Michigan State Football: David Dowell named to All-Big Ten first-team

Michigan State sophomore safety David Dowell received some high honors on Tuesday as he was named to the All-Big Ten first-team.

Beginning his redshirt sophomore as a backup safety while his brother was on first-team defense couldn’t have been easy for David Dowell. He had worked hard all summer to put himself in a position to be named the starter in the defensive backfield, but Matt Morrissey won the job.

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When he was given some playing time in the early weeks of the season, Dowell showed off. He proved just why he deserved that starting spot over Morrissey and swiped it within weeks.

Now, Dowell is a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and he looks like one of the better athletes on that side of the ball for the Spartans. He’s been an interception machine this season, picking off five passes, defending four and recording a total of 48 tackles from his free safety position.

The media clearly took note of his stellar play, although missed tackles were an issue in some of the November games, as well as Northwester, but he was as consistent as they came at the safety spot. He was named an honorable mention by the coaches, though.

Iowa’s Josh Jackson, Ohio State’s Denzel Ward and Wisconsin’s Nick Nelson also made the first-team in the defensive backfield with Dowell.

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Not too shabby for a first-year starter who began the year as a backup. Looks like Mark Dantonio found yet another diamond in the rough to bolster this young, hungry defense.