Michigan State's Mike Panasiuk lives up to 'MVP' billing in annual Green-White game

Lansing State Journal

MSU DT Mike Panasiuk riles up the crowd during the 2017 MSU homecoming game against Indiana Saturday, October 21, 2017, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

EAST LANSING — On Tuesday evening, Michigan State defensive coordinator Mike Tressel pointed to a number of positives on the defensive side of the ball. He likes the strides his young linebackers are making. He loves the leadership from his vets.

But one name kept coming up when discussing the biggest improvements: Mike Panasiuk. A smile always followed.

Tressel crowned him the MVP of spring, boasting about his physicality, footwork and mentality.

Saturday afternoon, the 6-foot-4, 296-pound defensive tackle from suburban Chicago showed a few thousand frosty fans inside Spartan Stadium and a national television audience what all the fuss has been about.

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A noticeably trimmer Panasiuk spent the majority of the annual Green-White spring game in the offensive backfield, taking on double teams and making life hard on quarterbacks Brian Lewerke, Theo Day and Rocky Lombardi. The junior finished with four tackles and a sack Saturday.

Panasiuk isn’t surprised that he is having early success. But it hasn’t been easy, he said postgame.

When reporters asked, “What’s your secret?” a grin creased his face.

“It’s just putting down that pizza that you want, that extra slice you want, that bag of chips you want. That’s hard for a big guy,” Panasiuk laughed. “In the long run, you’re trying to have a strong mentality."

"I put down the pizza, and it’s starting to work out for us.”

Now, instead of candy and soda during video game binges or all-night study sessions, an apple or banana holds him over.

MSU DT Mike Panasiuk moves in to tackle Iowa QB Nate Stanley Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Grayson Miller, who is making the transition from safety to outside linebacker this fall, said Panasiuk’s physical transformation is paying major dividends already. It’s taking pressure off him as he tries to learn a new position, Miller added. Especially when it comes to taking on double teams.

“It’s fun to have someone like him up front,” Miller said. “Now, there’s one less guy that is coming out to try and take my head off.”

Panasiuk said new defensive ends coach Chuck Bullough has only helped him add to his arsenal. Bullough, who spent seven years in the NFL after a decorated career at MSU, has preached footwork and hand speed since he arrived back on campus in January. Panasiuk said he has taken his coach’s words to heart.

“I’m still bringing that power, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve now,” he said.

Conditioning has been the other major transformation for Panasiuk. Last season, he said too many times he was forced to the bench on long drives only to watch the opponent move the ball at will. There were times in 2017 that he thought to himself, “What if I was in there?”

That was also an emphasis for the coaching staff this offseason.

“Mike’s had a tremendous spring,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said Saturday night during his postgame press conference. “He understands leverage better. He has always been a very powerful guy. He’s in shape. He’s leaner. He should have a bright future ahead of him.”

MSU sophomore DT Mike Panasiuk, left, and DE brother Jacub, a freshman, pictured Aug. 7, 2017, on media day at the Skandalaris Football Complex in East Lansing. [MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal]

Miller echoed Dantonio’s sentiments.

“Mike has always been able to blow you right off the ball since his freshman year,” he said. “He dropped some weight and still improved his strength. He’s quicker, faster and very explosive. He knows the defense.”

For the first time this spring, the offense got the better of the defense in the scrimmage. A late touchdown pass from Lombardi to Stewart and a successful two-point conversion on a half-back pass from Connor Heyward were the difference in the 32-30 win for the White squad.

Panasiuk was on the sideline. And it wasn’t because he was out of breath

His work day was complete. And he hopes he lived up to his coaches' expectations.

“I kind of had to come out today and make a few plays. if I didn’t, I’d be like, 'Oh, wow — that’s awkward,'” he laughed. “It’s great (to get those compliments from Tressel), it gives me confidence. I’m just trying to lead this team and win championships."

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.