Michigan State Defense Preview 2025: Can The Spartans Finally Find a Pass Rush?

2025 Michigan State Preview
Michigan State Offense Breakdown 
Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season 

- The defense wasn’t totally awful, but it needs more of a pass rush, more third down stops, more takeaways, and again, seriously, that comes from more of a ...

Pass rush. The Spartans came up with seven sacks in the opener against Florida Atlantic, 14 in non-conference play, and just five in the Big Ten - and three of those were against Purdue.

David Santiago (Air Force) and Isaac Smith (Texas Tech) are promising, but they weren’t exactly killers at their former schools. Jalen Thompson is a veteran who has to rise up and rock as a junior. This is still a question mark, but …

- The tackles have size and potential, but there isn’t a ton of proven experience. Grady Kelly is a tough interior presence from Florida State to go next to Alex VanSumeran, a promising all-around defender who has to stay healthy.

- The safeties should be a strength with the return of Nikai Martinez and Malik Spencer back after combining for 95 stops. Losing Dillon Tatum to Northwestern stings - even though he missed most of last year hurt - but Jeremiah Hughes should be a ball-hawk.

Joshua Eaton (Texas State) is an instant starter at one corner, Malcolm Bell (UConn) and NiJhay Burt (Eastern Illinois) will rotate in on both sides, and Chance Rucker is back after missing almost all of last year.

- The linebackers could quietly be terrific. Darius Snow was a burgeoning star in 2021 before suffering a horrible leg injury. He’ll get his shot again at one spot on the outside, Wayne Matthews should be a starter on the other side going into his fifth season, and Jordan Hall will be one of the team’s leading tacklers in the middle.

Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season 
2025 Michigan State Preview
Michigan State Offense Breakdown