Michigan State Football: Top 10 players of the Mark Dantonio era
Another guy who was lightly recruited in the Dantonio era, Jerel Worhy came in as a behemoth defensive tackle from Huber Heights, Ohio, and just a three-star recruit — a low three, at that.
The Spartans ended up getting a steal in Worthy as he became one of the most prolific defensive linemen in the Big Ten in just a couple of seasons, racking up 107 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in just three years.
Worthy opted to skip his senior year at MSU and head to the NFL Draft where he was chosen with the No. 51 overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2012.
Although he played just three years for the Spartans, he was remembered as an absolute monster. Worthy stood 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 310 pounds, causing havoc for any offensive line that tried to slow him down. He was basically an immovable object and that became apparent in his short time at MSU.
While his NFL career hasn’t been the most successful, jumping around from team to team and not earning much playing time, he will always be known for what he did in East Lansing. It’s hard to pinpoint one play, in particular, that made Worthy so great, but the blocked field goal in triple overtime to win the 2012 Outback Bowl has to be up there.
Worthy was one of Dantonio’s best defensive linemen and he may have kickstarted what MSU has become known for on that side of the ball.
Next: 8. Trae Waynes, CB