Michigan State’s top-rated football player could be a surprise

Michigan State has produced many productive college and professional football players over the years. It is known for the talent it has brought to the National Football League, as many prominent athletes in numerous sports have been products of Michigan State. The Green and White have been more than productive athletically, especially on the football field.

Respected football ratings site Pro Football Focus has been rating the play of professional football players since 2006 and college football players since 2014. During that time, PFF has become one of the most important sources for evaluating a player’s performance because its various statistics eliminate bias and provide sober, hard numbers.

PFF recently released its list of the Big Ten’s highest-rated players during the “PFF Era.” The player that PFF selected as Michigan State’s highest-rated player during the PFF Era was somewhat surprising. According to PFF, former Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin was Michigan State’s highest-rated football player during the PFF Era.

Conklin made the team as a walk-on and played for the Spartans from 2012 to 2015. During that time, he became not only one of the best offensive linemen in the Big Ten, but also one of the best in the country. The Tennessee Titans selected Conklin 8th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.

While at Michigan State, Conklin became the first Michigan State offensive lineman drafted in the first round since Tony Mandarich was drafted second overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1989 NFL Draft. Conklin also became the highest drafted Michigan State football player since wide receiver Charles Rogers was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2003 NFL Draft.

Conklin was the 36th first-round pick that Michigan State ever had. The three-year letter winner started three seasons and played in over 30 games for the Green-Whites. His Degree by PFF for three years of reliable play proves how dominant he was in East Lansing.

Having earned the sixth-best grade of the PFF era and been one of Michigan State’s highest drafted football players over the past twenty years, Conklin is undoubtedly one of the most productive players in Michigan State football history.

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