Senior Spotlight: Big Ten Conference

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES @ OHIO ST. BUCKEYES – NOVEMBER 21 - 12:00 ON ABC

LB MARCUS FREEMAN, OHIO ST.

Overshadowed by James Laurinaitis over most of his career, Marcus Freeman is a pretty darn good linebacker in his own right. As a run stopper, Freeman’s speed allows him to close the gap between himself and the ball carrier before significant yardage is gained. His explosiveness allows him to get into the backfield against the run, yet he’s also strong enough to take on tight ends at the point of attack. He is a fluid athlete who moves well from side-to-side, which allows him to play in pass coverage. In addition to his skills as a linebacker, he is a solid special teamer, playing on three separate units at OSU. He is not the most instinctive player and relies on his athleticism a little too much, but Freeman has improved his recognition skills. The senior has also improved his blitzing this year. Freeman is more of a piece of the puzzle than the centerpiece, which works out well at Ohio St. Like many of his teammates, after a slow start to the 2008 season, Freeman comes into this game playing his best football of the season.

2008: 69 Tackles, 6.5 Tackles For a Loss, 3.5 Sacks

DT TERRANCE TAYLOR, MICHIGAN

Terrance Taylor, a 6-foot, 310 pound senior, has made 26 consecutive starts and played in 47 career games going into his final contest as a Wolverine, providing experience and durability. In total, he has started 35 games at nose tackle, one of the toughest positions to play at any level of football. As a junior, he became the first defensive tackle since Josh Williams (53 tackles in 1997) to post 50 stops in a season, earning him Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Taylor is an excellent athlete, particularly for a man of his size. The former high school state champion in power lifting (610 pound squat, 620 pound dead lift, 385 pound bench press) is as strong as they come. As an undefeated wrestler, he possesses the type of fight one would expect in a noseman. He won the state title as a junior, and threw the shot (52 6 feet) and discus (163 02 feet) for his track team in Muskegon. He’s a bit squatty at just over six-feet tall and also lacks closing speed, whether it’s getting after the quarterback or chasing down the ball carrier. Taylor is not much of a pass rusher, but very few nose tackles are. His value comes in occupying multiple blockers, which frees things up for others to make plays.

2008: 30 Tackles, Four Tackles For a Loss, 1.5 Sacks

QB BRIAN HOYER, MICHIGAN ST.

Hoyer is in his second year as full-time starter in East Lansing after backing up Drew Stanton for two seasons. He lacks ideal size and bulk, but is a very good athlete although he does not look to run very often. The Ohio product isn’t the strongest quarterback in the Big Ten and has struggled with his accuracy this season (49.1 percent). Hoyer doesn’t have overly impressive skills, but deserves his due for putting the Spartans in position to win a share of the Big Ten title. A solid game manager, the senior has done a good job of protecting the football this season.

MICHIGAN ST. VISITS PENN ST. THIS SATURDAY – 3:30 PM ON ABC

Photo Credit: OSU Athletics