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Michigan State Football: Top 10 All-Big Ten candidates for 2018

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: Juwan Johnson #84 of the Penn State Nittany Lions can't make a second half catch next to Justin Layne #2 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: Juwan Johnson #84 of the Penn State Nittany Lions can't make a second half catch next to Justin Layne #2 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 28: Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans motions a first down after Michigan State Spartans recover a fumble by the Washington State Cougars during the second half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 28: Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans motions a first down after Michigan State Spartans recover a fumble by the Washington State Cougars during the second half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Two years from now, will we be talking about Joe Bachie as the best linebacker of the Mark Dantonio era? That’s possible and it’d be quite the feat considering who has come through East Lansing over the past decade. We’re talking about Max Bullough, Denicos Allen, Greg Jones and countless others, but Bachie has the potential to top them all.

Must Read: 5 reasons Brian Lewerke’s could be Mark Dantonio’s best QB

The junior linebacker didn’t redshirt as a freshman in 2016 since Dantonio decided to get his young guys some experience. It paid off despite Bachie only recording 12 tackles, but he showed that experience as a sophomore, accounting for 100 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

Not many linebackers in the Big Ten are as feared as Bachie, and that’s saying a lot with the talent at the position littered throughout the conference.

Somehow, though, he was voted as a third-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media, which was surprising given his monstrous campaign. Accolades don’t mean much to him as long as he’s winning, though, which makes him a top candidates to be named captain, too.

Next: MSU Football: Post-spring 2018 game-by-game predictions

Bachie is in elite company already with the 100-tackle club at Michigan State and he’s got potential to top that number and get into the 110-120 range in 2018.

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