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Michigan State Football: Ranking the position groups heading into 2020

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 26, 2019; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) and Michigan State Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) take the field prior to a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2019; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) and Michigan State Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) take the field prior to a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State’s Kalon Gervin (18) celebrates safety Michael Dowell’s touchdown on the final play of the 40-31 win against Indiana at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Michigan State celebrates, Kalon Gervin
Michigan State’s Kalon Gervin (18) celebrates safety Michael Dowell’s touchdown on the final play of the 40-31 win against Indiana at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Michigan State celebrates, Kalon Gervin /

4. Secondary

Another group that’s incredibly unproven but has a ton of talent and where the coaching staff is elite is the defensive backfield. You have two guys who were drawing some interest to become Michigan State’s next head coach or even the main defensive coordinator, Mike Tressel and Harlon Barnett, coaching the safeties and cornerbacks, respectively.

It’s not often you have two former Power Five defensive coordinators running one position group each in the defensive backfield, but MSU has an embarrassment of riches there.

And Tressel and Barnett have a ton of talent to work with.

Julian Barnett might end up as the star of the show at cornerback, but he’s going to have to beat out some veterans for the starting job. Kalon Gervin is my other favorite to start at corner but the depth behind these two is immense. Shakur Brown has starting experience and could be a go-to guy, Chris Jackson has been a pleasant surprise, Davion Williams has all the talent and athleticism needed and Angelo Grose could surprise as a freshman, Josiah Scott-style.

At safety, Xavier Henderson and Dom Long could be the starters, but don’t sleep on Michael Dowell, Tre Person, Emmanuel Flowers or Darius Snow.

Yeah, this is a talented group.

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