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Penn State Football: Getting to know Michigan State Spartans | 3 Key Players

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Michigan State's head coach Mel Tucker, right, talks with Shakur Brown after Brown's taunting foul against Michigan during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.201031 Msu Um 110a
Michigan State's head coach Mel Tucker, right, talks with Shakur Brown after Brown's taunting foul against Michigan during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.201031 Msu Um 110a /
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Michigan State’s Antjuan Simmons (Photo via Getty Images)
Michigan State’s Antjuan Simmons (Photo via Getty Images) /

Antjuan Simmons – Linebacker

In past years, the defense has been the calling card in East Lansing, but like most things in 2020, this year has been anything but normal.

The Spartans rank second to last in the conference in points allowed per game with 34.5 and are coming off a contest with the Buckeyes in which they gave up 521 total yards of offense.

Senior Antjuan Simmons anchors the Michigan State defense with a team best 65 total tackles and one sack. His 65 tackles rank third in the Big Ten and bolster a unit that has been solid against the run this season, surrendering 163 yards per game on the ground.

Listed at six-foot and 225 pounds Simmons is in his second year starting for the Spartans and is a holdover from last year’s defense that returns only three starters from 2019.

Penn State has finally gotten the running game going in the Nittany Lions’ last two victories, averaging 251 yards per game on the ground. Simmons will be a Spartan to watch for as they attempt to slow the NIttany Lions rushing attack and pull the upset.

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