Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from disappointing 2018 season

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 13: La’Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans reaches for a 1 yard touchdown in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

3. Running back battle will be wide open in 2019

This is good news for the Spartans. With LJ Scott gone — he will be missed — and Connor Heyward looking more like a slot receiver than a feature back, the backfield will have a major void to fill in 2019.

So who will it be?

That’s the beauty of an open competition — the best option will win out. The Spartans will have plenty of runners to choose from such as La’Darius Jefferson, Weston Bridges, Elijah Collins and a couple of incoming freshmen. Heyward, too, could make a case if he improves his vision and ability to hit the holes, but he looks to be headed for a position change.

Michigan State hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2014 with Jeremy Langford and that has to be killing Mark Dantonio inside. He has prided himself on building a ground-and-pound offense but without an adequate offensive line, nothing will be fixed in 2019, even with the right guy in the backfield.

Options will be aplenty heading into spring ball, but the coaching staff must make the right fixes in order to make sure the chosen back succeeds.

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