Freshman standouts emerging from MSU bowl practice

Joe Rexrode | Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING – Jack Conklin has been there and understands how a player can get “kind of robotic” as a member of the scout team – trying to learn the opponent’s scheme and “doing the same thing over and over,” Conklin said, for the benefit of the regulars.

So the past week of practice was refreshing for Michigan State’s freshmen and others who normally toil on that scout team.

“The bowl practices gives them a chance to not only simulate the opponent’s offense or defense but also re-learn our offense or our defense,” Conklin said. “That’s huge for them, because that gets them back into the role where they feel more valued to the team.”

And as always at this time of year, future names to watch are emerging, even as the No. 3 Spartans prepare to take on No. 2 Alabama in the Dec. 31 Cotton Bowl national semifinal. Conklin was one of those names as MSU prepared for TCU and the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl three years ago.

The first one he’s mentioning is freshman defensive lineman Raequan Williams.

“He’s a big guy, he’s gonna be a great player for us in the next few years … a very special player,” Conklin said of the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Williams. “He’s a big guy that moves well and he picks it up. He’s a very coachable kid, which plays a huge role for that.”

Conklin also had good things to say about two other defensive ends, freshman Cassius Peat and redshirt freshman Robert Bowers.

“He’s not as big as Raequan but he throws all his body weight at you, which makes it difficult,” Conklin said of the 6-3, 258-pound Peat. “I think you can see, Robert Bowers, I think he’ll play a big role for us at defensive end next year. He’s really come along this year and is starting to figure things out defensively, get some moves together and they’re starting to become very effective.”

MSU coach Mark Dantonio said freshman offensive tackle Cole Chewins, who “gray-shirted” and is scheduled to go on scholarship in January, is “going to be an outstanding player.”

And freshman linebacker Tyriq Thompson is pulling double duty, giving MSU’s defense a look at a big running back to emulate Alabama’s Derrick Henry. But defense is his future.

“Tyriq’s a great athlete,” MSU senior linebacker Darien Harris said, “he’s gonna have a fantastic career here.”