Dantonio's 28: Michigan State has shown it can get players to the NFL

LANSING — At Michigan State's pro day in late March, head coach Mark Dantonio told reporters that, in his program, "There's a path to the NFL."

The draft picks speak for themselves.

Since Dantonio took the reins in 2007, 28 of his players have heard their names called in the NFL Draft. Dozens of others have gone the free-agent route. 

MSU is one of only five schools in the nation to have a player selected in every draft since the modern-day selection process began in 1967, alongside Nebraska, Southern California, Florida and Michigan.

But, for MSU, this tradition stretches even further back.

In every draft since 1940, a Spartan has gotten the call. In 1967, four of the first eight picks were from MSU.

“We’ve had a lot of guys go and play,” Dantonio said. “And we’ve had a lot of guys come out of here and be free agents. … Some of those guys are on their second contracts in the NFL, and they were free agents. Guys like Brian Hoyer and (Garrett) Celek and guys like them. It’s a good thing.”

Since Dantonio's arrival, three Spartans — Darqueze Dennard, Trae Waynes and Jack Conklin — have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Conklin was the highest at No. 8 in 2016. Dantonio's most fertile draft class came in 2012, when six Spartans got the nod.

The 2018 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday night and go through Saturday evening. And, this year, MSU's streak could be in jeopardy. According to draftscout.com, Brian Allen has the only shot to keep it going, projecting the 6-foot-2, 302-pound center to go in the sixth or seventh round. Chris Frey, Demetrius Cooper and Gerald Holmes are all on the outside looking in, the site says.

After pro day, Dantonio said, he has been hearing good things about Allen's chances.

“Well, I just continually hear he’s a football player, and he’s going to play,” Dantonio said. “You know, he’s going to play a long time in that league.”

Here's a look back at Dantonio's 28 players who have been selected in the NFL Draft.

2008

Devin Thomas, WR, Round: 2, Overall: 34, Washington Redskins — Many draft experts projected that MSU junior Devin Thomas would be one of the first wide receivers taken off the board in the 2008 NFL Draft. Turns out, he was the second but didn’t hear his name called until early in the second round, when he was selected by the Washington Redskins with the 34th overall pick. Standing 6-foot-2, 216 pounds and coming off a 1,260-yard, 8-touchdown season in East Lansing, Thomas had high expectations. He never lived up to them. In Washington, at least. Playing only four seasons, for three different teams (Redskins, Panthers, Giants) the Ann Arbor product caught just 43 passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns. He did, however, become a threat on special teams, and his crowning achievement came in the 2011 NFC Championship game in San Francisco when he recovered two fumbles, including one to set up the game-winning field goal to vault the Giants into the Super Bowl. New York would go on to knock off the New England Patriots two weeks later. Thomas retired that offseason at age 25. He was the first NFL Draft pick of the Mark Dantonio era at MSU.

Kellen Davis, TE, Round: 5, Overall: 158, Chicago Bears — Standing 6-foot-6, 246 pounds and running a low 40-yard-dash time of 4.49, Kellen Davis was projected to be selected in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. A round later, he was, joining the Chicago Bears as the 158th overall pick. He was the seventh tight end taken in the draft. Davis capped his MSU career with 60 receptions for 789 yards and nine touchdowns. It took him until his second NFL season to get into the end zone and the starting lineup. Davis, an Adrian native, started 35 games for the Bears, catching 47 passes for 529 yards and 11 touchdowns. His best season came in 2011 when he scored a career-high five touchdowns. Davis spent the 2013 season with the Seattle Seahawks and came home to Michigan the following year, joining the Detroit Lions. Davis, now a 9-year NFL veteran, is currently a free agent after spending the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the New York Jets. He has caught only three passes and one touchdowns since 2013.

Ervin Baldwin, DE, Round: 7, Overall: 208, Chicago Bears — The Monsters of the Midway weren’t done with MSU during the final round of the 2008 NFL draft, selecting MSU defensive end, Ervin Baldwin. Baldwin, who finished his two-year career in East Lansing with 12 sacks and 25 tackles for loss, was not invited to the combine. He was earmarked an unrestricted free agent, unlikely to even hear his name called. Baldwin was undersized by NFL defensive end standards, standing 6-foot-2, 270 pounds. Nonetheless, he was the No. 1 player selected in the seventh round. Baldwin, an Oglethorpe, Georgia native, never started a game in Chicago. He never recorded a single stat. However, he found himself on the Colts roster in 2009, finishing his lone NFL season with 13 tackles in four games.

