Spartans have big hopes for McDowell on defensive line

By foxsports
Published

After getting his feet wet as a true freshman last fall, Malik McDowell could be ready for big things at Michigan State in 2015. 

Just ask his position coach. 

"It's now time for him to go out and dominate, and we're super excited about the opportunity he'll have this fall,'' MSU defensive line coach Ron Burton told MLive.com. "We expect him to dominate.''

Those are big words for a player who predominantly came off the bench last season, but they don't come as much surprise. 

A 6-foot-6, 285-pound tackle from Detroit Southfield, McDowell was only the third five-star recruit to sign with Michigan State since Mark Dantonio became head coach in 2007. 

He had 15 tackles last season, including 4.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks -- number good enough to earn him a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-America first team. 

(H/T MLive.com)