Michigan State Football: 25 best players of the Mark Dantonio era

20 of 25

Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Spartans

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 05: Shilique Calhoun #89 of the Michigan State Spartans celebreates after making a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Three-time First-Team All-Big Ten (2013-15)
Three-time Second-Team All-American (2013-15)
Hendricks Award finalist (2015)
Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year (2013)
MSU leader in career tackles for loss yardage (268)
Second in MSU history in sacks (27)
Fourth in MSU history in tackles for loss (44)

There was a running joke in the 2013 season, at least early on, that Shilique Calhoun, a defensive end, was Michigan State’s best offensive player. He had two fumble recoveries which he returned for touchdowns as well as a rare pick-six for a defensive lineman.

Luckily, that Michigan State offense went from non-existent to one of the best in school history, leading all the way to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl win, but Calhoun’s effectiveness on the defensive line persisted.

In fact, he had 37 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his first year as a full-time starter. He became a household name around the Big Ten, earning first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and then followed that up with first-team honors as a junior and senior, too.

Calhoun was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2013 which was his highest honor along with being named Second-Team All-American three times. He finished his career with 27 tackles (second in MSU history) and 44 tackles for loss (fourth in MSU history).

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