2009

Javon Ringer, RB, Round: 5, Overall: 173, Tennessee Titans — Javon Ringer is one of the most decorated running backs ever to come out of MSU. He was a Doak Walker Award finalist, a first-team All-American and, in 2008, lead the Big Ten in all-purpose yards, scoring and touchdowns. The Dayton, Ohio, product is the second all-time rushing leader in program history with 4,398 yards. So, it was no surprise that Ringer was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2009 NFL Draft. The shock was that it took so long. Ringer was the 173rd pick and the ninth running back taken. He joined a crowded Titans’ backfield that included LenDale White and Chris Henry. At 5-foot-9, 202-pounds, Ringer ran a 4.60 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. In Tennessee, Ringer carried the ball only eight times for 48 yards during his rookie season. The following two seasons, Ringer’s workload increased, toting the ball 110 times for 424 yards and three touchdowns. In his final NFL campaign, in 2012, an injury plagued Ringer rushed the ball twice in two games. He suffered an MCL tear and never saw the field again.

2010

Jeremy Ware, DB, Round: 7, Overall: 215, Oakland Raiders — The 5-foot-10, 188-pound transfer from South Carolina became the lone MSU draft pick in 2010, joining the Oakland Raiders early in the seventh round. Ware, a Fort Myers, Florida, native, played three seasons in East Lansing, recording 84 tackles and two interceptions. Ware was not invited to the NFL Combine but ran a 4.37 40-yard dash time at the Spartans’ pro day. Scouts said his ceiling was just getting drafted. Many experts figured Ware would hit the open market as a free agent. In 2010, Ware played in eight games for the Raiders, picking off one pass and knocking down three passes. The former Spartan, who gained a reputation for being a big hitter, joined a loaded Oakland secondary that featured Nnamdi Asomugha, Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson. He wasn’t resigned the following season, instead signing with the Bears, who cut Ware during training camp. Ware would eventually go on to play a season with the Florida Tarpons of the indoor football league, X-League.

2011

Greg Jones, LB, Round: 6, Overall: 185, New York Giants — In hindsight, it’s hard to believe that Greg Jones is the only linebacker to be drafted out of MSU under Mark Dantonio. It’s also unbelievable how long it took for the Cincinnati product to come off the board on draft day. Capping his college career, Jones was only the third Spartan in program history to earn back-to-back All-American nods, joing Bubba Smith and George Webster. Jones ranks as one of the Spartans’ all-time leaders in tackles for loss (46.5), tackles (465) and sacks (16.5). He started 40 straight games at MSU. Jones was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was projected to go as high as the fourth round but slipped to the 185th pick. He started five games during his rookie campaign, registering 31 tackles. Along with former MSU teammate, Devin Thomas, Jones helped lead the Giants to a Super Bowl Championship in his lone season in the Big Apple. Plagued by injuries, Jones found himself in camp with Jacksonville the following season. He played in only six games for the Jaguars, racking up four tackles. Jones spent time in camp with the Tennessee Titans in 2013 before heading to the Canadian Football League. He is currently a free agent.

Chris Rucker, DB, Round: 6, Overall: 188, Indianapolis Colts — Three picks after Greg Jones came off the board, MSU teammate Chris Rucker got the call, being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. While in East Lansing, the Warren, Ohio, product started 34 games at corner, registering 191 tackles, including 10.5 for loss. He finished with six interceptions and 19 pass breakups in his four-year career. In Indy, Rucker played in 15 games, starting four during his rookie season. He racked up 36 tackles and knocked down a pair of passes. He was waived by the Colts the following fall. Rucker joined the Ottawa RedBlacks of the Canadian Football League in 2014. He was released soon after.

