Jacoby Windmon leads list of Michigan State's 4 most explosive players for 2023

East Lansing, Mich. – In commemoration of the July 4th Independence Day week, SpartanMag is compiling a short series of articles detailing various aspects of celebration, fireworks and explosiveness.

In this installment, we list our choices for the four most explosive players on the Michigan State football roster for 2023. 

1. MLB JACOBY WINDMON

Few players in college football had the type of instant explosive impact that Spartan defensive end and linebacker Jacoby Windmon enjoyed in 2023. 

He heads into the season tied for No. 2 in the country in career forced fumbles among returning players with nine. In only eight games last year, he led the FBS in forced fumbles with six.

He has 17.5 career sacks. Windmon led Michigan State in tackles for loss with 10.5 and sacks with 5.5 last year.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound redshirt senior from New Orleans transferred to Michigan State from UNLV last year and immediately provided a jolt of productivity. 

Windmon played defensive end for the first six games of the 2022 season, out of necessity due to injury problems among other defensive ends on the team. 

In his Michigan State debut, he had four sacks against Western Michigan and forced one fumble. His four sacks was one shy of the school record (Travis Davis had five against Ohio State in 1987).

A week later against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, recovered a fumble, had 1.5 sacks and broke up a pass.

As the schedule became tougher and opponents began giving more blocking attention to Windmon, his productivity leveled off. Then he moved back to his original position of middle linebacker for the Spartans’ upset victory over Wisconsin in week seven. 

In that game he caused two fumbles, had 11 tackles and an interception. His second forced fumble came in double overtime, setting up Michigan State for the game-winning points.

He became the first Spartan to record double digit tackles, an interception and force a fumble in the same game since Joe Bachie did it in a victory over Michigan in 2017.

Windmon became the first Spartan and the sixth player in Big Ten history to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors three times in one season (week one vs WMU, week two vs Akron and week seven vs. Wisconsin). Doing it at two different positions is believed to be a first in Big Ten history. 

He was named National Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Foundation following the Western Michigan game, and earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week award from the FWAA following his performance against Wisconsin.

Windmon led Michigan State in tackles for loss with 10.5 last year, and sacks with 5.5. He put those numbers together in only eight games after being suspended for his role in the post-game fight in the Michigan Stadium tunnel on Oct. 29.

On Dec. 27, Windmon announced that he would return to Michigan State in 2023 as a fifth-year senior. His return is a big boost to what should be a strong front six for an overall defense that has struggled mightily over the last two years. 

RELATED: Which Michigan State basketball players can deliver the fireworks?

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No player can be expected to consistently post the type of numbers Windmon enjoyed against Akron, Western Michigan and Wisconsin last year. The question is whether he can establish a level of consistency that can put him in position to be a cornerstone for the defense and contend for first-team All-Big Ten honors.

At 250 pounds, Windmon is a big inside linebacker with excellent short-area quickness and finishing ability. He is likely to play off the edge in a two-point stance in passing situations. His ability to finish as a pass rusher will make him an imposing blitz threat for opposing pass protection schemes on an every-down basis at linebacker. 

In less than two years on campus, he has become a trusted team leader. His mixture of physicality, leadership and play-making ability makes him one of the most valuable players on the roster, and arguably the most explosive.

2. WR MONTORIE FOSTER

This choice is based largely on speculation, an increased role for Montorie Foster in 2023 and the opportunity to emerge as a playmaker. 

Foster had only seven catches for 98 yards last year but it was revealed after the season that he had been slowed by injuries. He was limited to 120 snaps in 2022. 

Foster was healthy and impressive during spring practice. SpartanMag projects him as a starting wide out for 2023.

Foster (6-0, 185, 4-Sr., Cleveland) started three games as a sophomore in 2021. He had 12 catches for 164 yards, averaging 13.6 yards per catch.

In the second half of the 2021 season, he had 10 catches for 141 yards (14.1 per catch), following an injury to starter Jalen Nailor. 

He had four important catches for 41 yards in the snow game against Penn State in 2021. Due to the conditions, he wasn’t able to break out with explosiveness on that day, but Foster increased his value as a reliable receiver – something Michigan State needs him to build upon in 2023.

As for explosiveness, he turned in a 52-yard, diving TD catch on a flea-flicker on the first play of the game against Maryland in 2021.

