Michigan State Football: 5 reasons Spartans will be contenders in 2019

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio looks on after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in 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: Head coach Mark Dantonio looks on after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in 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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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 27: D.J. Knox #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball and tackled by Michigan State Spartans defense in the first quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 27: D.J. Knox #1 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball and tackled by Michigan State Spartans defense in the first quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Defense will be elite

This one should come as no surprise. Michigan State had one of the best defenses in the nation last year and many believe the Spartans will have the top unit in the Big Ten for 2019.

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The front-seven is all back, essentially, and it combined to form the best run defense in the land. Joe Bachie and Kenny Willekes are All-American talents and Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk could be All-Big Ten talents — Jacob Panasiuk and Antjuan Williams could be just that, too.

The secondary will have to replace Justin Layne and Khari Willis, but Xavier Henderson is one of the most talented young players the Spartans have had back there in a while. Josh Butler has patiently waited for his turn at cornerback and now he can prove himself as a lockdown guy.

Mike Tressel has done an excellent job with the defense and all those fans who claimed “no one can live up to Pat Narduzzi” are starting to look silly because he’s one of the top defensive coordinators in the conference.

This defense is going to be elite in 2019 and as long as the offense is even average, the Spartans should win 10-plus games.