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

The linebacking corps are arguing the most consistent unit on the entire team. I don’t think there’s been a week in which the linebackers truly visibly struggled, although they did so slightly against the pass in the flats and over the middle this week and last.

There should be no reason Saquon Barkley, arguably the country’s best receiving back, makes it to the flat uncovered. That could be on the defensive backfield, too, when the linebackers are blitzing.

Joe Bachie did come up with a big interception in the first half, his second on the year, and he led the unit with six total tackles. He’s become one of the top linebackers in the entire conference and will be a force for years to come.

Andrew Dowell finished with six tackles and 0.5 sacks with a quarterback hurry, but missed tackles among the entire unit were an issue. The weather was partially to blame, but there’s no way Penn State should have wiggled out of some sure tackles.

Chris Frey had two tackles and two QB hurries, Tyriq Thompson also had two tackles, Antjuan Simmons, Shane Jones and Byron Bullough all added one in limited time and Brandon Randle had a quarterback hurry of his own.