Michigan State Football: 5 defensive players with most to prove in 2019

The 2019 season is right around the corner and while Michigan State football has one of the best defenses in the nation, these guys have something to prove.

With how poor the offense was in 2018 and how elite the defense turned out to be, it’s hard to even imagine anyone involved with the latter has anything to prove.

But the defensive unit has some new faces in the starting lineup and others vying for spots on the two-deep for when the regular season rolls around. There are plenty of defensive players with something to prove, but which five guys are feeling the most pressure?

Jack Camper’s move from tight end out of high school to defensive end as a redshirt freshman was surprising, but it seemed to do him some good.

No longer would he be buried 4-5 spots down the depth chart at the tight end position, but he looked to crack the two-deep at defensive end even though he missed six games in 2018. He showed flashes of being a solid backup end, but struggled to stay on the field and even missed all of spring with a foot injury.

Although the expectations surrounding him aren’t incredibly high, there are many people hoping he can prove to be an adequate enough backup to show that he has the ability to replace a guy like Kenny Willekes when he graduates this year.

Camper has had a quiet defensive career thus far, but the talent is there and the necessity for him to become a solid contributor is present.