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Michigan State Football: Report card from upset win over Penn State

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: David Dowell #6 of the Michigan State Spartans runs back a second half interception in front of DeAndre Thompkins #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: David Dowell #6 of the Michigan State Spartans runs back a second half interception in front of DeAndre Thompkins #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions throws a first half touchdown pass behind Raequan Williams #99 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions throws a first half touchdown pass behind Raequan Williams #99 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

B+. . DL. Michigan State. DEFENSIVE LINE

The defensive line continues to prove that last season was a fluke. This young unit of defensive linemen has been fantastic this season with the exception of a couple of games, but it played relatively well against the Nittany Lions on Saturday.

While it would have been nice to see more pressure coming from this unit to help the defensive backs out, they helped to get a push and open lanes for blitzing linebackers, recording three sacks as a team along with nine quarterback hurries. Those are strong numbers against the No. 7 team in the country.

Even more impressive, the line clogged running lanes and held Saquon Barkley, arguably the nation’s best running back, in check. He was only able to pick up 63 yards on 14 carries and the Nittany Lions averaged 3.1 yards per touch as a team. That’s a strong performance up front.

Kyonta Stallworth was a breakout performer, finishing with six tackles and two quarterback hurries, Kenny Willekes had five tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks, a hurry and a pass deflection, Raequan Williams had three tackles and 0.5 sacks, Demetrius Cooper had three tackles and 0.5 sacks as well and Naquan Jones had three takedowns and two QB hurries.

Overall, strong performance.

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