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Michigan State Football: 10 post-spring bold predictions for 2019 season

By Connor Muldowney

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans eludes Dylan Hanser #33 of the Washington State Cougars on a run play during the second half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans eludes Dylan Hanser #33 of the Washington State Cougars on a run play during the second half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football has wrapped up spring ball and we know a bit more about the Spartans heading into 2019. It’s time to get bold.

After going 3-9 in 2016, a 7-6 campaign would have sounded heavenly, but expectations were back to normal after the 2017 season. The Spartans finished 10-3 and the future of the program was extremely bright but it only led to disappointment.

Michigan State lost a few games it should have won and the offense was about as disappointing as anything. Brian Lewerke suffered a shoulder injury and wasn’t the same and Dave Warner essentially ran the offense into the ground with his unimaginative play-calling and misuse of certain players’ strengths.

Now that Brad Salem is in charge of the offense, things are looking up. We won’t know more about the offense for a few months, but the spring game brought some positives and optimism is back — or at least it should be.

With the 2019 season right around the corner, it’s time to get bold.

10. Xavier Henderson leads team in interceptions

All aboard the Xavier Henderson hype train. The bandwagon is almost full and if you don’t jump on soon, you’ll be left in the dust when Henderson is named to an All-Big Ten team in 2019.

The sophomore safety is the top choice to take over for Khari Willis in the secondary and he has some major shoes to fill. He showed flashes in 2018 with 15 total tackles, but never truly got to see extended action. That’ll all change and the excitement surrounding him is real.

Henderson has all the tools to be a star in the secondary and he’ll not only start the season with his first career pick against Tulsa, but he’ll finish it as the team leader in interceptions with six.

Michigan State’s secondary is approaching ‘No Fly Zone’ status and the emergence of Henderson will only strengthen the 2019 outlook.

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