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Michigan State Football: Report card for 2015 season

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) and cornerback Jermaine Edmondson (39) carry the Big Ten east championship trophy after a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) and cornerback Jermaine Edmondson (39) carry the Big Ten east championship trophy after a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) scores a on an interception return during the second half of a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) scores a on an interception return during the second half of a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Line: B+

With a group led by All-American Shilique Calhoun, you really can’t go wrong. Although his career was capped off with a devastating stiff arm that made memes across the country, Calhoun had his best season yet, recording 49 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

Calhoun will go down as one of the top defensive linemen in Michigan State history and it’s because of his growth each season and willingness to get better. He’s a big reason the defensive line was so successful this season and he drew a handful of double-teams to make way for Lawrence Thomas and Malik McDowell to find their way into the backfield.

Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Shilique Calhoun (89) stands on the field against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Shilique Calhoun (89) stands on the field against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Thomas, also in his senior year, played well but didn’t quite have the breakout season in which I had predicted. I thought he was going to make a name for himself and play his way into a first-round pick, but his 38 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks might be good enough for late-round consideration. He’s come a long way, and this was still his best season.

Joel Heath had 31 tackles, 5.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks as the starting defensive tackle and he, too, may be a late-round pick.

McDowell is going to a superstar next year as the former five-star high school prospect had a solid year, finishing with 41 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks along with an interception returned for a touchdown against Penn State. Craig Evans is another name to keep an eye on as the redshirt freshman finished the season with 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

Michigan State is going to just reload next season with the additions of Josh King, Auston Robertson, Naquan Jones and Mike Panasiuk along with Demetrius Cooper starting at defensive end, McDowell returning and Evans starting as well.

Next: Linebackers

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