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Michigan State Football: Top 5 position battles to watch this fall

By Connor Muldowney

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Jaylen Dunlap #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for the ball in the end zone during the game at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Michigan State 31-27. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Jaylen Dunlap #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for the ball in the end zone during the game at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Michigan State 31-27. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football is entering its final month until the 2017 kickoff and here are five position battles to watch this fall.

Everyone loves a good old position battle. However, with young teams, there are more positions up for grabs. And for Michigan State football that’s the case they’re facing this fall. The Spartans are bringing back just nine seniors to the roster and the rest of the team will be relatively young and inexperienced.

Mark Dantonio spoke at Big Ten media days this past week and he didn’t seem too concerned about the youth, but rather excited for the future. He even named some young guys the starters at their respective positions already, though.

In fact, he raved about Brian Lewerke, even comparing him to Kirk Cousins, spoke highly of Josiah Scott and likened him to Darqueze Dennard and said Joe Bachie has all the qualities that Max Bullough and Riley Bullough had before him. Those three have the positions locked down, but what other battles are open to be won this fall?

Let’s take a look at the top five position battles the Spartans are facing this fall.

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) /

5. Kick/Punt Returner

This isn’t exactly a position battle that people have been talking about much this offseason because, well, it’s usually an afterthought. Michigan State had one of the worst return units in college football last season and it’s mainly because the coaching staff couldn’t seem to settle on a return man in either the kick or punt game.

In fact, Brandon Sowards ended up being the punt returner in the latter half of the season, but he was struggling mightily. He just didn’t have the speed or elusiveness necessary to excel as a punt returner. He was seemingly always fair-catching the ball and when he wasn’t he gained 1-2 yards at the most.

Darrell Stewart Jr. also tried his hand at kick returner, but he couldn’t break much. He has speed, but his elusiveness was lacking. If he works on that this fall, he could be back returning punts and/or kicks for the Spartans.

A couple of other names to keep an eye on are Justin Layne and Trishton Jackson. Will Dantonio take a chance on either returning and risk injury? Both are elusive and Layne was even a solid returner in high school.

As for younger guys, Shakur Brown, Cody White and Hunter Rison should get a shot as well.

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