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Michigan State Football: 10 potential 2017 NFL Draft picks

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball during the third quarter in the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball during the third quarter in the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball during the third quarter in the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball during the third quarter in the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Which Michigan State Football players will be selected in the 2017 NFL Draft and where could they land?

The 2016 NFL Draft is in the books and five Michigan State Football players heard their name called while countless others were signed as undrafted free agents by teams across the league.

In the first round, it was Jack Conklin who was chosen by the Titans, marking the third straight year a Spartan was drafted on day one. Next, it was Shilique Calhoun to the Raiders in round three and Connor Cook also to Oakland in the fourth round. Aaron Burbridge was selected by the 49ers in the sixth and Donavon Clark by the Chargers in the seventh.

It was shocking to see guys like All-American center Jack Allen and big defensive end Lawrence Thomas go undrafted, but they have found new homes with the Saints and Jets, respectively.

Let’s look ahead to the 2017 NFL Draft and predict which Spartans could be selected and maybe where in the selection process they’ll be chosen. Some are underclassmen who could very well come back, but have the talent to go pro.

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Kodi Kieler (79) during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Kodi Kieler (79) during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Kodi Kieler is the lone offensive lineman that I believe has the best chance to get drafted in 2017 — Miguel Machado is a close second. He was one of the more reliable players last season even though he missed a couple of games with an injury.

The senior right tackle probably went unnoticed on an offensive line with Jack Conklin, Jack Allen, Donavon Clark and former freshman All-American Brian Allen. That won’t be the case this year as he returns as one of the more experienced trench players.

Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 310 pounds, he has the size for the league, but he needs to work on his lateral quickness. He has played basically all the positions on the offensive line and is listed as the backup center on the spring depth chart, so NFL teams will definitely like his versatility.

If he can stay healthy and have the type of season he’s capable of, Kieler could wind up being a sixth or seventh round selection.

Next: 9. Vayante Copeland

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