Michigan State Football: 5 players who must step up vs. Indiana in Week 5

With one final game standing between Michigan State football and Ohio State, it’ll be important for a few guys to step up against Indiana.

Michigan State knows what’s on the horizon. Ohio State is patiently waiting for the Spartans in Week 6 and the Buckeyes actually have a huge game to prep for Michigan State.

In fact, Ohio State travels to Lincoln this weekend for a big-time showdown against Nebraska while the Spartans host Indiana. Both teams should win their respective games, but we will know more about each after Week 5.

The Spartans must have some players step up in order to gain some momentum heading into Week 6 while also making sure this team starts 2-0 in Big Ten play.

So who must step up for the Spartans against Indiana?

5. Connor Heyward

Elijah Collins is the starter, but Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio likes to use Connor Heyward. It was last week’s second-and-20 where offensive coordinator Brad Salem called the infamous run play that netted a whole four yards. Then there was a penalty on Heyward for a chop block. Whether justly or unjustly, Heyward has endured fans wrath.

Salem did him no favors by calling the run play, in which the defender just swallowed Connor up. Heyward does look good in the passing game whether it is catching out of the backfield or going up for those slants across the middle.

It may be that is his role going forward and his coaches can give him more of those opportunities and then we will see him play to his strengths. He has been asked to do too much and is a team-first type of player.