3 post-spring 2024 breakout candidates on defense for Michigan State football

Spring is in the books and Michigan State football is officially about three months away from the kickoff of the Jonathan Smith era in Spartan Stadium against FAU.

The Spartans will open the season as 11-point favorites against Florida Atlantic which seems like a slim margin, but there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding this year's new-look team. To be fair, Smith has pretty much flipped the entire roster. Three dozen players transferred out and two dozen transferred in along with a 21-man 2024 recruiting class.

We did learn some things from spring ball about both sides of the ball including guys who could be ready for a breakout. These are my top three post-spring breakout candidates for MSU defensively.

3. Chance Rucker, CB

There may be a lot of people who are confused about this selection given the fact that Jonathan Smith brought in Ed Woods, Lejond Cavazos, and Jeremiah Hughes from the transfer portal, but I think those additions (outside of Woods and potentially Hughes) are more for the depth of the position group as a whole. You have to remember how bad the pass defense was last year.

Rucker, however, was one of the few bright spots. He finished his true freshman season with 23 total tackles, four pass breakups, and an interception. He looked like a guy who could compete for a starting job as a sophomore and I fully expect him to do that.

I think we're going to see Dillon Tatum move back to safety and Woods will start at one of the cornerback spots but I wouldn't be shocked to see Rucker at the other. He's that good, in my opinion and he just needs an opportunity to prove it.