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Michigan State Football: What can we expect from Mike Panasiuk in 2018?

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 21: Defensive end Jacub Panasiuk #96 of the Michigan State Spartans is congratulated by his brother, defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk #72 of the Michigan State Spartans, after sacking quarterback Peyton Ramsey of the Indiana Hoosiers for a 4-yard loss during the first quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Indiana 17-9. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 21: Defensive end Jacub Panasiuk #96 of the Michigan State Spartans is congratulated by his brother, defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk #72 of the Michigan State Spartans, after sacking quarterback Peyton Ramsey of the Indiana Hoosiers for a 4-yard loss during the first quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Indiana 17-9. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football has high hopes for 2018, but what can we expect from rising junior Mike Panasiuk at defensive tackle?

Joining Michigan State as a member of one of the best recruiting classes, on paper, of the Mark Dantonio era, Mike Panasiuk was expected to be a star right away. He provided immediate depth to the defensive tackle position, but his redshirt was burned in a lost season as Michigan State went just 3-9 with one of its worst defensive showings in school history.

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Panasiuk didn’t have a breakout season like he had hoped, but he finished with a respectable 14 tackles and 0.5 sacks. He watched as Malik McDowell departed, leaving a year of eligibility on the table, and knew he had to step his game up in 2017 if he wanted to maintain a starting position alongside Raequan Williams.

Though he didn’t have a huge season, he grew more comfortable in the middle of that defensive line, recording 23 tackles and three for loss in just nine games.

Now that he’s heading into his junior season, Panasiuk going to be looked at as a leader in that defensive front and the expectations placed upon him have risen.

In fact, the coaching staff has even labeled him as one of the MVPs of spring ball. The former four-star has the right size at 6-4 and 294 pounds and he’s one of the strongest players on the team. He should have no problem translating that spring success into a 2018 breakout.

What can we expect to see from the junior tackle? I’d be shocked to see him finish with anything less than 35 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He’s going to flourish with Williams at his side, along with his brother, a rising sophomore, Jacub Panasiuk at end.

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

Michigan State has a growing defensive line and it should show plenty of improvement in 2018, with some help from Panasiuk.

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