Michigan State Football: Scottie Hazelton rumored to be next DC

Michigan State football may have found its next defensive coordinator in Kansas State’s Scottie Hazelton. Rumors are that he has been hired.

Mel Tucker may have found his defensive coordinator.

Rumors had been circulating about guys from Georgia and Alabama taking the defensive coordinator job at Michigan State, but things have since heated up with Kansas State’s Scottie Hazelton.

According to Riley Gates of 247Sports, Hazelton is expected to leave Kansas State for the opening at Michigan State on Tucker’s staff. This hire would not only be a home run for the Spartans, but it would complete the defensive side of the ball which should be a strength moving forward.

Hazelton has made his rounds as a coach, making his 12th stop in 21 years and he spent one season at Kansas State, turning that defense around quickly. He led the Wildcats to the second-best scoring defense in the Big 12 behind only Baylor and the Wildcats also had the second-best third-down defense in the country under his reign. Kansas State allowed 368.4 yards per game which isn’t great, but it was the school’s best mark since 2013.

Before Kansas State, Hazelton turned around Wyoming’s defense as the Cowboys went from the 100-range to top 25 nationally in both of his seasons there. He also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars as assistant linebackers coach and was at Nevada, USC and North Dakota State (an FCS powerhouse) before that.

Looking at the defensive staff for Michigan State, if the Hazelton hire comes to fruition, there are three guys who have spent time as defensive coordinators in the Power Five and another who has been one of the best defensive line coaches in the nation.

It’d be tough to find a more complete staff than Hazelton, Ron Burton, Mike Tressel and Harlon Barnett.

If true, this is a fantastic hire by Tucker and one that might fly under the radar as Hazelton is one of the best up-and-coming coordinators in the country.