EAST LANSING, Mich. – After leading Michigan State to a school-record eight-game turnaround, Spartan head coach
Mel Tucker has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon. In just his second year in East Lansing, Tucker became the earliest Spartan coach to record 10 victories in a season.
Tucker is the sixth Spartan head coach to be named Big Ten Coach of the Year and just the second to win the award from both the coaches and media (Mark Dantonio, 2013).
Tucker has led MSU to a 10-2 record and a No. 11 ranking in The Associated Press Poll and No. 13 ranking in the USA TODAY/AFCA Coaches Poll. The Spartans have been ranked in the Top 25 of the national polls for 11 consecutive weeks, with six of those weeks in the Top 10. MSU has also been ranked every week in the College Football Playoff Top 25 this season.
Named to watch lists for National Coach of the Year by the Dodd Trophy and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, Tucker garnered national coach of the week accolades by the Dodd Trophy and The Athletic following Michigan State's 37-33 victory over No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 30, as he became the first Spartan coach to win his first two games against the Wolverines (27-24 victory at No. 13 Michigan on Oct. 31, 2020).
Going from two wins in 2020 to 10 wins in 2021, MSU has already completed the biggest turnaround in school history (previous: seven-game improvement from 2016 to 2017) heading into its bowl game.
In addition, the All-Big Ten defense and special teams selections were also announced on Tuesday, with nine Spartans earning honors.
Fifth-year senior punter
Bryce Baringer, fifth-year defensive end
Jacub Panasiuk and redshirt junior
Jayden Reed (return specialist) each earned second-team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and media.
Senior safety
Xavier Henderson and redshirt junior defensive tackle
Jacob Slade picked up third-team All-Big Ten accolades by the media and honorable mention plaudits from the coaches.
Four additional Spartans garnered honorable mention: sixth-year senior kicker
Matt Coghlin (media), junior linebacker
Quavaris Crouch (coaches and media), redshirt freshman linebacker
Cal Haladay (media) and sophomore safety
Darius Snow (media).
MICHIGAN STATE – BIG TEN COACHES OF THE YEAR
1974: Denny Stolz (media)
1977: Darryl Rogers (media)
1987: George Perles (coaches)
2003: John L. Smith (media)
2010: Mark Dantonio (media)
2013: Mark Dantonio (coaches and media)
2021:
Mel Tucker (coaches and media)
MICHIGAN STATE ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS – DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS
COACHES
Second Team: P Bryce Baringer, DE Jacub Panasiuk, PR/KR Jayden Reed
Honorable Mention: LB
Quavaris Crouch, S
Xavier Henderson, DT
Jacob Slade
MEDIA
Second Team: P Bryce Baringer, DE
Jacub Panasiuk,
PR/KR Jayden Reed
Third Team: S
Xavier Henderson, DT
Jacob Slade
Honorable Mention: K
Matt Coghlin, LB
Quavaris Crouch, LB
Cal Haladay, DB
Darius Snow
PLAYER NOTES
Sr.-5 P Bryce Baringer (second team, coaches and media)
Leads Big Ten and ranks third in FBS in punting average (48.6), which is currently the highest average in school history (Brandon Fields, 47.9-yard average in 2004) . . . tied for first in Big Ten with 25 punts of 50-plus yards, including 10 for 60-plus yards.
Sr.-5 DE Jacub Panasiuk (second team, coaches and media)
Tied for third in FBS in QB pressures with 67 (Pro Football Focus) . . . leads team and ranks eighth in Big Ten in sacks (6 for 41 yards) . . . ranks 16th in Big Ten in TFLs (9 for 53 yards) . . . has 32 overall tackles . . . has recovered two fumbles . . . has played in 56 career games for the Spartans, tied for a school record along with kicker
Matt Coghlin.
R-Jr. KR/PR Jayden Reed (second team, coaches and media)
Paul Hornung Award finalist . . . only player in Big Ten and one of four in FBS with two punt return TDs (62 yards vs. Nebraska; 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky) . . . would rank first in FBS with 21.3-yard punt return average (just misses on statistic minimums; has 10 punt returns for 213 yards) . . . ranks second in Big Ten in combined kick returns (589 yards) . . . ranks fourth in Big Ten in kick returns (23.4 avg.) . . . was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 62 yards for a score in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska . . . earned honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media in 2020 as a return specialist.
Sr. S Xavier Henderson (third team, media; honorable mention, coaches)
Leads team and ranks eighth in Big Ten in tackles (94; 7.8 avg.) . . . leads team and ranks 12th in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 10 . . . also has a career-high three sacks, along with two pass break-ups, one interception and one fumble recovery . . . has played a total of 937 snaps, second most on the team . . . has started a team-best 32 consecutive games at safety.
R-Jr. DT Jacob Slade (third team, media; honorable mention, coaches)
Disruptive defensive tackle regularly draws double teams from opposing offensive lines . . . leads Big Ten defensive tackles with 37 QB pressures and 32 QB hurries (Pro Football Focus) . . . has a career-high 34 tackles and three TFLs, to go along with two PBUs and one fumble recovery.
Sr.-6 K Matt Coghlin (honorable mention, media)
Ranks first in school history and second in Big Ten history with 75 career field goals made . . . ranks fifth in school history in field-goal percentage (.735; 75 of 102) . . . tied for first in school history with 377 points . . . has been limited the last month of the season due to an injury . . . is 11-of-17 on field goals and 39-of-39 on PATs . . . this marks the fifth time Coghlin has earned All-Big Ten honors (2018: first team; 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021: honorable mention) . . . has played in 56 career games for the Spartans, tied for a school record along with defensive end
Jacub Panasiuk.
Jr. LB Quavaris Crouch (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Started the first eight games of the season before missing three of the last four games due to injury . . . still ranks tied for fourth on the team with 75 tackles . . . ranks 11th in the Big Ten in tackles per game (7.5 avg.).
R-Fr. LB Cal Haladay (honorable mention, media)
Ranks third on the team and 17th in the Big Ten with 85 tackles . . . named a Freshman All-American by the Maxwell Football Club . . . has started 11 of 12 games for the Spartans.
So. S Darius Snow (honorable mention, media)
Ranks second on the team and tied for 14th in the Big Ten with 86 tackles . . . played in all 12 regular-season games, including starts in the last eight games.
