Michigan State Football: 5 best middle linebackers of Mark Dantonio era

Michigan State football has built their identity on defense under Mark Dantonio and that starts on the insider. Who are Dantonio’s best middle linebackers?

Michigan State has fielded some of the top defenses in the country since Mark Dantonio  arrived in East Lansing. A huge key to those defenses have always been the middle linebackers running the defenses.

Kyler Ellsworth is my honorable mention candidate. He was a great backup and made one of the most iconic plays in Michigan State history when he dove over the pile to make a fourth down stop against Stanford to seal the 2013 Rose Bowl.

5. Taiwan Jones

Jones was a 6-foot-3, 250 pound linebacker who played for Dantonio from 2011-2014. He only played middle linebacker for Michigan State his senior year after playing outside at the star position his previous three seasons.

In his lone year as a middle linebacker Jones was selected to the second team All-Big Ten by the coaches. Jones compiled 60 tackles his senior year, 12.5 for losses and four total sacks.

Jones was a three-year starter for Michigan State and one of the key pieces of some of the most dominant defenses in the entire country. He was a very intelligent linebacker who took great routes to the ball and had a great blend of speed and power. Jones spent time with the New York Jets in the NFL.