Michigan State Football: 5 potential breakout stars for 2015
Oct 25, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Darian Hicks (2) reacts to a play during the 1st half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
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The 2014 season was a very successful one for the Michigan State football team as the squad went 11-2, including a Cotton Bowl victory over Baylor. Not many people thought that the Spartans had much of a chance to beat the Bears after falling behind by a few scores in the second half, but they, as always, proved the doubters wrong.
Michigan State recorded its second straight 11-plus win season after going 12-1 in 2013 with a Rose Bowl victory — the first one a couple decades.
Returning many players from a loaded roster in 2014, the Spartans have a chance to contend not only for a Big Ten title, but a national championship as well. Michigan State hasn’t won the national title since the 1960s and that has been Mark Dantonio’s goal since taking the head coaching job in East Lansing in November of 2006.
With a pretty impressive roster still, the Spartans are looking to become Dantonio’s most successful squad, which is saying a lot since they have won 11 games in three of the past four years with two straight top-five finishes in the AP poll.
The obvious choices for the top players this season have to be Jack Conklin, Connor Cook and Shilique Calhoun while others such as Lawrence Thomas, Brian Allen, Jack Allen, Riley Bullough and Malik McDowell are the second-tier guys that could potentially break out in 2015.
However, there are more players in the background that are looking to come to the forefront and become stars for this illustrious MSU squad. There are a handful of players looking to take that leap from behind-the-scenes guys to primary stars in the rotation.
Let’s take a look at five players who could break out as stars for Michigan State in 2015.
Next: 5. Larry Scott, Fr., RB