Michigan State Football: Predicting each statistical category leader for 2022

Tackles: Xavier Henderson

Cal Haladay led the team in tackles last year with 96 and Xavier Henderson was right behind him with 94 and I think the latter is going to overtake the former this year.

Henderson is aggressive against the run and is the last line of defense against the pass and I think we’ll see him have a big year when it comes to tackles but I do believe Haladay will step back because of the additions of Jacoby Windmon and Aaron Brule.

Tackles for loss: Jacoby Windmon

A year ago, Windmon led UNLV in tackles for loss at 11.5 and he racked up 119 total tackles so I could also see him leading the team in that category, but his instincts are impressive to take this category. He could even be up there in sacks. I see Windmon being used in ways that highlight his strengths and he’ll find his way into the backfield often.

Sacks: Jacob Slade

This was a toss-up between two guys. On one hand, Jacob Slade is likely to be an All-Big Ten performer in the middle of that defensive line, and on the other, Khris Bogle is an athletic freak who is finally playing on a defense that’s going to take pressure off him.

Slade is going to lead the team in sacks after having just 2.5 last year, but it wouldn’t shock me one bit if Bogle caught up to him.

Interceptions: Angelo Grose

This one was tough and I almost chose Ronald Williams here, but I think one of the safeties is going to lead the team in picks and Angelo Grose is going to have a breakout year.

Let’s go with Grose picking off four passes.