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Michigan State Football: Final report card for 2018 season

By Connor Muldowney

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans hands off to La'Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans hands off to La'Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 08: Running back Eno Benjamin #3 of the Arizona State Sun Devils rushes the football under pressure from linebacker Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 08: Running back Eno Benjamin #3 of the Arizona State Sun Devils rushes the football under pressure from linebacker Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Michigan State. LINEBACKERS . A-. . LB

Joe Bachie once again led this Michigan State defense in both tackles and with his label of captain. He is the prototypical Michigan State middle linebacker and he, too, announced he’ll be back for his senior season, passing up the NFL draft, but he had plenty of help in 2018 from his fellow linebackers, namely Andrew Dowell.

Let’s break down Bachie’s season, though. He had four 10-plus tackle games and finished with over 100 total tackles for the second straight season as well as nine tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and five passes defended. He was a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the defense and he has to be game-planned around.

Dowell had his best season in a Spartan uniform, coming just three tackles short of 100 and he added nine for loss and 3.5 sacks. He didn’t have a pick, but proved to be a pest in the passing game, deflecting nine passes.

Tyriq Thompson and Jon Reschke split time at the Sam linebacker spot along with Brandon Bouyer-Randle. The former two combined for 64 tackles and 8.5 for loss while Bouyer-Randle was more of a blitzer, recording 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Antjuan Simmons stood out as well, finishing with 32 tackles and an interception — he could be the next man up to fill in for Dowell in 2019.

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