Michigan State Football: 3 things to know about new DC Joe Rossi

3. Rossi puts defenders in the NFL

Since Joe Rossi took over as defensive coordinator in 2018, 10 Minnesota defensive players have been drafted in the NFL.

I know I'm not breaking major news here, but Minnesota isn't exactly a football factory like Alabama or Georgia so to get players that aren't top recruits in a popular spot shows that he can develop players which is perfect for a place like Michigan State. The Spartans won't get all the top players so development is necessary to compete, but the boosters, facilities, and amenities will help get a good mix of talented players as well as players that weren't recruited by Michigan, Ohio State, or Notre game and will come into college football with something to prove.

Perhaps Rossi's best development is Antoine Winfield Jr. He was a two-star recruit out of Texas with offers from schools like Eastern Michigan, Texas State, and Wyoming. Missouri and Minnesota were his best offers and ultimately chose the latter. While he had an exceptional freshman year, injuries derailed his next two. But in Rossi's first full year as defensive coordinator, Winfield Jr. had his best year including leading the Big Ten in interceptions and winning Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. He was drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won a Super Bowl.

To say that he took a two-star safety to a top-50 pick is a heck of a recruiting pitch.