Michigan State Football: Early look at top 2023 NFL Draft prospects

Dec 30, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) and quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrate after a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the 2021 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

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Michigan State’s Jacob Slade, right, tackles Ohio State’s Justin Fields during the first quarter on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.201205 Msu Osu 076a /

I didn’t quite see this breakout from Jacob Slade coming, but the 2021 season opened some eyes regarding the talented defensive tackle.

Through his first two seasons with Michigan State, he had a total of 26 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack, but he blew past those numbers in 2021. He smashed all of them in just one year, recording 40 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He looked like a stud on that defensive line and now he has Brandon Jordan and Marco Coleman to make him even better.

We are going to witness Jordan and Coleman engineering one of the best defensive lines in the Big Ten and they’re going to churn out NFL prospects left and right.

Slade should be one of them.

At 6-4, 315 pounds, he has the frame to keep up with the big boys in the trenches and will be one of the best defensive tackles in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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