Darqueze Dennard’s 3 best performances at Michigan State Football

Former defensive back Darqueze Dennard has been officially inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. Dennard was the embodiment of the “No Fly Zone” that led Michigan State football’s elite defense.

Dennard was only a two-star recruit, but was twice selected to the All-Big Ten first team, was a unanimous first-team All-American, was named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and received the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. He was eventually drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals and played a total of eight seasons in the NFL.

Dennard was a playmaker in the truest sense of the word. He could mark, tackle and be a top-notch leader.

Here are his three best performances as a Spartan.

The defense as a whole was the MVP of the game, famously holding Michigan to -48 yards running game. Dennard was instrumental in that as he tackled mobile quarterback Devin Gardner and finished with four tackles, a forced fumble, and a beautiful interception.

Despite the game being virtually unwinnable for the Wolverines, they drove the ball down the field and made it to the Spartans’ 20-yard line. Gardner rarely had time to throw, but Dennard’s coverage was step-for-step with Jeremy Gallon and Dennard couldn’t have been in a better position. The ball was secured and Michigan State was able to continue its streak of over 11 quarters and 30 consecutive possessions without a touchdown.

This pick decided the game and enabled an eight-play, 97-yard drive that ended with a Jeremy Langford touchdown.