Michigan State Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2018

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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: David Dowell #6 of the Michigan State Spartans runs back a second half interception in front of DeAndre Thompkins #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Defensive Backs

Could the ‘No Fly Zone’ see a return in 2018? It’s been a few years since Michigan State’s secondary was truly one of the best in the country and it could be back with four starters returning. Unfortunately, the Spartans will begin the year without star sophomore Josiah Scott who suffered an injury in the first week of fall camp, so he won’t be on this projected two-deep (he will start once he returns in a month, or so).

Starting cornerbacks: Justin Layne, Shakur Brown
Backups: Josh Butler, Tre Person

For the sake of Josiah Scott’s injury, he won’t be listed here as a projected starter on the two-deep, but just know that when he comes back, he’ll slide right in with the ones.

As for the starters to begin the season, I’m going with the obvious in Justin Layne and the trendy pick in Shakur Brown. The latter is a redshirt freshman who has been turning heads this summer and has received the praise of his teammates and coaches. Josh Butler is another good option and they could be 1A and 1B, but I think Brown starts the season opener against Utah State.

Don’t sleep on Tre Person, though. The sophomore is a Georgia native who wasn’t the most highly-ranked recruit out of high school. Sound familiar? Maybe there’s another Darqueze Dennard in the making.

Starting safeties: Khari Willis, David Dowell
Backups: Matt Morrissey, Xavier Henderson

Both starters return to the safety positions as Khari Willis and David Dowell could be All-Big Ten performers. There’s a good chance Willis is named one of the captains and he may be the best leader since Kirk Cousins. He’ll be joined by David Dowell who was a ballhawk last season and led the team in interceptions. He was an All-Big Ten selection and we can expect that to happen again in his second year as a full-time starter.

Matt Morrissey has also been receiving plenty of praise this summer and Xavier Henderson is already built like a Big Ten safety as a true freshman. The latter is a future star on this defense.

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