Michigan State Football: Can 2019 defense be better than 2013’s?
By Ryan Kay
Individual accomplishments of players on 2019 defense
- Kenny Willekes, DE: Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and named All-Big Ten first-team by both the media and coaches. Also a first-team All-American by The Athletic and second-team All-American by the Sporting News.
- Raequan Williams, DT: Named first-team All-Big Ten by the Associated Press and third-team All-Big Ten by coaches.
- Joe Bachie, LB: Named All-Big Ten first-team by the coaches and ESPN.com.
- David Dowell, S: Named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media.
- Mike Panasiuk, DT: Named honorable mention All-Big Ten by both coaches and media.
Key stats, facts, past accomplishments from 2019 defense
- Statistically, last season they held opposing offenses on average on the season to 225.2 passing per game as well as limiting opponents to 77.9 yards rushing per game.
- No. 1 rushing defense in the country in 2018.
- In 2018, the Spartan defense held Oregon, Nebraska and Maryland to single-digits and limited Penn State, Arizona State, Purdue and Rutgers to 17 or less points.
- The defense was instrumental in getting the Spartans to seven wins and being bowl eligible when the offense scored two or less touchdowns in wins against Maryland, Rutgers and Purdue.
Even though preseason individual recognitions are no guarantee of how well the players will perform in the upcoming season, many members of the 2019 defense are getting plenty of preseason hype and build up.
Kenny Willekes and Joe Bachie have been named in multiple preseason top 50 players list by ESPN, PFF and Athlon. Both student athletes made either first or second-team preseason All-American teams for Sporting News, CFN, Athlon and Lindys. Josiah Scott, Willekes and Bachie have all been named to 2019 National College Football Awards Association Watch Lists.
The best unit on the defense will be on the line with Willekes, Raequan Williams and the Panasiuk brothers. There is also depth on the line with Naquan Jones, Jacob Slade, Zach Slade, Dashaun Mallory, Jack Camper and Drew Beesley. Many starters and contributors on this unit are seniors with experience.
Michigan State’s defensive line is ranked No. 1 in the country for the preseason according to Bleacher Report and top-three by Phil Steele.
The linebacking unit is lead by Bachie who, according to Sports Illustrated, is a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate. The other two starting linebackers are Tyriq Thompson and Antjuan Simmons and both would start on the majority of the other Big Ten teams. This unit has more athleticism and speed than analysts give them credit for but they lack overall depth.
However, Brandon Bouyer-Randle and three red-shirt freshmen look to contribute and back up a strong and solid group of starting linebackers.
The secondary may not have the experience as the defensive line but it has depth, speed and talent. The defensive backs are lead by Scott and free safety David Dowell will anchor the back-end of the back-four with the talented, but young, Xavier Henderson. Starting at the other corner position is fifth-year senior Josh Butler.
This unit has experienced and talented backups in Shakur Brown, Kalon Gervin, Tre Person, Davion Williams, Christian Jackson, Dominique Long and Michael Dowell.