All-time Michigan State football defensive starters from Mark Dantonio era

Defensive tackle 1: Malik McDowell

My first selection at tackle is a guy who is capable of playing anywhere on the defensive line in Malik McDowell.

McDowell played at Michigan State from 2014-2016 and chose to leave MSU early after his junior season. Throughout his career McDowell totaled 90 tackles which included 24.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. McDowell also has an interception returned for a touchdown to his name as well, something you don’t see very often from someone on the defensive line.

McDowell played in all 13 games as a true freshman which didn’t happen too often under Dantonio. This was especially impressive considering how talented the 2014 Michigan State team was. He then went on to make two All-Big Ten teams as a sophomore and junior (second team then first team) and became a second-team All-American as a junior according to CBS.

It’s a shame his career ended after the dreaded 2016 season, and it’s always left me wondering how good of a year he could’ve had in 2017. That 2017 team won 10 games, and who knows, maybe it could’ve been even better had McDowell chosen to stay for one more season.