Michigan State Player Spotlight: Tony Lippett
Michigan St. Player Spotlight: Tony Lippett
The Michigan St. Spartans (9-2, 6-1 B1G) travel to Beaver Stadium to battle the Penn State Nittany Lions (6-5, 2-5 B1G) Saturday. The Spartans open as 13.5-point favorites, even though they are on the road, after easily beating Maryland and Rutgers in their last two games.
They had their shot to take control over the Big Ten the week before, but fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes because of a weak defensive performance. Meanwhile, Penn State is trying to grab some momentum heading into their first bowl game in three years. The Nittany Lions need to find something after a devastating loss at Illinois.
A key to this game will be offensive production, who can put up points and fast? Michigan State will be looking to their star receiver Tony Lippett to split Penn States’ secondary and to make some big plays downfield. Lippett is already having a career season, becoming the 10th receiver in Spartan history to accumulate 1,000 yards threw the air.
Everything is going right for the fifth-year senior, who even has a 32-yard rushing touchdown to his credit. He has ten touchdowns and averages over 19 yards per reception, proving to be a major threat down the field.
Lippett has always been a star on the field and through high school, produced both offensively and defensively. His senior year was easily his most productive. He was a three-year starter for coach Rod Oden at Crockett High School in Detroit, Michigan and an Associated Press All-State selection as a defensive back in 2009. He recorded 55 tackles (36 solo tackles, 19 assists) and nine interceptions as a senior.
The outstanding receiver represented the East squad in the 2010 Michigan High School All-Star Game and led all receivers with four catches for 95 yards. He was rated among the nation's top wide receivers by Scouts Inc. (No. 50) and was named to Super Prep's and Prep Star's All-Midwest Teams.
Lippett’s success continued into college, but took some more time. He was redshirted by the Spartans in 2010 and did not see a minute of action until the 2011 season.
It slowly paid off as the redshirt freshman played in all fourteen games including five starts at cornerback. If he was starting at cornerback, how did he become a top receiver? It began in 2012 as Lippet began producing lightly, but in key moments.
He had a 46-yard grab for his first career touchdown reception against No. 21 Nebraska, a 6-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter against Northwestern and a leaping 20-yard grab late in the fourth quarter on MSU's game-tying TD drive at Wisconsin. The final game of the 2012 season, Lippett made his first career start at receiver.
In 2013, he led the team in receptions and yards and has held that position through this 2014 season.
It has been a long build up for the graduate student who looks to have a bright future ahead. He has a chance to be an NFL star, but first he needs to help the Spartans finish the 2014 season strong. A win over the Nittany Lions on Saturday gives Michigan State a chance for a better bowl game.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Mike Carnuccio is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mikeyc48@gmail.com.
