Michigan State Football: 5 breakout candidates for 2019 season

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans leads the team on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

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TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 08: Tight end Matt Dotson #89 of the Michigan State Spartans is unable turnover catch a pass during the first half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

This one is somewhat of an easy pick for me. Trenton Gillison is a 6-4, 267-pound athlete at tight end who came to Michigan State with aspirations of playing both football and baseball, but decided to ditch the latter and focus on the gridiron.

Although he didn’t play much in 2018, he did retain his redshirt, which will be huge for his growth at tight end for the Spartans.

Gillison was one of the highest-rated recruits in Michigan State’s 2018 class and there were high hopes for him early on, but he took the season to adjust and learn the offense. He now enters his redshirt freshman season with high expectations at a position that hasn’t seen a ton of success since 2016 and he could be the one to change that.

While I think Matt Dotson could be one of the best tight ends in the conference, he could use a more than adequate backup, and Gillison is just that.

Don’t be shocked if this kid comes in and becomes a star for the Spartans in 2019 — heck, what quarterback wouldn’t love a 6-7, 270-pound target in the red zone?

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