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Michigan State Football: 5 reasons LJ Scott could be Big Ten’s best RB in 2017

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 29: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for a first down during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 29: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for a first down during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 29: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for a first down during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 29: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for a first down during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

4. Set to receive more carries in 2017

I know what you’re thinking already. Yes, Scott’s workload increased by nearly 40 carries in 2017, but that’s nowhere near where it should have been. There was a four-game stretch in the early part of the season in which he had just 32 total carries. That’s not nearly enough for a running back of his caliber.

Scott had 20-plus carries in a game just five times in 2016. Each of those 20-plus carry games yielded a positive result as he accounted for at least 100 yards four times and then 98 yards the fifth time.

Michigan State was 3-2 in games that he carried the ball more than 20 times, revealing a relatively obvious correlation. Give the ball to LJ more and you can expect to win more games than you lose — or he will at least keep the game close.

Throwing it back to the Le’Veon Bell comparison, the two had similar workloads during their sophomore seasons before a big breakout junior year. Bell had 182 and Scott had 184. Bell then received 200 more carries during his junior season and while I don’t expect Scott to get that much of an increase with other reliable backs behind him, I will say he should be 80-100 more carries.

More carries means more yards which means more respect around the conference.

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