PLAYERS TO WATCH
–DE Kenny Willekes was named as one of 10 finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, given each season to the most outstanding player in the nation who began his career as a walk-on. Willekes, a fourth-year junior, has been Michigan State’s best pass rusher and leads the Big Ten with 17 tackles for loss while checking in second in sacks with 8.5. In the loss to Ohio State, Willekes had a career-high 13 tackles and three tackles for loss, including one sack.
–WR Cody White missed four games this season with a broken hand but has knocked off the rust fairly quickly. After two receptions in his return at Maryland, the sophomore had eight receptions for 115 yards last week against Ohio State. With senior Felton Davis lost for the season to an Achilles injury and junior Darrell Stewart Jr. in and out of the lineup with injuries, White is Michigan State’s most reliable receiver and will be counted on to make big plays.
–S Khari Willis has been one of Michigan State’s most steady players throughout his career and the senior has been playing his best the past few weeks. The senior captain recorded a career-high 15 tackles last week against Ohio State and is third on the team in tackles with 71. He also had a half tackle for loss vs. Ohio State and has been at the forefront of the No. 1 rushing defense in the nation.
–LB Andrew Dowell doesn’t get the notoriety as some of the Spartans’ other defenders but the three-year starter has been consistent to outstanding at times. In the loss to Ohio State, Dowell had a career-high 14 tackles and now has 75 for the season, ranking 12th in the Big Ten and first on the team. He’ll play a significant role this week as Michigan State does its best to contain Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez, who has gained 300 or more total yards five times this season.
SERIES HISTORY: Nebraska leads Michigan State 8-2. The Cornhuskers won the last meeting, 39-38, in 2015 in Lincoln.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Everybody is an armchair quarterback. You can go back to 2013, there are armchair quarterbacks here.” — Coach Mark Dantonio on criticism of how he’s handled the quarterbacks
