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Michigan State Football: 5 second-year players who’ll break out in 2017

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 15: Justin Layne #39 of the Michigan State Spartans returns an interception for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 15: Justin Layne #39 of the Michigan State Spartans returns an interception for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Despite a rough season in 2016, Michigan State football has a number of second-year players who could break out, but here are my top five.

Don’t let the media fool you, the 2016 Michigan State recruiting class isn’t all bad. Despite losing four players to sexual assault charges, the class is looking to rebound in a big way with multiple second-year players lined up to start.

Although the class has a black eye from the horrid offseason, there is still plenty of talent left and the remaining players have worked hard to improve the group’s overall image.

If the 2016 season was any indication, the Spartans are gearing up for a youth movement in East Lansing. A number of freshmen got the nod to start last season, burning redshirts which may have been valuable to use, saving a full year of eligibility.

Mark Dantonio didn’t have much of a choice, though, as his upperclassmen weren’t producing in the way he thought they would. Things could be looking up soon, though, for this young squad.

Let’s take a look at five second-year players who could break out in 2017.

The coaching staff is already raving about Luke Campbell. The redshirt freshman is entering his second year with the program and offensive line coach Mark Staten had some glowing remarks for his young offensive tackle.

Following the spring game, he stated how he believed Campbell would be a four-year starter and a potential future All-American.

"“He’s going to be a four-year starter,” Staten, the Spartans’ offensive line coach, said last week of  Campbell. “Has a chance to be a freshman All-American, which we haven’t had since Brian Allen.”"

That’s some high praise for an offensive tackle who wasn’t exactly regarded as a ‘star’ out of high school. He was a low-three-star recruit who was committed to Purdue until a late Michigan State offer. It looks like the Spartans may have gotten the steal of the class.

Campbell could be on the All-Big Ten Freshman team as a second-year breakout star.

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