Who makes Michigan State football’s all-defensive team in the Mark Dantonio era? Eleven years of toughness and discipline revisited.
The defenses at Michigan State are always ranked as some of the best in the country, year in and year out. Words people use to describe a Mark Dantonio defense are toughness, discipline and an attacking team defense that is very aggressive while keeping their gap responsibilities.
I’m going to take a stab at making the ultimate Dantonio era defense. With all the great options I’m sure there will be a lot of debate on some of my choices. My goal is to build one of the fastest, most physical defenses I can.
It all starts in the trenches, so that’s where I’ll start off with my All-Dantonio defense. Starting with the defensive ends, my picks are Shilique Calhoun and William Gholston.
Calhoun has been one of the most successful decorated players in the Dantonio era. He was a three-time second-team All American as well as a three-time first team All-Big Ten selection. He finished his career with 131 career tackles, including 44 for losses and 27 sacks. Gholston was the guy who started the in-state recruiting dominance for Dantonio and made it cool to be a Spartan. He was a physically imposing defensive end who finished his career with 142 tackles, including 30 for loss and 10 sacks.
The defensive tackles I selected were Jerel Worthy and Malik McDowell. The former was a first-team All-American selection as well as a first team All-Big Ten selection. He was a physically dominating defensive tackle who finished his career with 107 tackles including 27.5 for losses and 12 sacks. McDowell was another physically dominating defensive tackle who used his length and athleticism to dominate the trenches. He was selected as a second-team All-American as well as a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He finished his Michigan State career with 90 tackles, including 24.5 for losses and 7.5 sacks.
The linebackers in the Dantonio era have always been some of the best in the entire country. They’re always physical and intelligent guys who quarterback the defense. At middle linebacker, I chose Max Bullough. He was one of the most intelligent players to ever play at Michigan State, his ability to read the offense before the snap and get the defense in the right play call was second to none. He was selected as a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and finished his career with 299 tackles, including 30.5 for losses and eight sacks.
I have Greg Jones at one of the outside linebacker spots. He was a very athletic linebacker who was very intelligent and took great angles to get to the ball. He was selected as a first-team All-American twice as well as a first team All-Big Ten selection three times. He recorded 465 career tackles, including 46.5 for losses and 16.5 sacks.
My other starting outside linebacker is Denicos Allen. He was a blend of physicality, speed and a relentless motor, who had a ton of success against the run as well as being an elite pass rusher off the edge. Allen was a two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection and finished his career with 278 tackles, including 46 for losses and 19.5 sacks.
Defensive backs have been a signature for Dantonio as he played defensive back in college and coached defensive backs early in his career. They have been dubbed the ‘No Fly Zone’.
My cornerbacks are Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes. The former was the definition of a lockdown corner who would completely shutdown his man. He was selected as a first-team All-American once and was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. In 2013, he won the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back in the country. He finished his career with 167 tackles, 30 passes defended and 10 interceptions.
Waynes was a tall corner with elite speed. Quarterbacks rarely challenged Waynes, who completely blanketed the receiver. Waynes was a second team All-American as well as a first-team All-Big Ten selection. Chosen 11th overall in the NFL draft, Waynes finished his career with 101 career tackles, 13 pass breakups and six interceptions.
My selections for the safeties are Isiaiah Lewis and Kurtis Drummond. Lewis was a very quick safety who excelled in both the passing game, as well as coming up to defend the run. He was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten and a second-team All-Big Ten selection in his career. He finished his career with 227 tackles, 26 passes defended and eight interceptions that he returned for an amazing 158 yards.
Drummond was a long, physical safety who was a huge striker coming up to defend the run and showed great ability defending the pass. He was selected as a first team All-American once as well as a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. Drummond finished his career with 233 tackles, 33 passes defended, 12 interceptions and 14 tackles for loss.
DE: Shilique Calhoun
DT: Jerel Worthy
DT: Malik McDowell
DE: William Gholston
OLB: Greg Jones
MLB: Max Bullough
OLB: Denicos Allen
CB: Darqueze Dennard
CB: Trae Waynes
FS: Kurtis Drummond
SS: Isiaiah Lewis
Next: Preseason Top 25 following spring practices
Disagree with this all-time defense? Who would you have in your all-time Mark Dantonio defense? Reply with yours in the comments section below.