Michigan State Football: Dantonio era comparisons for key 2020 players

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PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 23: Elijah Collins #24 of the Michigan State Spartans stiff arms Mike Tverdov #97 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of their game at SHI Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Elijah Collins

Mark Dantonio era comparison: Le’Veon Bell

You know I had to do it. It would be a crime to make this list and compare Elijah Collins to anybody else. No, it’s not a perfect comparison, but sometimes Collins looks like a spitting image of Le’Veon out there when he steps onto the field wearing the No. 24.

When any running back commits to Michigan State, Le’Veon is the guy on their mind. Despite the fact that I think MSU has had better running backs, Bell is the big name guy from East Lansing. I could and often do make the argument that Jeremy Langford was a better back, but Bell’s career has panned out much better at the next level.

To our current knowledge, Collins is the best returning player on this Michigan State Football team. We’ll find out soon enough whether he lives up to the standard that’s been set by past Spartans like Bell and Langford at running back for the Spartans.

He’s got three years to show what he’s capable of, although it’s a strong possibility that he ends up leaving early for the draft if he has strong sophomore and junior seasons.

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