Michigan State Football: Darrell Stewart Jr. crucial to offensive success

Sometimes overlooked in Michigan State football’s offense, Darrell Stewart Jr. is more important to the Spartans than many are led to believe.

Not many players in the Mark Dantonio era saw an extreme increase in production from one season to the next like Darrell Stewart Jr. had from 2016 to 2017.

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The now-junior wide receiver went from offensive afterthought as a redshirt freshman in 2016 to focal point in 2017.

Just how much improvement did he see in production? As a redshirt freshman, he finished with 32 yards from scrimmage. Much like his receiving mate Felton Davis III, he improved tenfold both in production and overall effectiveness in 2017. He finished with 641 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.

The two names that seem to come up when talking about Michigan State’s returning receivers in 2018 are Cody White and Davis III, but Stewart Jr. is far too often an afterthought.

Why is he an afterthought? He’s a member of an impressive group of receivers, potentially Dantonio’s best yet.

Still, he’s an incredibly important piece to the Spartans’ offensive puzzle. Not only does he play a major role in the passing game, but he doubles as a runner with reverse plays, playing a Keshawn Martin-like role that was successful back in 2011.

Stewart Jr. is quick, elusive and can take a short crossing route 20 or 30 yards or even a screen pass to the house. He’s the intermediate-route threat that Brian Lewerke needs to be successful but he can also be a deep-threat who uses that speed to streak up the seam and burn defenses for six points.

Oh yeah, and he’s got some incredible hands.

That catch in the Spartans’ first scrimmage this summer even shocked his teammates as Lewerke said it was the best catch he’s ever seen in person.

Michigan State is in good hands if its “third option” at receiver happens to be one of the most dynamic threats in the Dantonio era.