Kirk Cousins: Michigan State background gets 'instant respect' in NFL

Kirk Cousins threw for 4,166 yards with the Washington Redskins last year, but he had the respect of his NFL peers long before then.

Despite walking into the NFL as a mid-round draft choice, Cousins said Tuesday he was already a respected quarterback because of where he played his collegiate football, according to Chris Solari of the Lansing State Journal.

"Believe me, around the NFL - I'm talking coaches, scouts - when you say you're from Michigan State, it's instant respect," Cousins said. "They know the program coach (Mark) Dantonio has built, from the strength staff to the academic staff to the coaches themselves. It really says a lot to say you're a Spartan around NFL circles. That's the kind of respect I think coach and myself and many of the people involved in it were trying to build."

Cousins spent five seasons at Michigan State, and finished his career as the school's all-time leader in passing touchdowns and passing yards.

Since being selected in the 2012 NFL Draft, Cousins has gone on to star for the Redskins, supplanting Robert Griffin III as the team's franchise quarterback and leading Washington to an NFC East division crown last season.