Lansing Sun

Spartan All-American Darqueze Dennard is among the 2024 inductees of the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Dennard joins Jessica (Beech) Bograkos (softball), Anson Carter (ice hockey), Beth (Rohl) Saylors (women's track & field), Laura (Kueny) Smith (women's golf), and Paul Terek (men's track & field). The 1965-1966 football teams also become the first teams inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Celebration will take place on Friday, Sept. 13. There will be a special recognition of the 2024 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class during the Michigan State-Prairie View A&M football game at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, opened on Oct. 1, 1999, and displays plaques of the 180 previous inductees. The charter class was inducted in 1992.

All Darqueze Dennard needed was an opportunity. His recruiting profile on various national websites did not even have a headshot or ranking.

Dennard found that opportunity at Michigan State and took full advantage of the scholarship offer he received from College Football Hall of Fame Coach Mark Dantonio.

"I'm super excited and incredibly grateful," said Dennard. "It's going to be a long list of people to thank... To have my name alongside the greats... is something that you obviously think of when you're walking along the building as an 18-year-old."

Growing up in Dry Branch, Georgia, and attending Twiggs County High School, Dennard did not have any scholarship offers his senior year until Michigan State recruited him at season’s end. He transitioned from a small high school to the Big Ten Conference successfully.

"It means the world," said Dennard about his opportunity at Michigan State. "MSU gave me a chance when no one else was giving me a chance... Coach Dantonio... I owe pretty much my career to him."

Dennard became a three-year starter and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors his final two seasons. As a senior in 2013, he co-captained the nation's No. 1 defense as Big Ten and Rose Bowl Champion Spartans won a school-record 13 games. He became MSU's first Jim Thorpe Award winner for best defensive back and was a unanimous first-team All-American.

For his career, Dennard collected 167 tackles and defended against 30 passes in 44 career games with MSU winning several championships during his tenure.

In his freshman year in 2010, he played six games before being sidelined by injury but started twice at cornerback later that season.

He emerged as a full-time starter as a sophomore in 2011 culminating with one of MSU's greatest bowl performances against Georgia in which he made two interceptions leading to victory over No.18 Georgia in triple overtime earning him Yahoo! Sports All-Bowl Team honors.

As junior in 2012 he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors again tying for team lead with three interceptions making notable contributions throughout including winning Jim Adams Award for unsung heroism on defense

In record-breaking senior year - becoming unanimous All-America honoree besides winning prestigious awards like Jack Tatum Award; Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist selection along others – helped team achieve historic success leading defense ranked top nationwide across categories while securing significant wins like Rose Bowl & Big-Ten Championship games cementing legacy within collegiate football history ultimately culminating into NFL draft pick post successful collegiate stint contributing further through community engagement initiatives via foundation work etc reflecting enduring commitment towards holistic development both professionally/personally

"Michigan State changed my life," concluded Dennard reflecting upon impactful journey underscoring gratitude towards alma mater facilitating numerous opportunities enabling realization dreams amidst adversities reinforcing deep-seated affiliation marked by sustained contributions ensuring positive societal impact leveraging gained experiences effectively benefiting wider community fostering aspirational ethos among underprivileged segments therein reiterating essence enduring legacy transcending beyond mere sporting accomplishments