2012

Jerel Worthy, DE, Round: 2, Overall: 51, Green Bay Packers — Kicking off Dantonio’s most successful class of NFL-bound players, 6-foot-2, 308-pound defensive end Jerel Worthy came off the board after being selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers in 2012. Worthy was the fourth-rated end in the draft. Named a consensus All-American during his junior season at MSU, the Huber Heights, Ohio, product started five games for the Packers during his rookie campaign, racking up 14 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Worthy also forced a fumble in a successful first year in Green Bay. The following year, Worthy played in only two games. They would be his last in Green Bay. In 2015, Worthy got a fresh start with the Buffalo Bills and played three seasons, compiling 17 tackles in a back-up role. Worthy is currently a free agent.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Round:4, Overall: 102, Washington Redskins — Experts and scouts didn’t expect Kirk Cousins to last into the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. To throw another wrench into Cousins’ draft-day experience, he was selected by the Washington Redskins — a team that took what was supposed to be its franchise quarterback, Robert Griffin III, in the first round. In 2014, it was the Holland native that took the reins of the ‘Skins offense, replacing an oft-injured Griffin. The following season, he was the full-time starter. Cousins, who has the most completions (723) and starts (tied with 39) in MSU history, took full advantage of his opportunity, throwing for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2015. That performance, coupled with a 4,917-yard, 25-touchdown showing in 2016, earned the former MSU signal caller nearly $44 million in guaranteed money because the Redskins used two franchise tags on him. This offseason, Cousins signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings worth a fully guaranteed $84 million, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Keshawn Martin, WR, Round: 4, Overall: 121, Houston Texans — Keshawn Martin was projected to be drafted as high as the third round or as low as the sixth. He landed late in the fourth round, being selected by the Houston Texans. Martin, who is second in punt return yards in MSU history with 659, stepped into the same role in Houston, returning 22 punts for 267 yards in his rookie campaign. Clocked at 4.32 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Martin returned two punts for touchdowns in his first three years with the Texans. The Inkster native excelled on kick return, taking back 31 kicks for 741. He got even better in 2013, returning 36 kickoffs for 947 yards. Fumble issues, however, limited his opportunities in Houston and he signed with New England in 2015 where he played in nine games for the Patriots. The following year, Martin played for the 49ers, but fumbles once again derailed his season, leading to his release. In his five-year NFL career, Martin also caught 62 passes for 685 yards and five touchdowns. Currently, Martin is a free agent.

Trenton Robinson, FS, Round: 6, Overall: 180, San Francisco 49ers — In his four-year career at MSU, Trenton Robinson made a name for himself as a speedy, physical safety, tallying 229 career tackles in 46 games. He also showed his athleticism, picking off nine passes and batting down another 12. The Bay City product was ranked the third best strong safety in the 2012 draft. Scouts thought he would hear his name called as early as the third round. It took a little longer. Robinson was selected in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers. In his first and only season in the Bay Area, Robinson suited up for only three games. Signing with the Redskins In 2013, he found his footing, registering 10 tackles and knocking down a pair of passes. The following two seasons, Robinson got even better, picking off two passes while contributing 78 tackles in only 24 games. After the 2015 season, Robinson signed with the Carolina Panthers. He was released and remains a free agent.

B.J. Cunningham, WR, Round: 6, Overall: 183 Miami Dolphins — Despite finishing his MSU career as the school's all-time leader in receptions (218) and receiving yards (3,086), scouts and NFL GM’s weren’t sold on BJ Cunningham in the end. Some experts said he could get picked in the fifth round. Some even predicted he would hear his name in the third. Most figured he would be forced to go the free-agent route. Thirteen picks into the sixth round, the wideout from Westerville, Ohio, got the call. That May, Cunningham signed a four-year $2.2 million contract. By late August, he was unemployed. Cunningham joined the Eagles’ and Bears’ practice squads the following two seasons and, in 2015, signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He is still on the active roster. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound speedster has 69 receptions for 1,128 yards and 4 touchdowns in two seasons in Canada.

Edwin Baker, RB, Round: 7, Overall: 250, San Diego Chargers — Draft day was a long one for former MSU running back, Edwin Baker. Projected to be selected as high as the third round after compiling 2,293 rushing yards in his three seasons in East Lansing, Baker instead heard 249 names called before his, including those of 13 other tailbacks. Baker signed with the Chargers but never played a down in San Diego after being released in training camp. After a stint on the Houston Texans’ practice squad, Edwin was signed by the Browns in December of 2013. In his first game in Cleveland, the 5-foot-9, 210-pound native of Highland Park found the end zone for the first time in his career. He would score again later that season. Baker carried the ball 43 times for 171 that season. The former Spartan back played in three games for the New Orleans Saints in 2014. He finished his NFL career with one carry in his final season before moving onto Toronto and the CFL. He is currently out of football.

