Michigan State vs Western Michigan: 5 players who must step up
Nov 8, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) hands the ball off to Michigan State Spartans running back Jeremy Langford (33)during the 1st half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
1. Madre London, RB
I can say with confidence that Madre London will be the most talked about player following Friday night’s game — whether that’s going to be a good thing or a bad thing is yet to be seen.
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The newest Spartan running back has huge shoes to fill as Jeremy Langford is now breaking big runs at the professional level. Langford was known for racking up 100-yard games and being as consistent as any back in the country.
London will be expected to take a bulk of the carries at least to start the year in order to prove his worth with the first tea, after being named No. 1 last week. He needs to step up in order to help the Spartans win, but also for his own personal success.
You know there will likely be a short leash on all the running backs since the group is four-deep. If one struggles, there will be another equally-talented player waiting for his opportunity to hit the holes hard.
Along with the other guys on this list, London has received high praise from coaches and teammates, including Riley Bullough, following fall practices and scrimmages. They’ve stated how he knows how to hit the hole hard and make people miss in the open field.
Let’s see if that reigns true tonight.