Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from Notre Dame win

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans center Brian Allen (65) prepares to snap the ball in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans center Brian Allen (65) prepares to snap the ball in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) celebrates after MSU defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 36-28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) celebrates after MSU defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 36-28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Donnie Corley is well ahead of schedule

Donnie Corley is good. I mean, really good. The true freshman wide receiver from Detroit King rose to the occasion Saturday night and put on a show for the entire nation to see. No longer is Corley a household name for just Spartan fans, but after his incredible touchdown catch against Notre Dame, the rest of the country knows about him.

In the second quarter, the first-year receiver went to the corner of the end zone for a deep route, O’Connor trusted that the young star would go up and get the ball, and he did just that.

This might have been the catch to give the Spartans all the momentum in the world and it showed Michigan State fans what they already knew: Corley is on pace to be an elite wide out at the collegiate level.

Corley was the highest-rated player, along with Josh King, in Michigan State’s 2016 recruiting class and being an early enrollee, the coaching staff got a good look at what he could bring to the table early on. Four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown showed just how much he meant to the offense and he was Michigan State’s leading receiver in just his second game.

We learned that Donnie is well ahead of schedule and he’s going to be an integral piece of this offense for the rest of the season. He already has six catches for 105 yards and a touchdown in his first two games and he’s only going to get better.