2013

Le’Veon Bell, RB, Round: 2, Overall: 48, Pittsburgh Steelers — How in the world did Le’Veon Bell fall to the second round of the NFL Draft? If scouts and GM’s knew then what they know now, the former MSU workhorse and Columbus, Ohio, product surely wouldn’t have slipped to the 48th pick of the second round. Since being passed up by all 32 teams — some twice — all Bell has done is rack up 5,336 and 35 rushing touchdowns in five seasons, becoming a perennial MVP candidate. Not only is Bell considered one of the top tailbacks in the league, he has established himself as a dangerous weapon in the Steelers’ aerial attack, hauling in 312 passes for 2,660 yards and 7 touchdowns. During his time in East Lansing, the 6-foot-2, 237-pound Bell used power and explosiveness to rush for 3,346 yards and 33 touchdowns in 40 career games. For the second consecutive season, Pittsburgh has put the franchise tag on Bell. He has threatened to sit out the 2018 season if the team does not get a long-term deal done. If he changes his mind and does suit up again in the Steel City, Bell will make $14.56 million.

Dion Sims, TE, Round: 4, Overall: 106, Miami Dolphins — With the ninth pick of the fourth round, the Miami Dolphins took MSU tight end, Dion Sims. The Detroit native was the seventh tight end selected in 2013 — right where scouts predicted he would land — after wrapping up his MSU career with 707 yards on 59 catches to go along with 8 touchdowns. Sims, who stands 6-foot-4, 268 pounds, caught only six passes in his five starts his rookie season in Miami but had a huge jump in production the following year, hauling in 24 passes for 284 and a pair of touchdowns. In his four seasons with the Dolphins, Sims scored 8 touchdowns and racked up nearly 700 receiving yards. In 2017, he signed with the Chicago Bears, where he made 15 receptions for 180 yards and a score in 14 games.

William Gholston, DE, Round: 4, Overall: 126, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Many prognosticators though William Gholston was the 11th best defensive end in the 2013 NFL Draft. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing in at 281 pounds, Gholston has the size. Even 23 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and a sub-5.0 40-yard dash at the combine didn’t help Gholston’s cause in a loaded class of playmakers, which included four defensive ends taken in the first round. In the end, the Detroit native was the 11th end taken, joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round. Gholston registered 10 sacks in his three-year career at MSU to go along with 142 defensive stops. He also forced two fumbles and knocked down eight passes from the edge. In five seasons in Tampa, Gholston has 224 tackles and 10 sacks. In 2017, Gholston suffered a scary neck injury in a November road game in New Orleans and had to be carted off the field. He returned two weeks later.

2014

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Round: 1, Overall: 24, Cincinnati Bengals — Becoming the first Spartan under Dantonio to be drafted in the first round, Darqueze Dennard, who was ranked the No. 1 college cornerback during his senior campaign, was selected 24th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2014 NFL Draft. In fact, Dennard, who was famous for being a founding member of the “No Fly Zone” secondary at MSU, was the only Spartan to hear his name called that season. Dennard, who is from Dry Branch, Georgia, won the Jim Thorpe Award during his senior season, given to the nation’s top defensive back. He was a unanimous first-team All-American and the Big Ten’s defensive back of the year to go along with first-team All-Conference honors. That’s what happens when you pick off 10 passes and break up 20 throws in 44 career games. Since arriving in the Queen City, Dennard has picked off three passes while compiling 169 tackles. He also has two sacks to go along with 11 pass breakups in his four-year career.

2015

Trae Waynes, CB, Round: 1, Overall: 11, Minnesota Vikings — For the second consecutive season, a Spartan cornerback came off the board in the opening round of the NFL Draft. Another member of the vaunted “No Fly Zone” secondary in East Lansing, Trae Waynes was taken 11th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. Like his former MSU teammate and 2014 first-round pick, Darqueze Dennard, Waynes was a decorated cornerback under Dantonio, earning second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten during his senior season. He was also a Jim Thorpe Award finalist, given to the best defensive back in the country. Dennard won it the year before. Starting only one game during his rookie campaign, the Kenosha, Wisconsin, product has continued to improve and is seeing more playing time as a result. In the past two seasons, Waynes has picked off five passes and racked up 99 tackles in 24 starts in the Vikings’ secondary. As Waynes has gotten better, so has his team. In 2017, Minnesota advanced to the NFC Championship game where it fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Jeremy Langford, RB, Round: 4, Overall: 106, Chicago Bears — NFL Scouts liked what they saw from MSU running back Jeremy Langford, entering the 2015 draft. They raved about his burst and his separation in the passing game. They liked the way he picked up blitzes and his quick feet. Langford, a Wayne native, ran a 4.40 40-yard dash at 6-foot, 208 pounds. So why did Langford fall all the way to the fourth round, selected finally by the Chicago Bears? Because, according to scouts, Langford was only the ninth-best tailback in a loaded class that saw eight backs go before him, three from his own conference in Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), Ameer Abdullah (Nebraska) and Tevin Coleman (Indiana). In 50 games as a Spartan, Langford rushed for 2,967 yards on 577 carries to go along with 40 touchdowns. In his two seasons in the NFL, Langford has carried the ball 210 times for 737 yards and 10 scores. In the passing game, Langford has hauled in 41 passes for 421 yards and a touchdown. After a two-year stint in the Windy City, Langford spent parts of the next two seasons on the Ravens’ and Jets’ practice squads. He is currently a free agent.

