Michigan State Football: Top 10 prospects for 2020 NFL Draft

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: (R-L) Khari Willis #27, Brian Lewerke #14, Joe Bachie #35, David Dowell #6 and basketball head coach Mike Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans walk out to mid field for the coin toss to the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/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) /

It’s hard to believe Mike Panasiuk is entering his senior season, along with the rest of that talented 2016 recruiting class which has just a handful of players remaining on the roster.

The former star of Nike’s The Opening back in his recruiting days came to Michigan State with high hopes, but he was joining a defensive line that was loaded. It didn’t exactly play to potential during his freshman year and he saw action in five games, recording 14 tackles and 0.5 sacks. He came back as a sophomore to play in nine games, posting a career-best 25 tackles and three tackles for loss.

Before the 2018 season, the talk around the program was that Panasiuk was due for a breakout and he had been working all offseason to achieve that. He didn’t quite put up the numbers he was expecting but did have 25 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He made progress but he’s capable of much more.

Now entering his final year, the 6-4, 285-pound monster from Illinois has a chance to be a leader up front and that unblockable force which he’s capable of being.

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