Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: LJ Scott can be the Spartans’ difference maker

By Russell Brown

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans tailback L.J. Scott (3) jumps over Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Nyles Morgan (5) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans tailback L.J. Scott (3) jumps over Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Nyles Morgan (5) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

After a horrid 2016 season for Michigan State football, talented running back LJ Scott could make a difference for the Spartans in 2017.

Looking at Michigan State football’s offense, it’s hard to find a playmaker. Certainly, there’s hope for players like Donnie Corley, Trishton Jackson or Cam Chambers but what about in their backfield? However there could be one major difference maker for the 2017 season.

Must Read: MSU Football: 5 position battles to watch this spring

Since Mark Dantonio has taken over for the Spartans, they’ve always been a slow-paced offense. Methodical, if you will. They run the ball at you until you can stop it and if you can’t, well then, you’re in for a long day.

In 2016, they ran the ball 471 times in 12 games and averaged almost 39.25 rushing attempts per game. Obviously, not having a strong option at quarterback didn’t do them any favors but over the last four seasons, they’ve averaged 41.26 rushing attempts per game. It’s a clear indication that the Spartans like to run the ball.

With that being said, it’s a clear indication as to why. They’ve had running backs like Le’Veon Bell and Jeremy Langford run their way through East Lansing and into the NFL. But now they have another difference maker who can become their leading rusher and hopefully, lead them to a much stronger season than what they had last year. That difference maker is L.J. Scott.

During the last two seasons of Langford’s career at Michigan State, he ran the ball 576 times over a span of 27 games. Meanwhile, L.J. Scott has ran the ball only 330 times over his first 26 career games as a Spartan. That averages out to a dreadful 12.69 carries per game. Clearly, that’s enough for a player who has been productive with the ball in his hands.

Over his first two seasons, Scott has rallied up 1,693 rushing yards with 5.1 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns. This year has to be the year that Scott receives the ‘bulk of the carries’. Whether it be Damion Terry or Brian Lewerke at quarterback, the Spartans should rely heavily on their running back.

One thing to take away from the spring so far is that Scott didn’t play in the Spartans spring game. For the sake of their offense, hopefully it’s just a precautionary thing rather than something serious. Putting a player with his type of talent on the field for a majority of the game is very important. He’s a one-cut back that shows patience and has the ability to break away from the defense once he reaches the second-level.

Related Story: MSU Recruiting: 5 bold predictions for month of April

The 2017 season will be an interesting year for the Spartans. Even with players like Madre London and Gerald Holmes in the backfield, the starting job belongs to Scott and there shouldn’t be any reason to why he doesn’t become a difference maker.

Home/Spartans Football