Welcome to the Fierce 40 series of my 2015 College Football Rankings, where I will be counting down the top 40 ranked teams in the NCAA. Today I will be analyzing the Michigan State Spartans, 3 overall for the 2015 college football season.

I will be releasing one NCAA team preview per day, providing my analysis on each team in the top 40 rankings. There will be a focus on every key area of each college football team, thereby determining my overall ranking, with an emphasis on future NFL Draft prospects. Stay tuned.

Previous articles in the Fierce 40 college football rankings series can be found here.

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#3 Michigan State

2014 Recap:

11-2 sounds like a great year and it was for the Spartans, one capped off with a 42-41 come-from-behind Cotton Bowl triumph over Baylor. The interesting thing here is looking at who the losses on the schedule came against. In Week 2 Michigan State lost 46-27 to Oregon and Week 9 lost to 49-37 to Ohio State. Michigan State lost two games all year and they were against the teams playing for the National Championship.

Coaching:

Mark Dantonio has nearly made the state of Michigan forget about the Wolverines (until Jim Harbaugh arrived there). Michigan State is doing this with an offense that matches the defensive intensity they have shown over the last five years. The old recipe of good defense and just enough offense to win is gone as evidenced by having the 11th ranked offense in the country in 2014. Michigan State was #8 in total defense and they led the nation allowing only 88 yards on the ground a game.

Offensive Analysis

Quarterbacks/Running Backs:

Connor Cook passed up a 1st round pick in the draft last season in order to come back to Michigan State and attempt to be the first quarterback selected. This would not have happened with Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota available in 2015. Cook has the prototypical size and mechanics that every coach and franchise is looking for.

Madre London looks like he will be taking carries away from Gerlad Holmes, the player many thought would be the unquestioned starter heading into the season. We haven’t even talked about newcomer L.J. Scott. Michigan State will have a strong running attack due to their depth and the amazing offensive line they possess.

Best Draft Prospect: Connor Cook QB 1st Round 2016 (potential top 10 overall pick and possible first QB selected).

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

Tony Lippett was huge for this team a season ago as he made the transition from defensive back. Lippett wasn’t the only starter to leave, as all three Michigan State receivers are gone from a season ago. This leaves another reason why Michigan State will continue to lean on the running game even with a quarterback as talented as Connor Cook. Aaron Burbridge is the most experienced receiver, catching 29 passes a season ago as a reserve. The lone returner catching the football is junior tight end Josiah Price. Again, you have Connor Cook throwing the football, meaning he will make the players around him better.

Best Draft Prospect: Aaron Burbridge WR UFA.

Offensive Line:

Where is there not a pro prospect along this line? I know the term “best line at the NCAA level” or something close to that is sometimes thrown around loosely, but we believe Michigan State has THE best line at the NCAA level. Jack Conklin at left tackle has first round talent and should declare this season. Center Jack Allen has a shot to be the first center off the board and has an outside shot at being a first round pick himself. Brian Allen, Donovan Clark and Kody Kieler round out the starting line. Look for Kieler to move to the left side after this season if Conklin declares, and his value will skyrocket.

Best Draft Prospect: Jack Conklin OT 1st Round 2016 (if he declares, part of the 2017 draft class).

Defensive Analysis

Defensive Line:

Michigan State was the top ranked defense in the land in 2013, and they slipped to 8th overall last season. Shilique Calhoun is the leader, and he had a “down” year by most accounts. Calhoun was a top five prospect overall on our board entering last season. The lackluster season still totaled 12.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks, numbers that nearly anyone would take. Lawrence Thomas emerged as a playmaker opposite Calhoun after the departure of the dependable Marcus Rush. Joel Health and Malik McDowell will patrol the middle.

Best Draft Prospect: Shilique Calhoun DE 1st Round 2016.

Linebackers:

The linebackers are stout with Ed Davis looking like he has a shot at making the All Big Ten team. Davis may not have the speed and range of some of his counterparts, but he is as sure of a tackler as you will see. Riley Bullough steps into the starting role in the middle and hoping to duplicate the success his brother Max had for the program. Darian Harris is back along the outside after 48 stops a season ago, and he is the best coverage linebacker the Spartans have.

Best Draft Prospect: Ed Davis LB 5th Round 2016.

Secondary:

Michigan State has put cornerbacks in the first round of the draft consecutive seasons, so the cupboard is a little bare right now. The good thing is Demetrius Cox and Arjen Colquhoun are not totally green corners, and they both stand 6’1”, important in a conference with so many tall receivers. We like Montae Nicholson and feel this could be the year he excels and becomes the next star of the Spartans defense. R.J. Williamson is back after 59 tackles and three interceptions of his own last year.

Best Draft Prospect: Montae Nicholson S 5th Round 2018.

Special Teams

Michael Geiger showed a ton of promise as a freshman going 15-16 in field goal attempts before struggling last season and playing through injury. Geirger looks healthy, and the Spartans are hoping for a return to greatness. Mike Sadler is a huge loss at punter, and freshman Jake Hartbarger is the wildcard in this position. R.J. Shelton should be the primary return man for this team on kickoffs and punts.

Best Draft Prospect: Michael Geiger K UFA 2017.

2015 Schedule

Obviously getting a win against Oregon in Week 2 would be huge and retribution for a game that it looked like they would win last year for about 2.5 quarters. If Michigan State wins against Oregon they face an Air Force team the next week that may not be an easy one and Michigan State needs to be weary of a “letdown game”. Playing on the road against Ohio State November 21st could be the season for the Spartans.

Draft Prospects & Outlook

We are projecting three Spartans going in the first round with the declaration of Jack Conklin, and center Jack Allen could be the first center off the board. Many new faces will pop up this season after Michigan State was one of the most depleted teams from the draft in 2014 and 2015.

NCAA & College Football Chat

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