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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 26, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) breaks though the Central Michigan offensive line during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 30-10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4) breaks though the Central Michigan offensive line during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 30-10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Malik McDowell might just be the best NFL draft prospect in the entire Big Ten. He’s big, strong and has the perfect mindset when it comes to taking care of business. In fact, he has even said that he would not leave Michigan State early unless he’s a top-three pick in the NFL draft.

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Todd McShay has claimed that McDowell is one of the best, and most NFL-ready, prospects he has watched film of thus far for 2017 and he could be a consensus top-10 pick.

The former five-star recruit from Southfield, Mich., was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2015 after recording 41 total tackles, 13 for loss and 4.5 sacks with a pick-six. This came after a slow freshman campaign when he was just trying to earn a role on a deep defensive line.

Michigan State has a deep defensive line yet again in 2016, but McDowell has become the leader of the unit with the departure of Calhoun. Put him alongside Raequan Williams and Demetrius Cooper and you have potentially one of the best D-lines in the entire country.

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We will see a major uptick in McDowell’s numbers, even with a number of double-teams coming his way. First-team All-Big Ten is an expectation for McDowell and All-America is as well.

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