Michael Dowell and the rest of the Michigan State football defensive backs learned in March they would need to learn a new system.
Then came the shutdown that eliminated Mel Tucker’s installation of the 4-2-5 defense. It would be up to the players to learn it from afar.
“As a defensive backfield,” Dowell said Tuesday, “we just all embraced it.”
Dowell, a sophomore whose older brothers Andrew (linebacker) and David (safety) played key roles for the Spartans in previous seasons, worked at safety in his first career start in last Saturday’s 24-0 loss to Indiana, and freshman Angelo Grose debuted at nickel back .