After working hard and being dubbed the ‘MVP of spring’, Mike Panasiuk could be a driving force on Michigan State’s stellar defense in 2018.
Before the 2017 season, Michigan State looked as if it needed a miracle to rebound from a 3-9 campaign in 2016. However, the young Spartans exceeded expectations and became one of the best teams in the Big Ten, winning 10 games, including the Holiday Bowl.
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One of the presumed weaknesses heading into 2017 was the defensive line, but guys like Kenny Willekes, Jacub Panasiuk, Naquan Jones, Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk all stepped up.
The latter came to Michigan State as a four-star prospect in a loaded class, but has yet to really dominate in the way that the coaching staff believes he’s capable. That could all change in his junior year as the defensive tackle has been a star thus far in spring camp.
According to co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, Panasiuk has been the ‘MVP of the spring’ so far.
Mike Tressel said after practice yesterday that defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk might be the MVP of the spring so far for Michigan State. The interior of that defensive line should be as good as any in the Big Ten.
— Jeremy Warnemuende (@JSWarno) April 4, 2018
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound tackle from Illinois has the size and strength to be one of the nation’s best interior defensive linemen, along with Williams, but he hasn’t put it together for a full season just yet. This hard work during one of the most overlooked times of the year is refreshing news, especially since he has the potential to be an All-Big Ten player.
In 2017, he improved in almost every metric, recording 23 tackles and 3.0 for loss, but no sacks. In fact, he has just 0.5 sacks throughout his first two years at Michigan State.
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Keep an eye on Panasiuk, along with his younger brother, during the 2018 spring game as he could be one of those breakout stars who make Michigan State a national contender.