Darqueze Dennard on being named a member of the Michigan State Athletics HOF Class of 2024

Darqueze Dennard’s legacy as a Michigan State Spartan will be officially enshrined in Spartan Athletics history when he is inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in September.

Michigan State Athletics announced Dennard as one of six Spartan athletes who will be inducted into the class of 2024 this fall.

Dennard spoke about the honor while appearing on “The Drive with Jack” on Friday.

“(It) surprised me (to get the call from Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller),” Dennard said. “I’m honestly still processing it. To me, it feels like I just left Michigan State. So it’s definitely surreal, it’s crazy, it’s definitely a blessing. I’m super grateful.”

Dennard was a mainstay of one of Michigan State’s best defenses of all time.

“I think it’s kind of because I won the individual awards the Rose Bowl year,” Dennard said. “It’s really a team effort. I just took the shine and the glory, just like it is now. It was a really good defense, a really good team, really good coaches. So… I think looking back now… we don’t really realize the impact we had on the school and the football era. Being able to be there is obviously because of my name, but it’s definitely because of that defense, that 2013 Spartan defense. That team was special.”