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

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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 31: Offensive tackle Jack Conklin #74 of the Michigan State Spartans looks on before taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

Former walk-on Jack Conklin embodies the Mark Dantonio spirit of hard work plus a chip on the shoulder. Even his father, Darren Conklin, was a former walk-on at Michigan.

Every Division 1 school whiffed on this gem of a player. It was Will Gholston who first mentioned Conklin during the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings bowl practice. Conklin did his part by sending out recruiting videos to college coaches. There was even a Detroit News story that mentioned he sent a video of himself water-skiing to Illinois’ then coach Ron Zook, but he passed on Conklin.

It was in a meeting with Dantonio that Conklin decided to walk on at Michigan State. It was the opportunity Jack had been waiting for.

At 6-foot-5 Conklin was athletic, being about to dunk a basketball and with hard work became the prototypical tackle for the Spartans. Conklin was key in opening holes for MSU’s running backs. He was also apart of one of the best offensive lines Dantonio has had in 2013. Conklin is the classic Dantonio underdog story.

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