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Michigan State Football: Top 5 All-American candidates for 2022

By Connor Muldowney

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
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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BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 16: Jack Tuttle #14 of the Indiana Hoosiers is nearly sacked by Jacob Slade #64 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at Memorial Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 16: Jack Tuttle #14 of the Indiana Hoosiers is nearly sacked by Jacob Slade #64 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at Memorial Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The hype surrounding Jacob Slade is real and it just feels like he’s about to have a monster year and play himself into a solid NFL draft selection.

Through his first two seasons of action, Slade had 26 total tackles with three tackles for loss and a sack in 16 games. He was productive in just a limited number of snaps but he wasn’t exactly the household name that he became during the 2021 season when he had his breakout.

In fact, Slade had 40 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 13 games in 2021 and he was just a disruptive force in the middle of that defensive line all season long. His 6-foot-4, 315-pound frame with sneaky athleticism for his size really aided that dominance in the middle.

Now that Slade has made a name for himself, all he has to do is build on that breakout and do more of the same on a consistent basis.

Easier said than done, right? Well, he’s going to be helped out by an improved line with Khris Bogle coming in and Simeon Barrow, Maverick Hansen, Jalen Hunt, Dashaun Mallory, and Derrick Harmon all ready to take that next step. And then Jeff Pietrowski is on the other end with guys like Tank Brown and Brandon Wright adding athletic depth on the edge.

Slade is going to eat in 2022.

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