Maryland’s goal is to make Michigan State play ‘left-handed’ - MLive.com

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Michigan State and Maryland were twice scheduled to play last season.

Both games were canceled due to positive COVID-19 results for the Terrapins.

The No. 8 Spartans (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) are now set to host Maryland (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) on Saturday (4 p.m., FOX). For Michigan State, there’s some carryover in preparation from last season. The Terrapins also see familiar faces from when they looked at Michigan State last year along with new ones, namely No. 9 in the backfield.

Running back Kenneth Walker III, an offseason transfer from Wake Forest, has been a monster addition for the Spartans. He leads the nation in rushing and is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.

“He’s one of those guys that you better bring all your pads and all your friends when you tackle him because he has great contact balance,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “He’s the guy that we’ve got to try to take out of the gameplan this week.”

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Walker has 197 carries for 1,330 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s averaging 147.8 yards per game and has topped 200 yards on the ground twice this year and eclipsed 100 six times. Locksley complimented quarterback Payton Thorne and wide receiver Jayden Reed while noting Michigan State’s balanced offense but believes it revolves around Walker.

“A lot of the plays they make in the passing game comes from their ability to run the football,” Locksley said. “The play action pass game and the complements to the run game have really allowed them to be an explosive offense when you watch them.”

Maryland ranks 12th in the Big Ten in rushing defense at 153.4 yards per game and has allowed four individual 100-yard rushers this season. Minnesota had two in Ky Thomas and Mar’Keise Irving as the Golden Gophers racked up 326 yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries in a 34-16 win against the Terrapins on Oct. 23. Maryland limited Penn State to only 93 yards on 33 carries last week but Sean Clifford threw for 363 yards and Jahan Dotson had 11 catches for 242 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-14 win.

“If you look at us the last three or four weeks, we went into the Minnesota game and we knew they wanted to run the ball and we didn’t effectively stop them from doing that,” Locksley said. “Last week we knew the type of player Jahan Dotson was and he still had a big game. So, for us, for me as the leader, our job is to take away their best players and force them to play left-handed or force someone else to beat us. We’ve got to do the same thing this week which will be a tough task because of the talent that Kenneth Walker III has, how they utilize him. He’s a big-time player.”

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Walker can break off big chunks and also fight for a first down. He leads the nation in yards after contact (981) and missed tackles forced (77), according to Pro Football Focus. Slowing him down is the top priority for the Terrapins, who need another win to become bowl eligible.

“I like our guys and the energy they bring in the run game,” Locksley said. “I think we’ll have to obviously fit our gaps properly, we’ll have to do a great job of tackling because you look at over 900 yards after contact yardage, that means he runs with great pad level and we have to do a good job of getting 11 hats to the ball.”

Related Michigan State football stories:

Michigan State WR Montorie Foster ‘totally ready’ for larger role

Trio of Spartans listed in Mel Kiper Jr.’s new top 10 position rankings for 2022 NFL draft

Michigan State bowl projections: Redbox rematch in Pasadena and a trip to Florida

Fixing porous pass defense a priority for Michigan State with big challenges ahead

Why the College Football Playoff committee ranked Michigan ahead of Michigan State

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