Michigan State Football: 5 keys for making College Football Playoff in 2018

3. A more confident LJ Scott

The unfortunate trend surrounding LJ Scott over the past couple of seasons was his inability to hold on to the pigskin. The talented running back coughed the ball up more often in crucial situations than the coaching staff would have liked, which led to a few tough losses and a less confident runner.

Yes, whether we want to admit it or not, Scott’s confidence took major hits when he lost the ball and was, in turn, benched. He was a more hesitant rusher following his fumbles and he didn’t need to be — all he needed to do was get a better grip on the ball.

Confidence has played a key role in Scott’s up-and-down MSU career, and for the Spartans to make a run at the College Football Playoff for the second time in his four years, they’ll need a more comfortable back. He has shown flashes of his confidence — against Minnesota and Washington State last season — but he needs to exhibit that throughout a season, not in spurts.

Scott rushed for 699 yards as a freshman, 994 as a sophomore and 898 as a junior. He has fallen short of that 1,000-yard goal, but if he can exude confidence like he did in his first year, he will be one of the top rushers in college football.

And that could send the Spartans to the playoff.