Mark Dantonio has coached some elite defensive linemen over the years, but one stands out above the rest for a few different reasons. Kenny Willekes is the only player who he has coached at Michigan State who went from walk-on to All-American.
Now that Willekes is entering his last season with the Spartans, it’s time to look at just where he stands in terms of defensive linemen in the Dantonio era.
When you think about the best defensive linemen to play for Dantonio, two come to mind right away: Jerel Worthy and Shilique Calhoun. Another (Marcus Rush) has flown under the radar to become one of the best in the coach’s tenure, but isn’t at the same level as the others.