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Michigan State Football: 5 breakout candidates vs. Northwestern in Week 9

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 21: Wide receiver Hunter Rison #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is pursued by defensive back Tony Fields #19 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Spartan Stadium on October 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Indiana 17-9. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 21: Wide receiver Hunter Rison #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is pursued by defensive back Tony Fields #19 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Spartan Stadium on October 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Indiana 17-9. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football will be traveling to Evanston this weekend to face Northwestern and these five Spartans could break out.

Winning games in the Big Ten isn’t an easy task. Just ask Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio who struggled to do so a season ago. That’s often a notion that head coaches echo throughout each season, and it remains true even for the toughest of contenders.

Michigan State will face off against a pesky Northwestern team in Evanston on Saturday afternoon and it will be a revenge opportunity for the Spartans. Northwestern beat Michigan State last year in Brian Lewerke’s first career start and the Spartans haven’t forgotten.

However, this Northwestern team always seems to play the Spartans tough, no matter where the game is. Despite being played in Evanston, Michigan State will have a good travel crowd. That won’t make this victory any easier, though.

For Michigan State to win, breakout candidates need to step up. Here are five Spartans who could break out against the Wildcats.

It’s been a quiet redshirt freshman season for the linebacker who was converted to defensive end this summer, but has since moved back to linebacker, for the most part. Brandon Randle also been held in check on the stat sheets, but he’s been disruptive when he hits the field.

Sometimes the aggressive play and pass rush doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but Randle has been strong when blitzing from his linebacker position and he’s often in the backfield forcing a hurried throw. In four games this season, he has just four total tackles and a sack, but he’s due for a breakout.

Randle is just too talented to remain without a big performance to start the season. He is going to tie his season total in tackles and add a couple tackles for loss and a sack. He’s going to have a visible impact against the Wildcats Saturday, and it’ll be long overdue.

Mark Dantonio raved about the former Army All-American in the offseason and maybe he will finally break out and show fans what the fuss was all about.

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