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Michigan State Football: 5 players who’ll break out vs. Notre Dame

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA;The Michigan State Spartans take the field before a game against the Furman Paladins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA;The Michigan State Spartans take the field before a game against the Furman Paladins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA;The Michigan State Spartans take the field before a game against the Furman Paladins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA;The Michigan State Spartans take the field before a game against the Furman Paladins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Let’s take a look at five Michigan State football players who will step up during a big rivalry game against Notre Dame.

Michigan State football didn’t exactly look the part of a national title contender in Week 1 against Furman, but that may have been due to the nerves built up. The long wait of college football finally concluded, but some guys were still in offseason, sleepwalking mode.

The Spartans ended up defeating Furman 28-13, but no one was that impressed with the play. It was Tyler O’Connor’s second start ever and he passed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, but his one interception nearly cost the Spartans their lead in the fourth. Michigan State was up 21-13 when he threw the pick, but luckily the Spartans got it back on the next play.

Holding a one-score lead over an FCS foe for the better part of a quarter to start the season isn’t what Mark Dantonio had in mind when he saw Furman on the schedule. The Paladins were just 4-7 last season and Michigan State was the favorite to win big.

Despite the sloppy play and closer than comfort score, Michigan State still showed some positives such as O’Connor’s level-headed play, LJ Scott’s success in the run game and the secondary’s ability to limit big passing plays. Still, there are some players who could afford to step up against the Fighting Irish in Week 3

Let’s take a look at five guys who could break out this week against Notre Dame.

Andrew Dowell was one of the saviors of the Furman game for the Spartans. The aforementioned Tyler O’Connor interception was essentially wiped away thanks to an incredible one-handed interception by the sophomore linebacker.

The former four-star linebacker has emerged as one of the guys who is likely to take over as a starting linebacker next season. Heck, why wait? Dowell is currently listed as the starter at STAR linebacker this week ahead of Jon Reschke.

Sure, Reschke might still be injured and recovering, but the fact that he was listed on the weekly depth chart ahead of one of the biggest games of the season as the No. 1 player at the position just goes to show the kind of faith the coaching staff has in him.

Expect Dowell to have yet another ‘breakout’ game after his eight-tackle performance against Furman.

Next: 4. Ed Davis

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