Michigan State Football: Malik McDowell getting second shot in NFL

Malik McDowell has had a long, strange road since his Michigan State football days. He expected a clear path to the NFL, but after getting drafted in the second round back in 2017, he suffered an ATV accident that cost him a long-term contract with the Seahawks.

The former Spartan defensive lineman had himself a solid college career before getting drafted by the Seahawks, but his ATV accident caused severe injuries. He never played a single game.

But on Monday, the talented defensive lineman was given a second chance.

In fact, the Browns signed him on Monday after a three-year absence from the league.

This was a bit of a surprise because it seemed as if he was retired after not making headlines for a potential comeback after his ATV accident, injuries, and release from the Seahawks.

McDowell is finally getting a second chance.

McDowell dominated in his Michigan State football days

When McDowell was still in East Lansing, there was talk of him being a top-10 pick and he even admitted at one point that he didn’t plan on leaving school early unless he was in that projected range. Unfortunately, his stock dropped after an injury-plagued 2016 season in which the Spartans went 3-9.

McDowell escaped the nightmare season but still managed to put up 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He was projected anywhere from mid-first to early-second round but scouts questioned his drive and he fell to the Seahawks in the second round.

Still, he was dominant at Michigan State from his freshman year to somewhere in the middle of his junior season, totaling 88 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks.

If he can get back to form, he could make the 53-man roster in Cleveland.