Michigan State Holiday Wish List 2018: Wish No. 19 for Spartan fans

Michigan State’s 25 wishes list continues today and will run over the next three weeks. What is the No. 19 wish for all Spartan fans?

Here is wish No. 19 on our Michigan State fan wish list as we count down to wish No. 1.

Wish No. 19

The emergence of a 1,000-plus yard rusher for Michigan State football in 2019.

Even though LJ Scott, who initially had thought of redshirting this season, has only played in four games thus far this season, he has changed his mind and has declared for the NFL Draft and will play in the Redbox Bowl game on New Year’s Eve. He was going to be the most experienced running back if were to play next season.

Therefore, Michigan State needs to find a back for the 2019 who can run for over 1,000 yards next season.

The run game has not been productive with Connor Heyward, La’Darius Jefferson and Scott this season even though the coaching staff makes running the ball a top priority.

The last Spartan to run for 1,000 yards or more in a season was Jeremy Langford in 2014 when he accounted for just over 1,500 yards. Scott was close in 2016 when he rushed for 994 yards. The only game that the rushing attack really propelled the Spartans to victory was the Maryland win.

Heyward, Jefferson and Scott combined only had just seven rushing touchdowns this season. Scott’s season-high was not even over 100 yards, when he rushed for 84 vs. Utah State; Jefferson’s season-high was only 60 yards against Penn State; only Heyward had an impressive game with 157 yards rushing versus Maryland.

If anything, Heyward was the most complete back having also rushed for 80-plus yards two other games. In three games this season, the leading rusher was a wide receiver or quarterback. Michigan State must have a Langford-like productive running back next season if it wants to win a Big Ten Championship.

If no running back transfers after this season, the Spartans will have the scholarship backs of Heyward, Jefferson, Weston Bridges, Elijah Collins and incoming freshmen Aaron Young, Anthony Williams Jr. and Brandon Wright for the 2019 season. The favorites to start will be Heyward and Jefferson but would not be surprised in a redshirt or true freshmen emerges as the featured back by the end of next season.

The offensive line will be experienced and hopefully healthy unlike this season. The passing game for Michigan State should be better allowing opposing defenses to not stack up at the line of scrimmage. However, time will tell and here is to wishing for a successful running game next season.

This wish coming true I would put at 35 percent but many would not be surprised if Michigan State were to recapture that 2014 magic and have a productive run game. It it is indeed the holiday season and here is to wishing for a stable and dynamic rushing attack in 2019.