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Michigan State Football: 5 keys for making College Football Playoff in 2018

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 29: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a first quarter touchdown while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 29: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a first quarter touchdown while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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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) /

4. Improvement on the defensive line

After one of the most forgettable seasons in terms of defensive line play (2016), Michigan State got back to its old ways and finished the year with 28 total sacks. No, it wasn’t the typical herculean effort the Spartans got back in the Pat Narduzzi days from the line, but it was more than double what they recorded in 2016.

The depth on the defensive line heading into the season is somewhat concerning, but the green and white have the quality to make up for quantity.

Michigan State will need this line to improve on its 2017 numbers to really make waves in 2018 and push for a playoff berth. They had the nation’s second-best run defense, which needs to be carried over, and seventh-best total defense. A repeat performance with a little added pressure to opposing quarterbacks, and the Spartans will have a top-five defense like it did back in 2013.

Mike Panasiuk needs to live up to that immense potential, Raequan Williams will need a big season, Kenny Willekes needs to continue his upward trend and the other end spot needs to be solidified.

There could be depth here, but the young pieces — Naquan Jones, DeAri Todd, Jacub Panasiuk, Parks Gissinger — need to step up and prove they’re worth the playing time.

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