Tony Lippett, WR, Round: 5, Overall: 156, Miami Dolphins — Tony Lippett had an impressive resume during his four-year career at MSU. He was the Big Ten receiver of the year and a first-team All-Conference selection. The Detroit native was named team MVP and led the Big Ten in receiving yards during his senior season. Known for his size — 6-foot-3, 185 pounds — and versatility, Lippett finished his final season in East Lansing as not only a starting wideout but a cornerback, too. Projected to land in the fourth round, Lippett, who chose to become a defensive back only at the next level, lasted until late in the fifth, landing with the Miami Dolphins with the 156th pick in the NFL Draft. After spending his first season as mainly a special teams player, Lippett solidified himself in the Dolphins’ secondary in 2016, intercepting a team-leading four passes and making 67 tackles. In August, Lippett tore his Achilles tendon in practice and underwent season-ending surgery.

Keith Mumphery, WR, Round: 5, Overall: 175, Houston Texans — The scouting community credited former MSU wideout Keith Mumphery with being a self-starter, a team leader and a guy who can get open in space. Experts raved about his personal character, physicality and work he put in running routes. That, arguably, is what vaulted the Vienna, Georgia, product from a surefire free agent to a fifth-round draft pick by the Houston Texans. At MSU, Mumphery had 88 catches for 1,348 yards and seven touchdowns in 54 career games. In Houston, the 6-foot-1, 211-pound pass catcher snagged 24 passes for 198 yards in two seasons. On June 2, 2017, Mumphery was cut by the Texans when the team learned of an alleged sexual misconduct incident that took place on the MSU campus. Mumphery is currently a free agent.

2016

Jack Conklin, OT, Round: 1, Overall: 8, Tennessee Titans — It only took Jack Conklin three seasons at MSU to prove that he was ready for the big stage. During his junior season, the Plainwell native was only penalized three times and gave up two sacks. He was named a first-team All-American and was a first-team All-Big Ten tackle. Those are first-round stats, and that’s exactly where Conklin went. The No. 8 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans, Conklin became the highest drafted offensive lineman to come out of East Lansing since Tony Mandarich went second overall in the 1989 NFL Draft. Conklin, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs in at 308 pounds, is the highest drafted player in the Dantonio era and the first Spartan to be picked in the Top 10 since Charles Rogers went No. 2 overall in 2003. Since entering the league, all Conklin has done is anchor a Titans’ offensive line that has been one of the best in the AFC. He started all 16 games as a rookie, earning first-team All-Pro. Last season, Conklin once again started all 16 games at right tackle for Tennessee and helped lead the Titans to a playoff berth for the first time since 2008. The short playoff run didn’t end well for the Titans or Conklin, who tore his ACL in a 35-14 loss to the Patriots in the divisional round.

Shilique Calhoun, DE, Round: 3, Overall: 75, Oakland Raiders — A projected second-round selection, Shilique Calhoun was nabbed with the 12th pick of the third round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Middletown, New Jersey product was a three-time, first-team All-Big Ten selection at defensive end, and matched that with three straight second-team All-American honors in 2013-15. Calhoun was a two-time team captain under Dantonio and was named 2013 Big Ten defensive lineman of the year. The 6-foot-4, 251-pound Calhoun compiled 131 tackles during his time in East Lansing, including 27 sacks and 44 tackles for loss. His short time in the NFL hasn’t been quite so productive. After a rookie season that saw Calhoun play in 10 games for the Raiders while racking up nine tackles and half a sack, his injury-plagued 2017 campaign consisted of nine games and eight tackles. Calhoun was released by the Raiders in September and picked up by the practice squad. He was called back up to the 53-man roster by mid-October.

