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Michigan State Football: Could Madre London earn larger role in 2017?

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 12, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Madre London (28) celebrates a touchdown run against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Madre London (28) celebrates a touchdown run against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a quiet 2016 season, could Michigan State football see more of a rise out of junior running back Madre London?

Madre London has high hopes for himself. He has set lofty goals and he’s no stranger to carrying the workload in the backfield — he was the Michigan State starter two years ago. However, he has taken a back seat to Gerald Holmes and LJ Scott, but he could have a bigger role in 2017.

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After his performance during the spring scrimmage, the coaching staff got a taste of why London should get more carries next season.

London broke a 75-yard touchdown run in the first half of Saturday’s spring game and wasn’t even touched. While you may say that was strictly because of solid blocking — which could be true — it also showed London’s vision and burst through the hole.

The blocking on the play was fantastic and opened up a huge lane for the junior running back, but he had the breakaway speed to make it down the field untouched.

If the spring game is any indication of what London will bring to the table moving forward, it’s clear that he might split backup duties with Holmes. It’s clear that Scott is the top back, even though he didn’t play in the spring game, and will be an every-down type of runner.

However, the hopes should be high for London and Holmes as well. No longer will we see only Holmes getting backup duties like we have over the past season and a half, but London is showing some explosiveness.

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The backfield will return to its three-headed monster attack rather than just two. Although Scott will carry the load, London shouldn’t be the forgotten back anymore.

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