Michigan State Football: 5 most productive players in Mark Dantonio Era

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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 02: Denicos Allen #28 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a third-quarter sack against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on November 2, 2013 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 29-6. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Denicos Allen was a fixture in the Spartans’ linebacking corps during his time, however, he will be most remembered for two plays.

One was 2011 at the Horseshoe against Ohio State. Mark Dantonio had not beaten the Buckeyes to that point in his young tenure. Allen rushed the quarterback and leapt over the lineman to sack the quarterback in a superman-like motion. The play earned him the nickname “The Water Boy” — Adam Sandler would have been proud.

At 5-foot-11, he was short for a linebacker but Allen possessed all the will and drive to be a great player. He did not receive an offer from Ohio State and this lack of respect fueled him every time they played.

I will never forget 2013 and the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis. It was fourth down and Buckeye quarterback Braxton Miller took the snap on a designed quarterback run. However, Miller was stopped short by that linebacker from Hamilton, Ohio, who was passed over.

That play sealed the game for Michigan State. Allen will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Spartans everywhere.

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