Michigan State Football: 5 overreactions from win over Maryland in Week 12

Michigan State football was able to hold on for a close win over Maryland on Saturday, but it wasn’t pretty. Let’s overreact accordingly.

Michigan State was able to hold on for a tough win over Maryland on Saturday evening in a game that shouldn’t have been all that close. The Spartans jumped out to a 17-0 lead before coasting in the second half and allowing the Terrapins to score a touchdown and nearly add a field goal — it missed slightly to the right.

Still, wins are tough to come by in the Big Ten, yet the Spartans continue to find ways to hold on, even when the weather rears its ugly head. The snow, sleet and rain dampened spirits on Saturday, but the Spartans still came away on top.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest overreactions from the Spartans’ win over Maryland.

5. Kenny Willekes leading the defense is a bad thing

Believe it or not, I’ve heard people say this. Michigan State’s defensive line being led by a former walk-on is a negative, proving that recruiting is lacking. Kenny Willekes has had an unbelievable season and has earned his scholarship, but some are so quick to jump to the negatives of his great year.

“Well, if we could recruit, we wouldn’t need a former walk-on to lead the defense.”

That’s fine to think, but you also need to realize that he was overlooked in recruiting and Mark Dantonio still found a way to make him join the program without a scholarship initially. He knew that the young defensive end had talent and that’s shining through now.

Willekes is just the latest in the long line of overlooked players to star at Michigan State and he might just get a shot at the next level before it’s all said and done. Could he go from walk-on to NFL star like Jack Conklin? It’s too early to tell, but his breakout is great news for the Spartans.