Through four games, Michigan State football is looking like a team that should be headed to a bowl game, but if there's one thing that prevents that, it's the Spartans' defense.
Michigan State might be 3-1, but that defense is playing like it's 0-4. There's just not enough fight and next-to-no effectiveness on that side of the ball. Joe Rossi needs to figure things out.
Something that could help would be giving some younger guys more snaps. I think three underclassmen should see the field more after the bye.
1. Aydan West, DB
If there's one newcomer and underclassman that I have complete faith in to become a star in East Lansing in the next year or two, it's freshman defensive back Aydan West.
We've seen him sparingly this season, and he's held his own. West has two total tackles this year so far, but he hasn't been used extensively. I think that needs to change. The defensive backfield has been a disaster, and West is good enough to play right now and give the unit a boost.
2. Derrick Simmons, DT
Derrick Simmons is close to burning that redshirt, but he really hasn't seen the field much this season. He's recorded just two total tackles in the first four games, but the true freshman needs to come in and give this defensive line a much-needed shot in the arm.
There's no reason the line is getting zero push defensively, and a newcomer like Simmons isn't getting a shot despite receiving a lot of offseason praise. Maybe the staff is preserving a redshirt?
3. Rustin Young, OL
When Stanton Ramil went down early against USC in Week 4, Michigan State fans were already counting the game as a loss. Ramil was one of the leaders on that unit up front, and without him, the Spartans would have to rely on an unproven backup.
Fortunately, that backup was Rustin Young. In case the name doesn't sound familiar, he was one of Jonathan Smith's first crown jewels, ranked No. 208 overall in the 2024 class.
Young lived up to that billing against USC and didn't shy away from the spotlight. Give this man the snaps he deserves, and watch the offense improve.