Michigan State vs Purdue: Final grades for the Spartans

Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Riley Bullough (30) looks to the sidelines during the 2nd half of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Linebackers/Secondary: B

I’m going to lump these two groups together because, really, neither one seemed to stick out as better than the other.

Must Read: RJ Williamson likely done for the rest of the season

Riley Bullough didn’t have his best game of the season. In fact, it may have been his worst as he recorded just five tackles and allowed Markell Jones to march right up the middle of the field for a 68-yard touchdown run that pulled the Boilermakers within seven.

Darien Harris and Jon Reschke weren’t much better, but I think the latter of the two impressed me the most. Reschke finished with five total tackles and a sack, and he made one sideline-to-sideline play that gave me flashbacks of Greg Jones. Harris finished with eight total tackles and looked solid in coverage.

The secondary may have had its best game of the year, but finding out after the game that senior safety RJ Williamson would miss the rest of the season was a devastating blow.

Darian Hicks gave up some chunk plays, but overall did well in the cornerback spot opposite Demetrious Cox. He finished with four tackles and a pass deflection.

Although he was called for multiple defensive holding penalties, Arjen Colquhoun played well, recording five total tackles, a sack and two pass deflections, including the game-winning bat-down of a fourth-and-long David Blough pass.

Montae Nicholson still has a lot to work on as he took poor angles to the ballcarrier while Cox looked great in coverage, for the most part, recording three total tackles and an interception.

Next: Special teams