Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State football: 4 things to watch for during 2023 spring game

By Scott Tolonen

Nov 5, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker reacts during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker reacts during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 05: Chase Brown #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs the ball during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 05: Chase Brown #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs the ball during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Tunmise Adeleye and the defense line

Switching over to the defensive side of the ball, I’m watching to see how the addition of Tunmise Adeleye affects this defense.

Do they stack Adeleye and Jacoby Windmon and shut that side of the field together? Does the former five-star defensive end have the tools to put more pressure on the quarterback, leading to more sacks and interceptions? These are all things to get excited about.

I know walk-ons can make the first round of the NFL draft and five-stars can play one season and never step foot on the field again, but he came into college as a top-25 overall player for a reason.

No one thinks he left Texas A&M because he wouldn’t get playing time. He left because of the dysfunction of the “coaching staff vs. boosters” saga. He’s a good player with an opportunity to be a game-changer, which is desperately needed on the defensive line now that Jacob Slade has moved on to the NFL draft. When Slade was out with an injury last season, it showed.

Who will be the one to step up in the middle and take away the run? If you want to win football games and championships, a team needs to stop the run and that has to be on the defensive tackles and complimented by the linebackers, not the other way around.

Home/Spartans Football