Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: 5 post-spring 2019 questions facing Spartans

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - AUGUST 31: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans throws a first half pass while playing the Utah State Aggies at Spartan Stadium on August 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - AUGUST 31: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans throws a first half pass while playing the Utah State Aggies at Spartan Stadium on August 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 31: Dillon Mitchell #13 of the Oregon Ducks catches a touchdown pass over Josiah Scott #22 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half of the Redbox Bowl at Levi’s Stadium on December 31, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 31: Dillon Mitchell #13 of the Oregon Ducks catches a touchdown pass over Josiah Scott #22 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half of the Redbox Bowl at Levi’s Stadium on December 31, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Can defensive backfield reload?

Khari Willis and Justin Layne will be patiently waiting to hear their names called during the 2019 NFL Draft this weekend while their former team will be looking to adequately replace them.

Michigan State has replacement options for both of them in Josh Butler, and a host of cornerbacks, along with Xavier Henderson.

Butler, a senior, has been waiting his turn to start at cornerback for a few years now and enters his fifth year with the program with high expectations. Henderson, a sophomore, was the most highly-touted prospect from the Spartans’ 2018 class and he played well as a true freshman.

Replacing Willis (a potential 2-3 rounder) and Layne (a presumed second-rounder) won’t be easy but Butler has the experience and is flanked by guys like Kalon Gervin, Christian Jackson, Shakur Brown and Davion Williams and Henderson has been talked about as a future All-Big Ten selection.

Can the defensive backfield adequately reload or will it be an adjustment period after the departures of Willis and Layne? The spring game didn’t provide a ton of clarity, but guys like Butler, Gervin and Brown stepped up nicely.

Home/Spartans Football