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Published Aug 16, 2019
Slade solidifying role in d-tackle rotation
Ricardo Cooney
SpartanMag.com staff
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EAST LANSING - Imagine this as your introduction to Division I college football: You line up in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball, look up and see an All-Big Ten guard staring you in the face through your helmet’s face mask.

But that’s just what happened to redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jacob Slade last season.

“Last year, I remember the first one-on-ones we ever did I went up against Kevin Jarvis and I tried to spin around him and he just threw me right on my back and I was like, ‘okay, this is not high school anymore,’ ‘’ Slade said with a smile.

He obviously recovered from that experience and learned a few things in the process.

“That moment right there made me realize how important using your hands are and things like that, especially at a college level because when you get extension and a distance between you and him, they can’t bully you as much,’’ he added.

That’s the kind of understanding that gets you on the field faster than most.

“He’s going to play,’’ predicted defensive tackles coach Ron Burton during MSU’s annual media day. “He’s shown he’s has the aptitude for the position both mentally and physically.’’

The physical part was helped along by strength and conditioning coach Ken Mannie, who has Slade up to a solid 298 pounds on a 6-foot-3 frame. The aptitude part has been taken care of by the Ohio native who credited his knowledge of the playbook last season as the reason he got on the field in the Spartans’ season opener against Utah State, where he recorded one assisted tackle during his 11-play stint.

After that, he was redshirted and wouldn’t see the field the rest of the season, but it was enough to shine a light on what is expected to be a bright future that will have him as the fourth d-linemen in the Spartans’ interior line rotation with fifth-year senior Raequan Williams, senior Mike Panasiuk and redshirt junior Naquan Jones. He will replace the graduated Gerald Owens as the fourth member of the d-tackle rotation, which is expected to be one of the strongest d-tackle contingents in the country.

“I’m comfortable because I got Nay (Naquan Jones), Mike (Panasiuk) and Rae (Raequan Williams) all there,’’ said Slade, who shared defensive end duties with his twin brother Zach at Olentangy High School until he physically developed into d-tackle as a prep senior. “I’ve got into rotations with all of them, so I’m excited right now.’’

And why wouldn’t he be? He has a chance to be a consistent contributor on a defense that is expected to continue its run as one of the best to play in East Lansing. He also seems to have the perfect demeanor to excel at this level. Although he admitted some nerves with his first and only appearance last season, there was no sign of youthful giddiness. Just a solid perception of what it takes to be where he is now, as an expected contributor to this season’s defensive success.

“That’s honestly when the nerves go a way, once you’re right in front of the other offensive lineman,’’ he said. “Then it’s just football from there.’’

While he readily credits his knowledge of the playbook as one of the catalysts to earning a spot in the Spartans’ d-line rotation, it doesn’t hurt to have siblings in high school to push you when it comes to competition.

“I mean obviously, we’ve had competition since the beginning,’’ Slade said. “That’s how our game started and I have two older brothers who are also twins and that competition was always there. Honestly, that’s probably what helped me get better. I feel like in high school, every year, it was like Zachary’s ahead one year, then I’m ahead and we just keep going back (and forth). I thought he was better than me my junior year. Then he got injured senior year and I pulled ahead.’’

That development has prompted him to set some pretty lofty goals despite his youth and inexperience.

“I just want to live up to the expectations of being a starter,’’ Slade said. “I want to be on par with Mike (Panasiuk) and Rae (Raequan Williams), and all of them.’’

In order to do that, he will look to fine tune his skills in areas that he feels will help him earn more playing time.

"I’ve certainly got a lot to work on,’’ Slade said. “I feel like I need to do better on my pass rush, get a better pass rush, because the ball’s out really quickly with these modern offenses and quick passes. There’s always stuff to work on.’’

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