Michigan State football: Former Spartans battling for Super Bowl LVI ring

Former Michigan State football players are duking it out on Super Bowl Sunday for a chance to take home a ring and hoist the trophy.

A trio of former Michigan State football stars have played roles in helping their teams reach Super Bowl LVI. Each of them has contributed in their own unique way to the arrival of the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals to the NFL’s 2022 pinnacle.

Of these three former Michigan State players, the most prominent has been center Brian Allen. He has emerged as a key piece of the Rams’ high-powered offensive attack. He’s become a trustworthy and reliable guardian of the Rams’ most prized weapon, Matthew Stafford, who sports fans all over the state of Michigan are rallying around after he gave the Lions everything he had during a 12-year span that saw him throw for 45,109 yards and 282 touchdowns.

It’s a shame that Stafford didn’t have much talent around him in the Motor City.

Thanks to Allen and the other hogs up front, wideout Cooper Kupp has achieved one of the top all-time seasons (postseason included) in NFL history, posting a ridiculous stat line of 160 catches for 2,333 yards and 20 touchdowns. Allen’s protection has bought Stafford the necessary time in the pocket to find the likes of Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. breaking free downfield.

Allen has emerged as the anchor of Los Angeles’ offensive line, earning a Pro Bowl nod (as an alternate). He is a powerful and relentless 6-foot-2 inch, 300-pound mauler. He helps Stafford direct the offense by diagnosing defensive looks (most often with pre-snap blitzes from linebackers and defensive backs inching up toward the line of scrimmage). He’s fantastic with his hands and skillfully uses his leverage to neutralize opponents upon impact.

When we take a glance back at the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen will unquestionably go down as one of its biggest steals. He slid down to the fourth round (pick 111). He’s making the other 31 teams pay for passing on him. The Rams can thank the Miami Dolphins for Allen (as Miami sent the selection to them in a trade package).

The Allen brothers (oldest is Jack and youngest is Matt) have a strong reputation for being as tough as they come. They all have wrestling backgrounds so their nasty streaks come alive between the hash marks.

Before the middle Allen brother was a driving force behind Los Angeles’ Super Bowl berth, he was a fierce and smart lineman who split time at the center position and both guard spots during a successful career in the green and white. He was an excellent leader and dominant wrecking ball who helped the Spartans reach the 10-win mark on three separate occasions during his time in East Lansing.

Trae Waynes was an elite member of the legendary No Fly Zone defensive backfield during the Mark Dantonio glory days (he picked off six passes and broke up another 10 during a brilliant two-season run as a starter). He and Darqueze Dennard blanketed receivers for Pat Narduzzi’s smothering defense. Waynes was a lockdown corner on the 2013 Michigan State team that finished 13-1 and beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

Waynes spent his first five professional years in Minnesota with the Vikings. He has appeared in a handful of games for Cincinnati this season.

Joe Bachie had a cup of coffee in Philadelphia last season. He left the Eagles and has found a home in Cincinnati. Bachie started two games this year for the Bengals while playing in nine total contests. He’s a promising young player and his best football is ahead of him.

Bachie was able to string together incredible production during consecutive years from 2017 to 2018. He reached the 100-tackle mark in back-to-back seasons, made 16.5 tackles for loss, forced four fumbles, and snagged four interceptions. He was the true definition of a ballhawk and kept MSU’s rich tradition alive of developing tremendous linebackers.

Seeing Michigan State well-represented on football’s grandest stage surely will give Spartan fans across the world a true thrill.