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Michigan State Football: 5 breakout candidates for 2019 season

By Connor Muldowney

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)
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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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 17: Safety Xavier Henderson #3 of the Michigan State Spartans tackles punt returner Stanley Morgan Jr. #8 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers after a fair catch call as a penalty flag is thrown in the second half at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 17: Safety Xavier Henderson #3 of the Michigan State Spartans tackles punt returner Stanley Morgan Jr. #8 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers after a fair catch call as a penalty flag is thrown in the second half at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Everyone is already familiar with the name, but Xavier Henderson has the game to put himself on the map nationally. Sure, Michigan State fans know all about Henderson and his endless potential, but he’s going to be a household name on a conference-wide level this season.

Henderson didn’t get a ton of playing time behind All-Big Ten safety Khari Willis last season, but he still managed to burn that redshirt and finish his freshman year with 15 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. He has ‘big-play ability’ written all over him and since he was so highly-touted out of high school, the spotlight doesn’t negatively affect him.

Now that Willis is gone, Michigan State will need him to be more of a vocal leader alongside David Dowell in 2019. He has some gigantic shoes to fill and it’s going to take an all-conference breakout season to do just that.

Next. 5 reasons MSU football will contend in 2019. dark

Though Willis was a monster on Michigan State’s defense, many believe Henderson is a better athlete and his ceiling is even higher. That’s a scary thought for those who followed Khari’s career.

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