Darian Hicks Illness Puts Michigan State Secondary in Doubt

The Michigan State Spartans are fighting to rise to the top of the Big Ten in 2015 while competing with the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes and the improving in-state rival Michigan Wolverines in a tough East Division. Their biggest question mark heading into the season, the secondary, is now cast into further doubt with the news that cornerback Darian Hicks is out indefinitely with mono.

Michigan State was going to rely heavily on Hicks in 2015 to continue their aggressive man-to-man coverage in the secondary. The junior started 10 games for the Spartans in 2014, recording 28 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound veteran was the most experienced member of the Spartan secondary came out of spring listed as a “co-starter” with senior Arjen Colquhoun opposite junior Demetrious Cox. The defense has been looking for answers in teh secondary after losing Trae Waynes to the NFL this spring.

In his absence, which head coach Mark Dantonio said “could be three weeks, four weeks, five weeks,” the team will be turning to some young talent to step up including redshirt freshman Vayante Copeland and incoming freshmen Josh Butler, David Dowell, Kaleel Gaines, and Tyson Smith. Dowell, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound four-star prospect, was the highest rated recruit among the new members of the secondary and could be a versatile asset to the defense thanks to his size and athleticism. With Hicks out of commission for an indeterminate amount of time, the door is open for one of these young defenders to make an impact this fall.

The pressure is on Michigan State to get their secondary in order as they have big plans for 2015 that can ill afford a slow start to the season. They will open their season in less than four weeks on September 4 at the Western Michigan Broncos before welcoming the defending Pac-12 champion Oregon Ducks to East Lansing on September 12. With the uncertain prognosis for Darian Hicks’ return, can the Spartans circle the wagons and get their defense in order?

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