Michigan State’s defensive line didn’t just show up Saturday against Northwestern. It took over.
For a unit that was supposed to be depleted after losing Alex VanSumeren and Jalen Thompson, the Spartans’ front looked like the most dangerous part of the defense. Aidan Chiles spent the game under constant pressure, and by the end of it, Michigan State’s defensive line had made the kind of statement it hasn’t been able to make in years.
The grades backed up what the eye test screamed. Pro Football Focus had Ben Roberts leading the way on defense at 81.5, followed by Anelu Lafaele at 80.7, Keahnist Thompson at 77.2, Isaac Smith at 73.7 and Kenny Soares Jr. at 68.9.
That production came from a group built around portal veterans and a few younger pieces mixed in, and it looked overwhelming at times. The five on the field Saturday felt like 10, because Chiles was running for his life that often.
A lot of the credit starts with Winston DeLattiboudere.
Michigan State’s defensive line hasn’t had much life for a while, and sacks have been hard to come by since the Mark Dantonio era. But the turnaround has been quick, and DeLattiboudere’s impact is showing up everywhere. After years of futility and some rough outings in the tackles-for-loss department, this group suddenly looks coached up, confident and productive.
The future pieces are already flashing. Kenny Soares Jr. looked like an early steal, which fits with the way the coaching staff has talked about him and the fact that the team voted him onto the No. 1 jersey.
Eli Coenen has also been a pleasant surprise. Even in what was described as an off game against Northwestern, he still made a major impact with a blocked field goal and added another half-sack.
Lafaele was the most disruptive name on the field, getting to Chiles twice. Roberts played at an All-Big Ten level.
Isaac Smith held up well. Kheanist Thompson chipped in with a half-sack and a tackle for loss.
Coenen’s day, even with the missed shine, still included that blocked kick and a half-sack.
There’s also the younger end of the room, with Derrick Simmons and Lafaele mentioned as players who should be next in line. Lafaele, in particular, is already becoming a star edge rusher.
That’s the biggest sign of all: Michigan State’s defensive line has gone from a weakness to one of the team’s strengths in only a half-season.
And if this is what one portal-heavy overhaul can do, the idea of another good haul in 2027 should have people paying attention.
In Other News...
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Michigan State gets a useful early measuring stick when it hosts UConn at Breslin Center in a preseason exhibition, and the Spartans have a few roster questions worth watching long before the games count. Freshman center Ethan Taylor, sophomore Cam Ward and freshman two-guard Jasiah Jervis all stand out as players who could shape how this team looks once the 2026-27 season arrives, with each bringing a different kind of intrigue after what they have already shown.
For Tom Izzo, this is less about the final score than about what the rotation starts to reveal. Taylors presence inside, Wards sophomore leap and Jervis fit on the perimeter all give Michigan State something to evaluate against a high-level opponent, and UConn should provide a real stress test for where those pieces stand. The Spartans will leave the exhibition with answers, but probably not all of them. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Has One Costly Problem It Can't Keep Wasting
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Now comes UCLA, a matchup that adds another layer of uncertainty with backup Ty Dieffenbach having recently started because of an injury to the Bruins starter. Fitzgerald offered his read on both quarterbacks as Michigan State turns the page, but the larger issue remains the same: the Spartans cannot keep letting usable chances slip away and expect a losing streak to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Kenneth Walker Keeps Making Michigan State Fans Feel What They're Missing
Kenneth Walker III has a way of turning matchups against Jim Harbaugh-coached teams into reminders of what Michigan State once had. He delivered another 100-yard rushing game in that setting, adding to a growing list of dominant outings that still resonate with Spartans fans whenever his name comes up. Even now, with Michigan State working to build its next wave of playmakers, Walker remains the kind of reference point that is hard to ignore.
The Spartans are trying to keep momentum with recruits as Pat Fitzgerald hosted top prospects despite the teams losing streak, and early impressions have been positive. Around the program, there is also some buzz tied to Jaden Akins, who is drawing attention from the New York Knicks after a strong preseason. Still, Walkers latest performance serves as a fresh reminder of the level of explosiveness Michigan State is trying to replace. [Read more 🡒]