Michigan State Football: 5 most irreplaceable players for 2019 season
A senior middle linebacker and projected All-American performer all the way down at No. 3 on this list? That just goes to show how important the top two players are to the Spartans in 2019.
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The only reason I have Bachie at No. 3 instead of No. 2 or No. 1 is because his backups are capable, especially since the experienced Tyriq Thompson, a fellow senior, has been taking reps as the backup middle linebacker. Yes, Thompson is starting at Sam, but he also has capable backups if Bachie goes down and he can lead the defense.
Would the defense be nearly as good without Bachie? Probably not, which makes him one of the most irreplaceable guys on the team. He’s a proven leader, tough as nails and can get to the ball-carrier in a hurry.
Bachie can do a little of everything, too. He showed in last year’s opener that he can make big plays in the clutch such as batting a pass into the air at the line of scrimmage and then coming down with it for a big game-sealing interception against Utah State.
If the Spartans lost Bachie, the season’s outlook would be grim.