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Michigan State Defensive Tackle Returning For 6th Collegiate Season

Originally posted on FanNation Spartan Nation
By Matthew Lounsberry | Last updated 1/12/24

As Michigan State football's offseason continues, more and more of the 2024 roster is taking shape.

Earlier this week, fifth-year senior defensive tackle Maverick Hansen, a staple of the Spartans' rotation at the position over the last three seasons, announced that he would return to East Lansing and make use of a sixth season of eligibility next fall.

A member of former head coach Mark Dantonio's final recruiting class in 2019, Hansen took a redshirt year that season and, like the rest of college athletics, was granted a free season of eligibility in 2020. Due to this, the 6-foot-4, 300-pounder has one final year left to wrap up his career at Michigan State.

Over the past three seasons, Hansen has averaged 29.3 tackles, 2.7 tackles for loss and 1.7 sacks per season. For his career, the senior has totaled 90 tackles, with eight tackles for loss and five sacks, with two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

While depth will be a concern at several position groups on Michigan State's 2024 roster, the defensive line looks to be a strength. In addition to Hansen, the Spartans return Simeon Barrow, Derrick Harmon, Jalen Thompson and Avery Dunn at defensive tackle, and add Georgia Tech transfer D'Quan Douse to the mix. MSU also gets back rising redshirt sophomore Alex VanSumeren, who missed the entirety of the 2023 season due to injury.

Depth at defensive end is a little less proven, but there's a lot of talent at the position between returning starter Khris Bogle, Middle Tennessee transfer Quindarius Dunningham and youngsters Ken Talley, Bai Jobe and Andrew Depaepe, among others.

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