With the loss of three starters off a dominant defensive line MSU will now look to junior defensive tackle Malik McDowell to take the next step in his maturation and help sixth-year senior Damon Knox lead the Spartan defensive front.

Defensive line coach Ron Burton said McDowell played 600 snaps as a sophomore for a strong MSU defense as he flashed the potential greatness that made him such a sought after recruit. He recorded 41 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a sophomore, while being named to the All-Big Ten second team by the Associated Press and All-Big Ten first team by ESPN.

Burton said he has spoken with McDowell about taking the next step as a leader of the defense, and he is happy with the progress McDowell has made in being more vocal and teaching some of the younger players.

“He can lead by example, and that’s what he’s doing right now,” Burton said. “His voice is starting to pick up in the (locker) room also because he understands the defense. When you’ve played 600 snaps, you’re expected to be a leader and it starts with your actions, and then we’ll bring the other things forward. ... He prides himself in growing in that role and that’s what we’re trying to work on right now, so he’s truly a work in progress in that part of it.”

McDowell said being “the man” isn’t new to him. He said he has had people recognizing and wanting to meet him since he was in high school and he always thought it was amusing because he’s just a “regular ol’ person.”

McDowell said becoming one of the leaders on the defense and teaching the younger guys has been a bit of an adjustment for him, since he was the one being helped the past two seasons. McDowell said the transition to a leadership role has been easy, though, since it wasn’t forced, it was natural.

“I wouldn’t say I really stepped up much, I’ve really just been doing what I have to do,” McDowell said. “Doing what the team needs basically. I wouldn’t say it’s something I had to do, it’s something the team needs, so I’ve just been coaching up whoever I can help.”

Throughout the process, McDowell said he has found a true mentor in Knox, who is going into his sixth year with the program and will be one of the leaders on the field come the fall.

Knox said he and McDowell have developed a great relationship where they are constantly competing and pushing one another to get better and even competing to coach the younger players. Knox said McDowell has come a long way from being a quiet freshman to where he is now.

“He understands this defense now,” Knox said. “He’s comfortable in our system, he knows the in’s and out’s of it. I think when we’re in our film room or on the field, you see a young guy make a mistake, he’s actually always the first guy — me and him kind of compete to get to a guy and coach a guy up and share what we know to help them better themselves.

“Malik has become a great leader on this team. He’s vocal, he comes out and practices like he’s in a game every day. So I think that’s a tremendous thing to say about his game and what type of person he is.”

McDowell said the coaches’ big goal for him this offseason and heading into his junior year was to be a more vocal player and become a leader on the defense, and he has truly embraced the role.

Knox also said McDowell has done a great job of leading by example by playing every snap in practice as if it was a game situation and not takingany plays off.

MSU head coach Mark Dantonio has noticed McDowell stepping up, but thinks for as good as McDowell has been, he hasn’t reached his full potential.

“Just in terms of just growing, experience and just growing physically, changing your body as your move forward, just makes a big difference,” Dantonio said. “He’s got a huge upside and I think he’s just scratching the surface.”

With his rare combination of size and quickness, standing 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, Burton said he expects McDowell to play all over the field for MSU this season.

Knox called McDowell a “true freak of nature” and said he expects McDowell to play multiple positions and teams will have to game plan around McDowell and know where he is on the field at all times.

“He’s a very versatile player,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 280-pound guy that’s 6-6 be able to be as flexible as him.”