Michigan State Football: 5 reasons Spartans will shock the Big Ten in 2019

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TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 08: (R-L) Khari Willis #27, Brian Lewerke #14, Joe Bachie #35, David Dowell #6 and basketball head coach Mike Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans walk out to mid field for the coin toss to 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) /

4. Plenty of leadership

Losing Khari Willis hurts. He was one of the best leaders in the Mark Dantonio era, but what Michigan State brings back will more than make up for it.

Let’s start with the defensive side of the ball because that’s where most of the magic has happened over the past couple of years.

Joe Bachie, Raequan Williams, Kenny Willekes, Mike Panasiuk, Tyriq Thompson, David Dowell, Josiah Scott, Josh Butler and even Jacub Panasiuk have shown that they’re capable of playing leader roles over the past couple of seasons. Sure, some are there just because they’re upperclassmen, but they’ve earned that right to be called leaders as well.

Bachie, Williams and Willekes could very well be named captains in 2019.

On offense, you have a guy like Brian Lewerke who has stepped up more this offseason, Cody White who Bachie stated has taken on more of a leader’s role, Darrell Stewart Jr. and a few guys on the offensive line who hold people accountable.

There are leaders just about everywhere, and that usually sets up a successful season.

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