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Michigan State Football: 7 players who’ll earn 1st-team All-Big Ten honors

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 24, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) celebrates fumble recovery against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) celebrates fumble recovery against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Vayante Copeland makes a stop on Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Daniel Braverman (8) during the 1st quarter of a game at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Vayante Copeland makes a stop on Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Daniel Braverman (8) during the 1st quarter of a game at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s tough not to be excited about the future when it comes to sophomore cornerback Vayante Copeland. Just a year ago, the coaching staff, namely Mark Dantonio, compared Copeland’s coverage ability to that of former Spartan great Darqueze Dennard.

Copeland earned the starting cornerback job in 2015, which opened some eyes, and the former three-star recruit showed why he deserved the elevated role. He tallied four tackles, two for loss, a pass breakup and a game-clinching interception in the first start of his career against Western Michigan.

The next game, he finished with three tackles, but left the game due to a neck injury and ended up missing the remainder of the year. The promising start to the season was all for naught as he had to pack it in and focus on returning from his injury in the 2016 season and getting back down to business.

There’s reason to believe he’s going to be a star at the cornerback position and maybe even the next great Spartan corner to be selected in the NFL draft’s first round. He has all the intangibles and is a lockdown corner with the ability to come up and make a play on the ball-carrier, when need be.

If Copeland isn’t, at the very least, an All-Big Ten performer in 2016, I’d be shocked.

Next: 4. R.J. Shelton

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