Michigan State football: Jacoby Windmon’s return should spark turnaround

We should have known that Jacoby Windmon wasn’t going to let his last moment in a Michigan State football uniform be in an ugly tunnel incident that saw him get suspended for the remainder of the 2022 regular season.

Earlier this offseason, the All-Big Ten defensive end/linebacker announced that he’d be returning for one final season at Michigan State after breaking out in 2022.

Windmon had 49 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, and he led the nation with six forced fumbles in just eight games. He was a true star on the defensive side of the ball and that was with him not really settling on a position as he flipped between defensive end and linebacker.

It was a great season that ended in a forgettable way.

But his return in 2023 could spark the necessary turnaround that the program needs to get back on track and aimed at lofty goals once again.

Jacoby Windmon will be the leader of Michigan State football’s defense

With Xavier Henderson gone, Windmon will assume the role of leader on the defensive side of the ball. The young guys will look up to him to sort of be that quarterback of the defense and he’s exactly what this unit needs.

Michigan State’s defense improved drastically throughout the 2022 season and Scottie Hazelton’s seat got much cooler as he started to figure things out toward the end of the year.

Now that he gets Windmon back, he has an elite leader he can rely on and he should be one of the best defenders in the entire Big Ten. Michigan State’s defense should see vast improvements next season with the talented 2022 class getting a year older as well as guys like Tunmise Adeleye and a terrific 2023 class coming in.

The defense will be built around Windmon and his return is just what this team needed after a disappointing season. He could spark a major turnaround.