Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from 2017 season

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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 28: Felton Davis III #18 of the Michigan State Spartans runs in a touchdown on a pass play against the Washington State Cougars during the first half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

3. Receiving corps may be best in Big Ten in 2018

Losing guys like RJ Shelton, Monty Madaris and Donnie Corley worried many this offseason. Those three were productive in one of the worst season in Michigan State history and all the Spartans had returning was an unproven Trishton Jackson, Cam Chambers, Darrell Stewart Jr. and Felton Davis III.

Zero of those receivers had done much throughout their Michigan State careers and if the staff had to lean on Stewart Jr. and Davis III — a combined 17 catches for 229 yards before 2017 — then the Spartans would be in major trouble. That wasn’t the case, after all. Michigan State’s veteran wide outs worked hard all offseason to prove everyone wrong and led the team in receiving.

In fact, Davis III proved to be one of the best receiver prospects in the Big Ten, catching 55 passes for 776 yards and nine touchdowns and he has big goals for the offseason — including bulking up and “being more like Julio Jones.” Stewart Jr. finished second on the team with 50 receptions for 501 yards and two scores and added 140 rushing yards.

On top of that, Cody White stepped up and became the top freshman receiver in program history with 35 catches for 490 yards and four touchdowns. Hunter Rison added 19 catches for 224 yards, Jackson caught 12 passes for 143 yards and Chambers had five for 66.

The Michigan State receiving corps has to be one of the best in the country heading into 2018.

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