Jacoby Windmon was on track to be the "Kenneth Walker III" (what I would call a superstar transfer) of his transfer class with Michigan State football. He was on the verge of becoming a superstar transfer who carried the team.
And then the tunnel incident happened and it derailed his 2022 season.
Windmon was leading the nation in forced fumbles, he had 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and an interception to go along with it. He was one of the best defenders in the Big Ten, but his involvement in the Michigan tunnel incident led to his suspension for the remainder of the season. He came back in 2023, but only played in three games with 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack.
But that talent was always there and even after going undrafted, the NFL is starting to see just why he was a top prospect early in the 2022 season.
According to PFF, Windmon was the seventh-highest graded rookie in Week 1 of preseason action.
Highest Graded Rookies from Preseason Week 1🔥 pic.twitter.com/FtocvX6sJR
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 13, 2024
Windmon only played 18 snaps in the game and was the Steelers' highest-rated defender on the night with three tackles, a pass breakup, and a crushing hit.
The former Michigan State star has been earning praise from defensive coordinator Teryl Austin who said he "helped himself" with the performance and called him a good player.
Michigan State fans aren't all that surprised to see Windmon excel because he's been one of the better defenders to come through East Lansing in years and if he never got suspended for his involvement in the tunnel, we may have been talking about him as a Day 2 pick in the NFL draft.