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Michigan State Football: Complete 2018 season preview, predictions

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans battles for yards past Manny Bowen #43 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans battles for yards past Manny Bowen #43 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Tyler Johnson #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers carries the ball for a touchdown against Josiah Scott #22 of the Michigan State Spartans during the fourth quarter of the game on October 14, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Spartans defeated the Gophers 30-27. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Tyler Johnson #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers carries the ball for a touchdown against Josiah Scott #22 of the Michigan State Spartans during the fourth quarter of the game on October 14, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Spartans defeated the Gophers 30-27. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Defensive outlook

Let’s start off with the biggest news of the preseason and that’s the injury to star cornerback and Freshman All-American Josiah Scott. He’s expected to be out a month, or so, but there’s no shortage of talent to replace him. Josh Butler will get the nod, but don’t sleep on Tre Person, Shakur Brown or Kalon Gervin to provide depth and split snaps.

Khari Willis, team captain, and David Dowell, first-team All-Big Ten in 2017, will get the nods at the safety spots and Xavier Henderson, Matt Morrissey and Dominique Long will back them up.

The defensive backfield is loaded and the ‘No Fly Zone’ is on its way back, it seems. Though the passing defense ranked just 37th last year, it should climb well into the top 25 this season with the amount of depth and talent.

In the linebacking corps, Joe Bachie is one of the best the nation has to offer in the middle and Andrew Dowell is one of the most experienced in the league. Both have 100-tackle capabilities while Brandon Randle and Tyriq Thompson, both inexperienced guys who have been around for a few years, will battle it out for starting Sam linebacker.

Don’t sleep on Byron Bullough, Grayson Miller, Jon Reschke and Antjuan Simmons to break into that regular rotation.

Lastly, the defensive line is considered the biggest question mark, but Raequan Williams, Mike Panasiuk and Kenny Willekes could be three of the conference’s best linemen. Jacub Panasiuk will start at the end opposite Willekes and Justice Alexander, Drew Beesley, Dillon Alexander, Gerald Owens, DeAri Todd, Jacob Slade and Naquan Jones will pad the depth.

We may be seeing the best defense of the Dantonio era manifest in 2018.

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