Michigan State Football: 5 potential breakout stars for 2017

Am I alone in thinking Justin Layne has a chance to be something special in the green and white? Definitely not. The former four-star wide receiver from Ohio was regarded as one of the top players in the Spartans’ 2016 recruiting class and looked to be destined for a redshirt last season.

However, a need at cornerback led to his appearance as a starter against Northwestern. In that first start, he recorded a pick-six, giving the defense a much-needed spark. Now that he has a year of defensive back duties under his belt, he can focus on being a two-way star.

Naturally, Layne is a receiver and probably sees himself at that position at the collegiate level. The Spartans recruited him as a wide out and that’s likely where he feels most comfortable. Still, he played well enough at cornerback last season and in the spring game that he’s likely to earn one of the starting spots at the position.

Not only did he excel at cornerback during the spring game, but he switched over to the offensive side of the ball every so often, catching a couple of passes and running crisp routes. This kid is an athlete and there’s no way he will be sitting on the sideline for long this year.

Breakout candidate at corner? I’d say more of a two-way breakout candidate.