Michigan State Football: What to make of the backfield situation for 2019

Michigan State football has plenty of question marks surrounding its offense, but what should be made of the backfield situation?

After the first game of the 2018 season, things were looking up for Michigan State’s offense. Brian Lewerke and the Spartans accounted for 38 points, bailing out the defense, and Connor Heyward emerged in the backfield as a budding star.

Nothing could go wrong, right?

Well, not everything worked out as planned. Lewerke ended up getting injured and looked like a shell of his former self, Heyward had some big games but otherwise disappeared behind a lackluster offensive line and the receiving corps couldn’t seem to remain healthy.

There are plenty of question marks heading into the 2019 season on offense such as will Lewerke return to his 2017 form? Or will the offensive line step up and be more than just a mediocre unit?

The biggest question could have to do with the backfield. We all know what Lewerke is capable of when he’s healthy, so keeping him upright is the most important factor in the offense’s success — looking at you, offensive line — but the backfield will also take some pressure off him to do everything. What can we make of the Spartans’ backfield in 2019?

Gone is LJ Scott who struggled as a senior and also couldn’t stay healthy but returning is Heyward who rushed for 529 yards and five touchdowns on 4.5 yards per carry while also catching 32 passes for 249 yards. He did a little of everything, but there’s doubt about whether he’s built to be that No. 1 back.

Behind him is La’Darius Jefferson, a converted dual-threat quarterback, who rushed for 255 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman, but his 3.3 yards per carry left plenty to be desired.

After those two, it’s a battle between Detroit-native Elijah Collins, a redshirt freshman, and true freshman Anthony Williams Jr. who showed off in the spring game, turning some heads.

Who gets the start? Luckily, the Spartans have an experienced back in Heyward who can begin the year as the No. 1 and if he’s given a decent offensive line, he can approach 1,000 yards even if he’s not your typical every-down rusher. Jefferson has some burst and elusiveness, but we didn’t get to see much in 2018 because he was always gobbled up immediately.

Williams Jr. could be one of those breakout stars who takes over the backfield by the end of the year — a-la Le’Veon Bell as a freshman. But don’t sleep on Collins who may be just as elusive, but we have seen just a small sample of him.

The backfield has plenty of solid young pieces, but we could probably expect Heyward to get a bulk of the rushes. If he is held under 5.0 yards per carry, the staff will have no problem turning to the younger guys to get the job done. If you’re asking for my pick as the potential lead back by the end of the year, it’s Williams Jr.