 48- 29-1 Last Meeting: Michigan State 36, Notre Dame 28 (Sept. 17, 2016; South Bend) Head Coach: Mark Dantonio, 90-42 (11th year) and 108-59 overall (14th year) 2016 Results: 3-9 overall, 1-8 Big Ten (6th East) Returning Starters: 6 (3 offense, 3 defense) 2017 Preseason Rankings: No. 48 by Lindy's, No. 49 by Athlon and No. 59 by ESPN Football Power Index Did You Know?: Notre Dame last played at Spar- tan Stadium on Sept. 16, 2012, when the Irish beat 10th-ranked MSU 20-3 … Michigan State dismissed four projected starters during the offseason: wideout Donnie Corley, cornerback Vayante Copeland, linebacker Jon Reschke and defensive end Joshua King … Offensive lineman Brian Allen was named a preseason first-team All-Big Ten player by Athlon and Street & Smith's … Allen was rated by Phil Steele's as the No. 6 draft-eligible guard in the country … Running back LJ Scott was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection by Athlon and the No. 11 back in the country by Phil Steele's this preseason. Prediction: Notre Dame 28, Michigan State 16 STRENGTH: Running Back The three scholarship players that are on the roster form arguably the best trio on Notre Dame's schedule, with Georgia the main challenger for that distinction. Junior LJ Scott is the alpha figure in the group and is coming off a season in which he rushed for 994 yards and six touchdowns. Scott hit a lull in the middle of the season, but bounced back to finish with 658 yards (5.9 per carry) in the final six games. All told, he has 1,693 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in his first two seasons. Scott will be joined in the backfield by senior Gerald Holmes, who has 1,015 career rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, and junior Madre Lon- don. Last season, Scott and Holmes combined for 198 yards and three touchdowns in Michigan State's 36-28 victory over Notre Dame. London had a quality freshman season in 2015, rushing for 500 yards and three scores. He fell off in his second season, racking up just 120 yards in 2016. The Spartans are a power running team, and its backs all fit that mold. Scott is 6-1 and 231 pounds, Holmes checks in at 6-0 and 227 pounds, and the 6-1 London weighs 216 pounds. If the inexperienced line can jell, the Spartans' offense should be able to ride this talented group of backs. CONCERN: Defensive End Mark Dantonio built the Spartans into a Big Ten powerhouse by playing championship-caliber defense. During its disastrous 3-9 season, the Spartans' defense struggled mightily. Picking the weak spot on the defense isn't easy. Michigan State's safety depth chart lacks speed, numbers and impact talent. The Spartans are young and unproven at cornerback, but at least there is talent at the position. Michigan State's weakest spot is the defensive end rotation that returns just three sacks. The Spartans' vaunted 2016 recruiting class was supposed to restock the position. Josh King was the nation's No. 6 end and No. 55 overall player according to Rivals, while Auston Robertson was the country's No. 10 end and No. 140 overall pros- pect. Both players were dismissed from the team this offseason for separate incidents, and their departures have decimated the position. Senior Demetrius Cooper is expected to start at one spot, assuming he is allowed back on the team after a November arrest and a violation of his plea deal that occurred in April. Even if Coo- per returns he'll have to improve upon his junior season in which he had just 23 tackles, six stops behind the line and 2.5 sacks. Ideally, junior Robert Bowers, who is now thrust into the starting lineup, would be a depth player. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS SEPT. 23 • SPARTAN STADIUM • EAST LANSING, MICH. RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB LJ Scott (994 yards, 6 TD) Passing: QB Brian Lewerke (381 yards, 2 TD) Receiving: WR Felton Davis (150 yards, 1 TD) Tackles: LB Chris Frey (96) Sacks: DE Demetrius Cooper (2.5) Interceptions: CB Justin Layne and LB Andrew Dowell (1) X-FACTOR: Senior center Brian Allen, a two-time All-Big Ten performer, anchors a line that was shredded by injuries in 2016. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS