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Michigan State Football: Kenny Willekes is underdog story we all needed

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Lorenzo Harrison III #2 of the Maryland Terrapins scores a second half touchdown past the tackle of Kenny Willekes #48 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Lorenzo Harrison III #2 of the Maryland Terrapins scores a second half touchdown past the tackle of Kenny Willekes #48 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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After a strong season with Michigan State football, former walk-on defensive end Kenny Willekes has turned into the underdog success story we all needed.

You could almost hear the collective groan from the Michigan State fan base this offseason when news broke that Malik McDowell would forgo his senior season, two former four-star defensive ends were kicked from the team and Cassius Peat was told he no longer had a spot on the team after he decided to transfer back to MSU from a JUCO program.

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The groans grew louder when former walk-on Kenny Willekes was awarded a scholarship and was listed as the No. 1 defensive end on the preseason depth chart. How could Mark Dantonio have allowed the program to rely on a former walk-on as the starter at a crucial position?

Not just that, but the Spartans were coming off the worst defensive season since Dantonio took over, recording just 11 sacks as a team in 2016. How could a team that recorded less than a sack per game possibly get better with a handful of major pieces leaving?

Willekes happened to be the guy who helped turn everything around. He played with a chip on his shoulder, something that has made a number of Michigan State players successful. Former walk-on Jack Conklin is a prime example. He went from un-recruited to first-round draft selection.

After a 3-9 season, Michigan State needed a feel-good story, and Willekes has been just that.

The Grand Rapids, Mich., native held just one offer out of high school and that was to Wayne State. He decided walking on at Michigan State was his best opportunity to make a name for himself, and he was right. He has become one of the best defensive players in the conference.

In fact, he was named a third-team All-Big Ten selection in his first full season as the team’s starter and the sophomore absolutely broke through in 2017 with 69 tackles, 14.5 for loss and 7.0 sacks.

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It’s time to feel good again about Dantonio’s ability to find diamonds in the rough and the ability to develop these kids into All-Big Ten performers. Willekes is the feel-good story we all needed to get over the 3-9 season in 2016 — well, that and a reversal to 9-3 in 2017.

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