Another week of NFL action brought a fresh batch of standout performances from former Michigan State players, and the Week 3 list has a familiar mix of big numbers, timely plays, and one Spartans quarterback absolutely rolling.
This weekly ranking includes former Michigan State players who transferred before their final seasons, like Keon Coleman and Derrick Harmon, but this time the spotlight belonged entirely to players who finished their careers in East Lansing. Ryan Eckley, Connor Heyward, and Jalen Nailor all saw plenty of action, yet three Spartans separated themselves from the pack and grabbed the headlines.
At the top of the list sits Kirk Cousins, who turned in the strongest showing of the week by any former Spartan. The 38-year-old continued his remarkable start with a third straight three-touchdown outing, becoming the first quarterback age 38 or older to throw three touchdown passes in each of his team’s first three games.
Not even Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Aaron Rodgers managed that. Cousins added 248 passing yards and no interceptions in a road win over the Saints, pushing him to nine touchdown passes on the season.
The Raiders are 3-0, and Cousins is a huge reason why.
Kenneth Walker III landed at No. 2 after another productive day for the Chiefs. He’s now forced at least 12 missed tackles in each of his first three games with the team, and he kept the production coming against the Dolphins with 70 yards and two total touchdowns.
It wasn’t his biggest game of the season - he had topped 100 rushing yards in each of the first two weeks - but it was still enough to secure the second-best performance among Spartans in the NFL. Through three weeks, Walker leads the league with 360 rushing yards.
Cody White rounded out the top three, and he did it the same way he did a week ago: by making the biggest catch of the game. White had only one reception in Week 3, but it was the game-winner from Cousins in the Raiders’ road victory over the Saints.
That followed last week’s game-winning and put-away touchdowns against the Chargers. White has become one of the season’s best stories, not because of huge volume, but because every one of his three catches has gone for a touchdown.
In Other News...
Michigan State Has A Busy Week Fans Will Want To Track
Pat Fitzgerald spent part of the week looking ahead to Michigan States next football test, with the Spartans set to visit Wisconsin on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET. It is the kind of stretch that keeps a fan base checking multiple calendars at once, because the football schedule is not the only thing pulling attention around East Lansing.
Michigan States homecoming game against Illinois is already set for Oct. 10 at 3:30 p.m. on FS1, giving the Spartans another notable date to circle soon after the trip to Madison. Away from the gridiron, the department has also had reasons to celebrate, with the mens tennis team receiving its Big Ten championship rings and the mens golf team sitting in second place at the Windon Memorial tournament. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Finally Have A New Answer For Its Stalled Offense
Four weeks into Pat Fitzgeralds tenure, Michigan State is still searching for a way to snap its offensive stagnation while also giving a worn-down defense more breathing room. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan has made it clear the staff wants to make better use of the roster it already has, and that has put tight end Carson Gulker in the conversation as a player who could help the Spartans find a little more balance.
A transfer from Ferris State, Gulker has drawn attention for his athleticism and versatility, traits that could make him a useful piece if Michigan State can expand his role. The challenge is the same one that has kept him on the margins so far, since the staff still needs more from him in the blocking game before it can lean on him more heavily. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Has A Backfield Problem It Can't Ignore
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The next question is how Michigan State reshuffles the workload from here. Transfer additions Jaziun Patterson and Parrish are expected to see expanded opportunities, and the Spartans will need one or more of those newcomers to settle in quickly if they want to keep the ground game from becoming a weekly problem. [Read more 🡒]