EAST LANSING — David Santiago would stop what he was doing to stand at attention at a moment’s notice.

Even if it was during the middle of football practice – the standard procedure at his previous school: Air Force.

“During practice in the afternoons, they’d stop for ‘Retreat’ and they’d take down the flag and they’d play the national anthem,” the former cadet recalled. “So we’d always stand there at attention. That was something different.”

Santiago left the rigors of military life after two seasons to take flight with Michigan State football in January, one of four transfer defensive ends added in the offseason. And the Spartans hope the discipline and lessons the sophomore edge rusher absorbed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will boost their pass rush

See Full Page