Connor Cook, QB, Round: 4, Overall: 100, Oakland Raiders — The Raiders weren’t quite done with the Spartans in this draft. With the 100th overall pick — the second selection of the fourth round — Oakland took Connor Cook, arguably the best quarterback to ever line up under center at MSU. While under Dantonio, the Ohio native was the 2015 Johnny Unitas golden arm award winner, the Big Ten quarterback of the year and a first-team All-Big Ten selection after leading the Spartans to an overall record of 34-5 as a starter. Cook, the winningest signal caller in program history, is still MSU’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (71), passing yards (9,194) and total offense (9,403). The Raiders had already drafted their franchise quarterback, Derek Carr, two years prior to Cook’s arrival, forcing Cook to the bench and relegating him to a back-up role from the start. However, Cook was thrust into action in the Raiders’ 2016 finale in Denver after injuries to Carr and Matt McGloin. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 150 yards to go with a touchdown and an interception. Cook was named the starter in the playoff game in Houston the following week. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to make his first career start in the playoffs. That day, Cook threw for 161 yards on 18 of 45 passes. He threw one touchdown and three picks. He did not take a snap in 2017.

Aaron Burbridge, WR, Round: 6, Overall: 213, San Francisco 49ers — One of the many reasons Connor Cook became one of the most decorated players in MSU history was Aaron Burbridge. The 6-foot-1, 208-pound receiver from Farmington Hills was the team MVP in 2015. He was also named Big Ten wide receiver of the year, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and led the league in receptions (85) and yards (1,258). Despite the numerous accolades, NFL scouts claimed Burbridge’s hands weren’t consistent. His focus while going over the middle wasn’t there. They said he had average foot quickness and his acceleration out of breaks was average. With that, Burbridge fell to the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, Burbridge played in all 16 games for the Niners, collecting seven receptions for 88 yards. Last September, Burbridge was placed on injured reserve and never saw the field.

Donavon Clark, G, Round: 7, Overall: 224, San Diego Chargers — While all the talk heading into the 2016 NFL Draft was surrounding Jack Conklin, Donavon Clark quietly made a name for himself in the 2016 East-West Shrine Game. A versatile offensive lineman, Clark saw action in 47 career games in East Lansing. In his 33 starts, Clark played 18 at right guard, nine at right tackle and six at left tackle. Clark's ability to play numerous roles on the offensive line, as well as his 6-foot-4, 315-pound frame, made him hard to pass up. The Chargers didn’t. With the third pick in the final round, San Diego selected Clark. Unfortunately for the former Spartan and the franchise, which is now located in Los Angeles, injuries have derailed the beginning of his career. Clark has not seen any game action since being placed on injured reserve in August of 2016.

2017

First round NFL draft dreams uncertain for MSU's Malik McDowell

Malik McDowell, DT, Round: 2, Overall: 35, Seattle Seahawks — Draft analysis said Malik McDowell has a “tremendous amount of untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.” When it comes to weaknesses, draft experts said the former Spartan's production didn't match up with his traits and the talent. Scouts were “concerned about work ethic and leadership." But that didn’t stop the Seattle Seahawks from taking a chance on the 6-foot-6, 276-pound defensive tackle out of Detroit. McDowell hasn’t had a chance to prove the doubters wrong. Before his rookie season, McDowell suffered a season-ending — possibly career ending — head injury in an ATV accident. The Seattle Times reported on April 18 that McDowell could be cut from the team any day. “Throughout last season, Seattle coach Pete Carroll danced around the persistent questions about McDowell’s recovery and potential availability,” The Times wrote. “His status hung over the team like a dark cloud.” Carroll has described McDowell’s diagnosis as a “really bad concussion,” according to the Seattle paper.

Montae Nicholson, S, Round: 4, Overall: 123, Washington Redskins — Scouts checked all the boxes when it came to former MSU safety, Montae Nicholson. He has the height, weight and speed. His athleticism and aggression made him a potential starter, according to scouts. That was all the Washington Redskins’ brass needed to hear, selecting Nicholson in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. And he didn’t disappoint. The strong safety from Monroeville, Pennsylvania, finished his rookie campaign with 24 tackles and an interception in just eight games. He was forced to miss the final four games and five of the last six because of the league’s concussion protocol.

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