Michigan State Football: 10 bold predictions for 2019 season
7. Kenny Willekes wins Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
Winning the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award in 2018 was huge for Kenny Willekes — in case you haven’t heard it a million times by now, he was a walk-on to start his MSU career. He went from zero to hero in just a few years in East Lansing and had a chance to make the leap to the NFL with a year of eligibility remaining.
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Breaking his leg in the Redbox Bowl changed his mindset and he decided to come back for his final season at Michigan State with expectations through the roof. While he is the reigning defensive lineman of the year in the conference, many believe it’ll be a toss-up between Chase Young and A.J. Epenesa this season.
But another big year from Willekes where he will total 70-plus tackles, 11 sacks and 23 tackles for loss will lead to back-to-back Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year awards.
On top of that, he will be named the conference’s best defender, beating out teammate Joe Bachie, Northwestern’s Paddy Fisher, Epenesa and Young.
A Spartan hasn’t won this award since Greg Jones took it home in 2009, but Willekes will change that in 2019. This will also help his draft stock as he’ll get first-round consideration.