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Michigan State Football: Studs and duds from 2019 season

By Connor Muldowney

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Wide receiver Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Michigan State Spartans won 27-21. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Wide receiver Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Michigan State Spartans won 27-21. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Running back Elijah Collins #24 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes towards defensive back Essang Bassey #21 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacon during the first half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Running back Elijah Collins #24 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes towards defensive back Essang Bassey #21 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacon during the first half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

Studs

There were plenty of Spartans who stood out during the 2019 season despite a disappointing record, but these were the best of the bunch.

Elijah Collins

Michigan State’s last 1,000-yard rusher was in 2014 as Jeremy Langford reached that mark for the second straight season and he followed up Le’Veon Bell’s 1,000-yard campaign in 2012. Elijah Collins was close to becoming the next 1,000-yard rusher for the Spartans, emerging after starting the season as the No. 3 running back. He finished with 988 yards and five touchdowns and even though he averaged just 4.4 yards per touch, he was impressive behind that mediocre offensive line. This kid has a bright future.

Cody White

It’s for me to not praise Cody White for the job he did this season. He didn’t have a great start to the year and he finished it off by accounting for 922 yards and six touchdowns on 66 receptions. He was almost unguardable in the second half of the season and caught everything thrown his way. When Darrell Stewart Jr. went down, he rose to the occasion and took over as the team’s No. 1 receiver almost seamlessly.

The defensive line

Some may overlook Michigan State’s numbers this season, finishing 14th in the country in sacks with 40 and 12th in sacks per game. While the blitzing from the linebackers aided those numbers, the line was solid all year with Mike Panasiuk, Raequan Williams, Kenny Willekes and Jacub Panasiuk making up one of the best defensive lines in the nation. There was plenty of hype for this unit coming into the season and they were the only defensive group that lived up to it.

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