Michigan State Football 2016 Position Preview: Linebackers

Michigan State Football boasts one of the deepest and most talented linebacker groups in the nation.

While there are questions entering the 2016 Michigan State football season surrounding the depth of the defensive line and the effectiveness of the secondary’s pass defense, no one can deny the strength of the Spartans’ linebacker group. MSU features arguably the deepest stable of linebackers since head coach Mark Dantonio took over the program and one of the most feared units in the nation.

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The man in the middle of it all, senior Riley Bullough, has continued the tradition of Bullough linebackers to star at MSU, but could end up as the best of the bunch to wear the green and white by season’s end. In just his first season as a full-time starter in 2015, Bullough amassed 106 tackles as the group’s unquestioned leader and signal-caller. This season, the Michigan State captain should play his way into more than a few All-Big Ten and All-American lists.

Starring alongside Bullough will be returning starter Jon Reschke (88 tackles in 2015), who has proved his versatility since he stepped foot on campus in 2013, spending his first two seasons as a middle linebacker before starting all 14 games in 2015 as the unit’s SAM linebacker after senior Ed Davis was lost for the season during preseason camp. The junior will start at SAM again in 2016, but could see time at the STAR position, as well.

With Davis still awaiting clearance from the NCAA to play his sixth season, Michigan State will look to sophomore Andrew Dowell to start at STAR in 2016. He is 1A at the position to junior Chris Frey’s 1B.

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Dowell showed he was ahead of the curve in 2015, playing significant snaps as a true freshman for MSU that will come in handy this season. While MSU expects Davis to be granted another season, he will not be in game shape after missing all of 2015 and the preseason, making Dowell an x-factor of sorts.

If the Ohio-native proves he can handle the pressure of the position in early clashes with Notre Dame and Wisconsin, the Spartans will claim two capable starters at STAR in Dowell and Reschke and give Davis enough time to get re-acclimated to play at the SAM spot. On the flip-side, if Dowell struggles, MSU could be forced to move Reschke back over to STAR and play Davis before he’s ready — which could be dangerous.

While these four Spartans headline the unit, MSU also features a couple of reserves talented enough to be starters elsewhere in juniors Frey and Shane Jones. Frey has excelled on special teams since his freshman season, but should see plenty of snaps in 2016 as a part of the aforementioned SAM group. Jones, a former four-star recruit, is listed as MSU’s backup middle linebacker and should provide solid depth behind Bullough in the middle of the field.

While these six will likely consume the most playing time in the unit, sophomore Byron Bullough has impressed the coaching staff and his teammates during preseason camp and could force his way into the rotation if Jones doesn’t watch his back. Sophomore T.J. Harrell will also see the field as the primary backup to Dowell and redshirt freshman Tyriq Thompson will undoubtedly make some plays on special teams in 2016 after arriving to MSU as a highly-regarded prospect from Detroit King.

With at least a few bumps and bruises expected along the way this season, possessing as many as eight capable contributors will be necessary. Given the lack of proven success along the defensive line and at the cornerback positions, the strength of this unit will play a pivotal role in determining whether the Spartans will repeat as Big Ten champions.

It’s pretty fitting that 2016 will be the year of the linebacker at MSU after the Spartans’ secondary and fearsome defensive lines stole the headlines in the past few seasons. Whether or not this will coincide with similar results on the scoreboard, however, remains to be seen.

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