Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: Midseason awards for 2021 Spartans

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Payton Thorne, left, and Kenneth Walker III celebrate after beating Western Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211002 Msu Wku Fb 225a
Michigan State's Payton Thorne, left, and Kenneth Walker III celebrate after beating Western Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211002 Msu Wku Fb 225a /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 09 : Quarterback Noah Vedral #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is sacked by Simeon Barrow #8 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game at SHI Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 09 : Quarterback Noah Vedral #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is sacked by Simeon Barrow #8 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game at SHI Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Top freshman: Simeon Barrow/Cal Haladay

Yes, I’m aware that Simeon Barrow and Cal Haladay were part of the 2020 recruiting class, but they redshirted last season and are still technically freshmen even though they’re in year two.

It was a tough decision between Barrow/Haladay and true freshman cornerback Charles Brantley who has nine tackles and two pass breakups this season. You really can’t go wrong with any of these guys, but Barrow has been a dominant force up front this year and Haladay has been a revelation at linebacker.

Honestly, I thought the starting linebackers would be Chase Kline and Quavaris Crouch this year, but Haladay has taken over for the former and he has since decided to transfer because of it. The freshman linebacker has 41 total tackles and has been a menace on defense with a couple of forced fumbles as well.

Barrow has also been quite the surprise and he’s seventh on the team with 22 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. He has been dominant in the middle of that defensive line and I didn’t see this coming. I knew he was going to be solid eventually, but not as a redshirt freshman.

Both of these guys have bright futures.

Home/Spartans Football