Michigan State Football: 5 breakout candidates vs. Illinois

Nov 14, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans safety Montae Nicholson (9) congratulates Michigan State Spartans place kicker Michael Geiger (4) on made field goal during the 1st quarter of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State football will be traveling to Champaign Saturday to face Illinois and here are the Spartans’ five breakout candidates.

Less than 24 hours until kickoff, Michigan State football knows it has a lot to play for still, including a bowl berth. The Spartans’ quest for six wins begins Saturday against Illinois, who also happens to be 2-6 and desperate for a win.

Michigan State hasn’t had a season like this in over a decade and it’s hurting Mark Dantonio to have to watch his team of talented players suffer six consecutive losses. Still, they will bounce back by the end of the year and get even better next season.

Everyone knew this season would be a step back from last year’s playoff run, but no one thought it’d be more of a backwards leap. This team is not void of talent, though. In fact, here are five Spartans who could break out with big games on Saturday afternoon.

Thiyo Lukusa

OT, Freshman

I’ve been high on Thiyo Lukusa for the past few weeks. Heck, I have liked him ever since he committed to Michigan State, but I didn’t think he would have his redshirt burned this season. Now that it is, there’s a good chance he could play well enough Saturday to earn a starting spot on the offensive line by the end of the season.

It’s hard to keep an eye on offensive linemen, but if you get a chance, just check him out to see if he holds his blocks and if he is keeping good pass protection when he’s in there.

Tyler Higby was the offensive lineman that I wanted to keep an eye on last week against Michigan and he did well. He held his own against one of the best defensive lines in the Big Ten, and that’s all you can ask for from a freshman.

“Breaking out” on the offensive line really isn’t easy to do, but having a big game and earning praise afterward from Dantonio would be a good indication of that. Expect Lukusa to impress the coaching staff and open some holes in the run game as well as protect Tyler O’Connor in the pass game.

Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; dMichigan State Spartans linebacker Andrew Dowell (5) celebrates fumble recovery during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Dowell

LB, Sophomore

Since Ed Davis has gotten healthy, Riley Bullough, too, and Chris Frey has risen to be one of the team’s best defenders, there really hasn’t been much of an opportunity for sophomore linebacker Andrew Dowell. He’s extremely talented and many believe he’s the future of the defense, but he has been quiet recently.

Playing the role of backup for the past couple of weeks, he has just seven tackles and a pass deflection. He still plays at a high level, but isn’t seeing the field as much as he’d like to.

Against Illinois, he could have a breakout performance, especially if Frey gets injured again. The junior linebacker has been banged up all season long and was nearly decapitated against the Wolverines on Saturday. He’s also been dealing with upper body issues and had to leave the game with a leg cramp as well.

Frey is a gamer, but Dowell will likely need to come in on relief a few times, and he could really afford to make some plays and stand out to the coaching staff. It’s not that he hasn’t earned a starting spot, it’s just that he hasn’t been able to hold off a sixth-year senior and a rising junior.

Dowell might get his first double-digit tackle game of the season.

Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of Michigan State Spartans helmet during the 1st quarter of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Josh King

DE, Freshman

You may not have heard much about the freshman defensive end from Illinois, but the Spartans’ highest-rated recruit from the 2016 class has been seeing the field often over the past month and he’s taking advantage of his opportunities, believe it or not.

Josh King was one of the more anticipated prospects from the Spartans’ 2016 class and it had something to do with the fact he had a wrestling background as well. He was long and strong, and the Spartans hoped to redshirt him and maybe use him after a year of learning the defense.

However, defensive line struggles have forced him into action early on and he’s playing well for a first-year end. It’s tough to really make an impact on the offensive or defensive line as a true freshman and he isn’t yet getting penetration into the backfield, but he’s closing holes and not committing inside too early.

King has played about six games, recording eight tackles and holding his own. Against Illinois, I could see him recording his first career sack against a team that hasn’t been very good offensively this season, and that starts with the offensive line.

The freshman will record a sack at some point this season, but I have a feeling it’s going to come against the Illini and he will add a few tackles as well. We are going to hear his name quite a bit Saturday.

Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Chris Evans (12) runs the ball against Michigan State Spartans safety Montae Nicholson (9) during the first half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Montae Nicholson

S, Junior

Okay, so Montae Nicholson has already broken out for three 10-plus tackle games this season and everyone knows just how good he can be and what he brings to the table. However, with just four games remaining and a senior season approaching, Nicholson knows he has to start being a leader on defense.

In previous games, he was recorded a multitude of tackles because the front-seven was getting gashed on a regular basis, but in this one, he’s going to come up and make some big-time plays within the first five yards of a run.

Not only that, but I can see Montae coming up with a key interception against a young quarterback in Jeff George Jr., if he gets the start, and having it prove crucial to the final score.

On the season, he has 61 total tackles and a couple of pass deflections. He’s not usually out of place in the secondary, but if he is, it doesn’t often cost the Spartans. It’s usually Demetrious Cox who is allowing big play, quite surprising for a senior captain.

It’s time for Nicholson to rise up and record an interception, beginning his confidence swing into the 2017 season. He has the potential to be the best defensive back on the team and now is when he should prove it.

Oct 22, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins defensive back Alvin Hill (27) intercepts a pass intended for Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Donnie Corley

WR/CB, Freshman

Donnie Corley has the potential to be Michigan State’s best overall player by next season even. The freshman wide receiver has come in as arguably the team’s top recruit, regardless of rankings, and he’s been showing off, when given the opportunity, this season.

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In fact, he already has 23 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns through eight games and he’s on pace to finish with about 500 yards. For a freshman in the Mark Dantonio era, that’s almost unheard of. He has been an exciting receiver to watch and he has hands like glue along with the innate ability to run crisp, sharp routes.

Burning the redshirt on Corley was decided before the season even began and he contributed instantly to the offensive side of the ball. He had two catches in his first career game and then followed that up with four receptions for 88 yards and an incredible touchdown against Notre Dame.

Now that he’s playing on the defensive side of the ball, I could see Corley having a huge game against Illinois. He has been considered a gifted defensive back as well as a top-tier receiver, but now is the time he will get to prove that.

Corley could have a breakout game on both sides of the ball on Saturday. I’m calling a 100-yard receiving game and either a pass breakup or interception on defense.