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Better late than never: the old LJ Scott finally returned in Michigan State’s win over Minnesota
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Turn back the clock to the 2015 B1G Championship. Then freshman Michigan State running back LJ Scott looked like the future face of the Spartan program. He powered his way for 77 yards and the winning touchdown against a dominant Iowa Hawkeye defense.
Since then, Scott has regressed. Yes, he nearly ran for 1,000 yards last year. But fumbling issues in 2016 costed him his stardom.
To begin this season, Scott looked like his 2016 version. He didn’t run with the same power and toughness he showed as a freshman. In the first four games this year, Scott didn’t record a single 100 yard game. The closest he got was 86 yards against Western Michigan.
Entering Saturday’s matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Scott averaged 53.5 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Not exactly numbers that scream all-star running back.
However, in the 30-27 win over the Golden Gophers, Scott had a career reawakening.
Hey Michigan State, keep feeding LJ Scott pic.twitter.com/HN5A2no4q0
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) October 15, 2017
On the night Scott ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, giving him an average of 7.8 yards per attempt. But it was how he tallied those impressive numbers that make it seem like the Scott of old has returned for the green and white.
Scott’s first touchdown run of the night, a 24 yard scoot early in the second, flashed what Scott become once again. He ran past the Minnesota front seven and carried several defenders into the end zone. However, that was not the run that reminded Michigan State fans of the Scott that they thought he could become.
Early in the fourth quarter, Scott powered in a six yard score and then later in that quarter, he broke off a 22 yard run in which he gained most the extra yardage due to him lowering his shoulder and running over the opposing Golden Gophers. Those three runs, along with several more, showed glimpses of the old Scott.
Hot take: I like this LJ Scott more pic.twitter.com/P5HkvTu7B4
— Barstool Spartans (@BarstoolMSU) October 15, 2017
Now, Scott’s performance could be a one hit wonder or due to the fact that Minnesota’s defense has not been the most impressive this year. However, if Michigan State gets this type of Scott for the rest of the season, there is no telling how good the Spartans can be this year.
Michigan State has been the biggest surprise of the B1G season. A large part of that can be contributed to its defense, which was No. 4 in the nation heading into Week 7. When it came to the Spartans’ offense, however, they relied mostly on quarterback Brian Lewerke.
Lewerke has not been totally deadly, but he has been effective. He has completed over 60 percent of his passes, and has only been pick off three times. Plus, he has been a pretty good runner. Before the Minnesota game, Lewerke ran for over 40 yards in each of Michigan State’s first five games.
If Scott is truly back that just adds to what could be an effective Spartan offense heading into the second half of the year.
Scott would give Michigan State a deadly option on the ground. He has quality speed and is obviously powerful. Plus, if one looks at the rest of the conference, the best offenses have quality running backs. Penn State has Saquon Barkley, Wisconsin has the emerging Jonathan Taylor and Ohio State has a two headed monster in J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber. Now, Scott is nowhere near there, but he has the talent to be. And if he reaches that talent, the Spartans won’t have to continue to rely on their defense to get the job done.
After the game, coach Mark Dantonio told BTN that they wanted Scott to run for over 100 yards against Minnesota. Before Saturday night, the last time Scott topped the century mark was the second to last game of the 2016 season. So, he met the coaching staffs challenge and then some.
With Scott running for nearly 200 yards, Michigan State’s offense had its best performance of the year. They were effective on the ground and through the air.
The Spartans have shown this year that they don’t exactly need Scott’s ability to win close games. But if Scott has indeed returned to his freshman, promising form, there is no telling what Michigan State can do on offense this year. His reemergence could also a mean a possible, and I stress possible, return to the B1G Championship.