All-time Michigan State football defensive starters from Mark Dantonio era
Defensive end 1: Shilique Calhoun
Beginning first with the defensive line, we have Shilique Calhoun as a defensive end.
Calhoun will always have a special place in my heart because I still remember like it was yesterday when he surpringly decided to return for one more season after the 2014 season. And thankfully he did.
Calhoun went on to have a dominant senior season in 2015 where he finished with 49 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. All three stats were career-highs for Calhoun.
Throwback to 2013 Western Michigan vs MSU when Shilique Calhoun called game.
— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) August 31, 2022
Kurtis Drummond started the scoring with a 21 yard lateral Pick 6 to go up 7-0. pic.twitter.com/Nc0XMJ5eq3
The two-time captain also had one of the more decorated individual Michigan State careers as well. He was a three time first team All-Big Ten selection and a three time second team All-American. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
So not only was he unstoppable on the field, he delivered on the promise he and Connor Cook made when they came back for the 2015 season, which was to win another Big Ten championship and make the College Football Playoff. So that’s why Calhoun is getting the first spot on this list.