Foster started one game as a true freshman during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. His quick emergence into the playing group in 2020, and his effectiveness as a substitute starter in 2021 created reason to believe he would be an explosive star in the latter half of his career. 

However, injuries interrupted that process last year and now, with a shortage of proven wide receivers, the Spartans need him to emerge as a downfield threat in 2023, something he is capable of doing.

3. TE MALIQ CARR

The athletic tight end isn’t as nimble or fast as some of the running backs and wide receivers on the roster, but compared to other tight ends in the Big Ten and across the country, Maliq Carr rates in the plus category in terms of explosiveness.

His explosiveness has only occasionally been on display in his first two seasons at Michigan State, but there is potential for further breakthrough in 2023. With Daniel Barker and Tyler Hunt having graduated, Carr will move into a starting role this fall

Carr (6-5, 255, R-Jr., Inkster, Mich./Oak Park High) had 16 catches for 209 yards last year with two touchdowns.

He turned in a 72-yard catch and run against Wisconsin, marking the Spartans’ longest play from scrimmage of the season.

His one-handed touchdown catch against Penn State was one of the top highlight plays of the year. 

Tight ends, by design, are usually possession type receivers, chain-movers. Carr can provide that. Some tight ends have the ability to cause concern for safeties due to their downfield athleticism. Carr can provide that, too, although it’s been on display only occasionally thus far. But it could become commonplace in the games ahead. 

Carr, a former four-star wide receiver recruit, has been working to add mass and strength in order to become a competent blocker. He hadn’t quite arrived at that level last year, but coaches say he improved in that area during the spring. 

If he emerges as a reliable blocker, a tough possession receiver, and a downfield threat, Carr could become a difference-making component for the Spartans in 2023. 

4. FS MALIK SPENCER

This one is based purely on potential, but if Spencer were a stock on Wall Street, he would be rated as a high-value buy.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore is projected to start at free safety, next to fellow sophomore Jaden Mangham.

Spencer, of Buford, Ga., was derailed by an injury through the first half of last season, but emerged in the final five games to break into the playing group. 

Late in the season, he played 27 snaps against Indiana and provided one or two head-turning plays. His momentum continued in the spring with his ability to weave around the field with range, length, quick, productive steps and physicality on the finish. 

He still has a lot to learn. He was caught in a run-pass conflict and didn’t move on a slant pass from Katin Houser to Carr to open the spring scrimmage. But Spencer is just getting started as a player, and has as much upside as anyone on the roster.

HONORABLE MENTION

Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow (6-3, 290, R-Jr., Grovetown, Ga.) doesn’t play a position that stuffs the stat sheet, but his physical explosiveness makes him an obstacle for opposing defenses. He was honorable mention All-Big Ten last year … Jaelon Barbarin (5-8, 190, Fr., WR/Ath, Simi Valley, Calif.) is bringing sprinter speed to the offensive skill positions. It might take him awhile to earn trust in the playing group, but he’s a juice machine … Jalen Berger (6-1, 215, R-Jr., Newark, NJ) shouldn’t be forgotten in this list. He rushed for 683 yards last year and had 19 catches. He may not have all the home run gears, but he had a 50-yard run against Western Michigan and a 36-yarder against Indiana. Michigan State needs more explosiveness from all directions and perhaps Berger can provide a little more in that area in 2023. … Defensive end Bai Jobe (6-4, 230, Fr., Norman, Okla.), like Barbarin, has yet to suit up for the Spartans, but he and fellow DE Andrew DePaepe (6-5, 235, Fr., Bettendorf, Iowa), are serious pass rush threats for the near future … Transfer running back Nathan Carter (5-10, 190, R-Soph., Rochester, NY) is a ball carrier who does a good job of setting up and using blocks. His career-long went for 52 yards against Utah State last year. He might be more of a hard-running, consistent plugger than an 80-yard threat, but he deserves mention here. He has the potential to build and surprise. … Zion Young (6-6, 226, Soph., Atlanta, Ga.) is one of the top rising talents on the roster. He was strong beyond his years last year when pressed into starting duty due to injuries and suspensions. The underrated three-star recruit was listed outside of the national Top 1,000 as a high school senior but is quickly out-performing that valuation, and serving as a strong example of recruiting evaluation from the 2022 class.