While the Michigan State Football program only had two players selected in the 2020 NFL draft, that was enough to extend the school’s NFL Draft streak to 80 years. With two players leaving school early for the pros in 2020 (Josiah Scott, Cody White), MSU is a little short of NFL Draft talent for the 2021 Draft.
That being said, there are eight Spartans who I feel are in the position to at least earn their way into the draft conversation, with at least one of those players being a lock in my eyes.
Click through the slideshow to see our thoughts on the eight MSU players who are in the best position to work towards a selection on draft day next year.
LB Antjuan Simmons
At the end of 2019, Michigan State linebacker Antjuan Simmons emphatically announced that he would be returning for his senior season, telling Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press that “I’m not done here.”
In my opinion, Simmons is the clear favorite to extend MSU’s draft streak to 81 years. His mix of tenacity, athleticism, speed, and intelligence makes him a great fit for the modern NFL. If we only see one Spartan drafted in 2021, I think it will be Simmons, and we probably won’t have to wait until Day Three to see it happen.
S Xavier Henderson
When we look back on Mark Dantonio’s legacy at Michigan State, his history of recruiting and developing defensive backs that ended up in the NFL will be front and center in that story. Xavier Henderson is a safety who can seemingly do it all on the field, from playmaking to making open-field tackles, and if he decides to follow the recent trend of MSU defensive backs leaving after their junior season (Josiah Scott, Montae Nicholson, and Justin Layne all left after three seasons) he could hear his name called on draft day.
OL Kevin Jarvis
Jarvis, who has struggled with injury since 2018, was able to preserve his redshirt status last season after playing just three games at left tackle. While the injuries are a concern, he will still enter the 2020 season as MSU’s best offensive lineman and that could earn him a look at the next level.
DT Naquan Jones
Naquan Jones has been waiting for this opportunity at Michigan State for four years. The defensive tackle has all the tools to translate to the next level, and with former MSU stalwarts Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams heading to the NFL, Jones will have a featured role in the defense. If he rises to the challenge, he could easily wind up being a mid-round selection.
C Matt Allen
Given the pedigree of his family, it would be more surprising if Matt Allen doesn’t make it to the NFL. His brother Brian was the only Spartan drafted in 2018, while his other brother Jack was undrafted. Matt hasn’t collected as many accolades as his brothers, but he has also been tasked with leading an injury-ridden offensive line in an often dysfunctional offense. If the new regime at Michigan State can get a little more out of Allen and his unit, he definitely has a shot in the draft.
DE Jacub Panasiuk
His brother Mike just signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent, but I actually think Jacub has a better shot to hear his name called on draft day than his brother. With the absence of Kenny Willekes, the Spartans will be relying on Panasiuk to seal the edge of the defense and also fill a major gap in the pass rush. If he can deliver, I would expect him to be in the mix on day three of the Draft.
TE Matt Dotson
Tight ends have become a highly coveted position in the draft, and Dotson is talented, so that’s why he makes this list. Dotson has had trouble with dropped passes and injuries but will have a great opportunity this year to showcase his talent to NFL scouts.
OL Jordan Reid
The last two seasons have been a low point for MSU’s offensive line, particularly due to the vast amount of injuries inflicting the unit. One player that wasn’t hit with the injury bug? Jordan Reid (knock on wood). Consistency is a huge selling point in offensive lineman and Reid has proven to be one of the most durable Spartans on the roster. If the unit is able to turn things around this year, you can add Reid to the list of Spartan linemen that could find a home on draft day.
