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Michigan State Football: 5 upperclassmen who need to step up in 2019

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 27: Cam Chambers #21 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a catch for a first down and tackled by Markus Bailey #21 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 27: Cam Chambers #21 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a catch for a first down and tackled by Markus Bailey #21 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 27: Cam Chambers #21 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a catch for a first down and tackled by Markus Bailey #21 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 27: Cam Chambers #21 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a catch for a first down and tackled by Markus Bailey #21 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium on October 27, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Michigan State football will have plenty of talented upperclassmen on the roster for 2019, but who needs to step up this season?

When you take a look at Michigan State’s roster heading into the 2019 season, you begin to notice a trend. There are a number of upperclassmen with untapped potential who, if they finally realize it and live up to the hype, could become stars and even legends, depending on how Michigan State finishes the season.

Just look at a guy like Aaron Burbridge in 2015. For years he sat behind some star wide outs and even in his junior season, he watched Tony Lippett win the Big Ten Receiver of the Year award, but he never truly broke out in his own right despite being a four-star recruit.

Then he was handed the reins of the receiving corps in 2015 and went off for over 1,000 yards and won the Big Ten Receiver of the Year award, too. He was one of the best wide outs in the Mark Dantonio era and that came after three quiet years as a role player. He helped Michigan State win the Big Ten and make the playoff, so he’ll always be remembered as a legend.

We could call this the “Burbridge List” because plenty of upperclassmen have the opportunity to do what he did and become legends in their own right after quiet starts to their careers.

Which five upperclassmen need to step up and realize their lofty potential in 2019 in order to lead Michigan State to success?

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