PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Felton Davis is emerging as Michigan State’s star this season after catching eight passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over Penn State, including the game-winning 25-yard touchdown reception from Brian Lewerke with 19 seconds to play. Even with the receiving corps crippled by injuries, the senior has been able to stand out, catching 31 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns while ranking sixth in the Big Ten in yards per game at 79.
–RB La’Darius Jefferson has been a running back for only a few months but he’s starting to show glimpses of how good he could be some day. The true freshman was a high school quarterback but has adapted to his new position quickly, taking advantage of senior LJ Scott’s absence. Jefferson ran for a career-best 60 yards against Penn State with a touchdown and ripped off a 27-yard run in the second half, the longest run from scrimmage this season for a Spartans running back.
–S Khari Willis was all over the field in the win over Penn State, recording a team-high nine tackles while breaking up a pass and forcing a fumble. It was good enough for the senior to be named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. The Spartans will be counting on a similar effort this week against Michigan, the same opponent Willis made his first career start against back in 2015.
–LB Joe Bachie hasn’t been piling up the tackles the last few weeks, but that hardly means he hasn’t been effective. The junior had just four tackles in the win over Penn State, but one was for loss as he did a good job of spying on Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley. He’ll likely have similar responsibility this week facing Michigan QB Shea Patterson as the Wolverines’ signal-caller is effective when he gets out of the pocket.
SERIES HISTORY: Michigan leads Michigan State 69-36-5. The Spartans won the last meeting, 14-10, last season in Ann Arbor.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m from Michigan, so they are all meaningful to me.” — Michigan State senior safety and Jackson, Mich., native Khari Willis on which game vs. Michigan means the most.
