Michigan State Football: 5 instant impact early signees from 2018 class

Michigan State Football: 5 signees from 2018 class who’ll have instant impact

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 07: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio enters the stadium prior to the start of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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How does Xavier Henderson have such incredible ball skills? His time spent playing wide receiver doesn’t hurt. The 6-foot-0, 190-pound athlete can play both wide receiver and defensive back and he adds to that impressive class in the defensive backfield.

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The four-star from Pickerington, Ohio, is an impressive all-around player who can, again, play both sides of the ball. However, it looks like he will be a strong defensive back for the Spartans. Whether he will play safety or cornerback remains to be seen, but he’s one of the main reasons why the ‘No Fly Zone’ could see a resurgence with this group added to the already-loaded secondary.

Henderson, teammates with the aforementioned Trenton Gillison, won the state title with Pickerington Central in 2017 and looks the part of a Big Ten defensive back. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but he’s always in on plays.

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According to 247Sports, he has the tools to be a team’s No. 1 cornerback and take on opposing No. 1 receivers on a weekly basis. Add him to a defensive backfield with Josiah Scott, Justin Layne, Kalon Gervin and Davion Williams — even Christian Jackson — and you have one of the best units in the country.

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