ARLINGTON, Texas Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun stopped mid-question to tease teammate Joel Heath at Cotton Bowl Media Day at AT& Shaun Anderson Jersey T Stadium on Tuesday.Who did you say I looked like? Heath asked from one booth over.PLAYOFF PATH: | | MORE: Chris Webber, Calhoun responded.Heath shook his head and half rolled his eyes in disagreement. Its a different conversation than the last time those two walked off the field at AT&T Stadium after beating Baylor in the Cotton Bowl. The seniors knew that this years defensive line would have something in 2015. The offseason workouts confirmed that.Now, that defensive line, which also features Lawrence Thomas and Malik McDowell, is the key to whether or not the Spartans can handle Alabama and in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Thursday. When those four linemen get together,Calhoun said its not even about being onM the same page."I think we're so different that it brings us together, Calhoun said. We're just so different in attitudes, body sizes and the way we communicate. It's so dysfunctional it brings us together."Calhoun (6-5, 250) led the Spartans with 10.5 sacks on one end, and Thomas (6- Sam Coonrod Jersey 4, 305) on the other side. Heath is the other senior in the middle, and sophomore Malik McDowell, who had 12 tackles for lo s, is on track to be the next-big thing. Senior Damon Knox is among those that give this eight-deep depth. That group of Michigan kids including two Detroit natives in Thomas and McDowell has meshed with Heath (a Cincinnati native)and Calhoun (Middletown, N.J.)to form one of college footballs most-devastating units. Its a group that adopted the mantra AWOL Animals Without A Leash during those summer workouts. That's when they realized this season would be special.Were just a brotherhood, to be honest, Thomas said. We go out here every day, we joked around; we play around. We are comfortable with each other, but we know when to get serious.10 GREATEST: | Defensive line coach Ron Burton watched those seniors flip that switch the last three seasons, and he said its the unique blend of personalities that makes it work. Calhoun is the loud one Austin Slater Jersey , and Heath and McDowell are the more reserved ones. Thomas is somewhere in between. Knox speaks up when nece sary.Theyve collectively understood gap control in an aggre sive defense, and the dedication in the film room through experience paid off.Yet theres something more to building a unit that ranked ninth against the run this season despite key injuries at linebacker and in the secondary. Michigan States defensive line managed to stay healthy. That kept the Spartans on course."They're big athletic guys, you know, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. "They don't just have great size to them. They're athletic. They have game experience. There are no true freshmen playing.They're very close as individuals, Dantonio said. I feel good about those guys. We've been dominant up front."Dominant in big games, too. Michigan State played four games against ranked opponents this season in Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa. Those four teams combined to average 2.5 Madison Bumgarner Jersey yards rushing per carry, and the Ducks were the only team that topped 100 rushing yards. Alabama is a challenge, for sure, but Michigan State has been building for this challenge since the Crimson Tide routed the Spartans in the 2011 Cotton Bowl.BENDER: | Jerel Worthy and William Gholston were among the two NFL Draft picks this group learned from, and Austin Jackson Jersey theyre pa sing those le sons down to the next crop of defensive linemen. Michigan States incoming recruiting cla s features four more four-star recruits along the defensive line. Dantonio built this program up front on both sides, and the defensive line has been at the forefront of that succe s. Thats where Michigan States playoff fate rests, and Heath said its that ambition learned from previous cla ses that has these Spartans ready for the next challenge. When Calhoun, Heath, McDowell and Thomas hit the field Thursday, Heath expects them to sync up. .A lot of those guys had goals and dreams and aspirations and wanted to see them through, Heath said. We're kind of a living testament to what they established. A foundation of what they set before leaving here."