If you are coming to MSU and you enjoy sports you probably already know that MSU has a national reputation for successful sports teams. If you follow MSU sports these are the names you always hear — football head coach Mark Dantonio, quarterback Connor Cook, basketball head coach Tom Izzo and guard Denzel Valentine. ? To hear about at some of the more unconventional faces in MSU athletics — people that are still important, but don’t get as much publicity — take a look below.
Center Jack Allen
The senior center is one of the guys that make the train run on offense. Football games are won at the line of scrimmage, and Allen has helped the Spartans win plenty of games.
Allen is coming off of a junior season in which he was named a first-team All-American. A similar performance in the upcoming season could solidify Allen’s draft stock.
Allen is considered by many to be one of three Spartans that could be first round picks in next year’s NFL draft, with Cook and Shilique Calhoun being the other two. He is already considered to be the third best center prospect in the draft by CBS sports. Another dominant season could see him claim the top spot.
Point guard Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn
Nairn is going into just his sophomore year at MSU, but the point guard has already begun to leave his mark. When Nairn was called upon to become the team’s starting point guard, he rose to the occasion with great defense and giving it his all every second he’s in.
Nairn’s leadership skills earned him high praise as a freshman and he will more than likely be one of the captains in the upcoming season. Nairn will only get better with more time, and if he can develop a consistent jump shot he will be the next star of the basketball team.
Gymnastics head coach Kathie Klages
Klages is MSU’s longest tenured head coach and she has been leading the gymnastics team for what will be her 26th season in 2015-16.
Klages has had a winning record in 21 out of 25 completed seasons and she has won three Big Ten Coach of the Year awards (1996, 2004, 2006).
Leading a team for as long as Klages has is an accomplishment in its own right and her devotion to MSU deserves recognition.
Goalkeeper Zach Bennett
Bennett has already made a case to be the best goalkeeper in the history of MSU soccer through just three seasons. With a full season remaining, Bennett already holds the career shutout record at MSU with 28.
The previous record was held by John Spink (1984, 86-88) with 23. With the decent spacing in between himself and Spink, Bennett will likely have a chance to put his record out of reach for quite some time.
