Michigan State Football: 5 most irreplaceable defensive players for 2017

Michigan State football is coming off a terrible 2016 season, but these five defensive players are most important for a turnaround.

After a horrendous 2016 season, Michigan State football needs a major turnaround to avoid “regression” talk. OK, maybe the Spartans don’t need to win 9-10 games to garner some respect, but getting back to a bowl game would be huge for the program.

If Mark Dantonio can get this young team which looks to start, and play, more freshmen and underclassmen than ever before during his tenure to a bowl game after a 3-9 season, he will be praised again in the streets of East Lansing. Heck, maybe even the national media will give him some well-earned respect.

The players, too, are hungry for a turnaround, but it can’t happen unless a number of important players step up, and remain healthy.

Take a look at the five most irreplaceable Spartan defenders for the 2017 season.

Whether it was a popular decision or not — most likely the latter — Khari Willis avoided the redshirt in 2015, only to appear in six games. During those six contests, he recorded 11 total tackles and a pass deflection, but showed promise. He did have 30 total tackles and two pass deflections as a sophomore.

Willis played running back in high school, but was considered an athlete when he was recruited by the Spartans. He enters the 2017 season, now a junior, as the projected starting safety for the Spartans. Unfortunately, he doesn’t yet know his battery mate deep in the defensive backfield.

That means that Willis is that much more crucial for the Spartans’ success as an experienced safety who will be relied upon to be a leader. He has already been speaking like a defensive leader and the young defensive backs look up to him.

Michigan State needs him to take over, and do so effectively, for the two departing safeties from 2016.