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Michigan State Football: Will 2018 team have best secondary of Mark Dantonio era?

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 07: Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a first quarter turn over by the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Michigan 14-10.(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 07: Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a first quarter turn over by the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Michigan 14-10.(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State’s 2018 squad might possess the best secondary Mark Dantonio has ever coached in East Lansing — including the 2013 Rose Bowl team.

Following the departure of Pat Narduzzi, Michigan State’s defense took a big hit. He was one of the best defensive coordinators in college football and a major reason the Spartans were able to win the 2013 Rose Bowl as well as make a New Year’s Six game in 2014.

Must Read: MSU Football: 5 takeaways from 2018 spring game

Since then, the Spartans’ defense has been slowly declining. The 2015 team, albeit a playoff squad, didn’t have that same defensive dominance of past squads. In 2016, the Spartans went just 3-9 and the defense was horrid throughout the season.

Things started to get back to normal in 2017 as Michigan State finished with one of the top defenses in the Big Ten, allowing just 20 points per game (No. 19 in the nation) and under 300 yards per game. The defense got back to the basic and that hard-nosed ‘Spartan Dawg’ mentality returned.

Despite losing Harlon Barnett to Florida State, the secondary is in good hands and how could it not be with the depth and all-conference caliber pieces in place?

Returning are Justin Layne and Josiah Scott as the starting cornerbacks as well as David Dowell and Khari Willis starting at safety. Those four could all realistically make some all-conference team and they even have All-American potential. With another year of experience under their belts, they could help lead what could end up being Mark Dantonio’s best defensive backfield ever.

Yes, even better than the 2013 Rose Bowl squad.

From 2011-13, Michigan State allowed under 180 passing yards per game. In 2017, Michigan State surrendered about 202 per contest through the air, but improvement is on the way. It’ll be hard to pass against this team that returns all four starters and the depth is as good as any in college football.

In fact, behind the starters are a handful of players who’d be starting on most Big Ten squads. Josh Butler, Tyson Smith, Matt Morrissey, Dominique Long, Tre Person, Shakur Brown, Xavier Henderson and Kalon Gervin. The defensive backfield is loaded with talent and it’s not going away any time soon.

The 2018 unit could potentially surpass the effectiveness of the 2013 team by allowing less than 165 yards per game through the air — if it lives up to its potential.

Next: MSU Basketball: 5 must-have 2019 targets

Full of ball-hawks, heavy-hitters and high football IQ guys, Michigan State’s secondary for the upcoming season may just be Dantonio’s best, and the top unit in the Big Ten.

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