Michigan State Football: Midseason report card for 2021 Spartans

Linebackers: B

Raise your hand if you saw Cal Haladay starting at linebacker this season.

Now that no one’s hand is raised, let’s talk about just how good Haladay has been. He’s been one of the most pleasant surprises on this side of the ball and his impact was never more evident than when he missed the first half of the Rutgers game. He was flagged for targeting (horrible call) in the second half of the Western Kentucky game and missed the first half of the Rutgers game and his replacements struggled a bit. He came in to start the second half and played very well.

Haladay is third on the team with 41 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss and he has two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Quavaris Crouch is the other starter and the Tennessee transfer has played well, but it’s been pretty obvious that he’s still learning the position. He’s getting better, but he’s not there just yet. He is fourth on the team with 39 tackles to go along with two sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.

The backups haven’t been great and Chase Kline even entered the transfer portal.

Ben VanSumeren has seven tackles and Noah Harvey has six tackles behind Kline who had 11 takedowns before transferring. This is a position group dominated by two guys.