Michigan State will boast one of the best defenses in all of college football next season thanks in part to the three players listed among the top 100 in college football according to Sports Illustrated.
Linebacker Joe Bachie comes in at no. 92 , standout defensive tackle Raequan Williams is no. 72 and defensive end Kenny Willekes is the highest rated Spartan at no. 52.
Below are the excerpts for the MSU players:
92. Michigan State LB Joe Bachie
Bachie has racked up triple-digit tackles in each of the past two seasons, setting the tone in the middle for two top-five run defenses. After putting off the NFL for another year, he needs to keep the Spartans’ standards high on that side of the ball until the offense catches up.
74. Michigan State DL Raequan Williams
Though many expected him to declare for the draft and leave his college days behind, Williams will play out his senior season as the Spartans’ most disruptive force up front. He racked up a career-high 53 tackles (17 solo, 36 assists) as a junior as his team allowed just 77.9 rushing yards per game.
52. Michigan State DL Kenny Willekes
Willekes, a former walk-on, is a dominant pass-rusher coming off the edge. He led the country with 23 quarterback hits in 2018, per Pro Football Focus, and he was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after racking up a hefty 20.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He broke his leg in Michigan State’s Redbox Bowl loss to Oregon, which limited him in the spring, though he should be ready to go full-throttle and pick up where he left off when the season arrives.
