Michigan State football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018

Bill Bender

Michigan State football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018 image

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio eased doubts about his program in 2017 by leading the Spartans to a 10-3 season, highlighted by victories against Michigan and Penn State. That came one year after a 3-9 disaster in 2016.

The Spartans proved again they can compete in the Big Ten East Division, but Dantonio must prove it all over again. An ESPN OTL investigation made several allegations about the program's handling of sexual assaults, but Dantonio denied those claims after dismissing three players in an off-campus incident last offseason. Interim president John Engler supports Dantonio moving forward.

MORE: Big Ten early conference primer

It's an indication the Spartans will be under the microscope this season, both on and off the field. Michigan State is ranked 13th in Sporting News' updated way-too-early top 25, and quarterback Brian Lewerke leads an experience team capable of making another run in the division.

Here's an early look at the Spartans:

Michigan State schedule 2018

DateOpponentLocation
April 7Green-White Spring GameEast Lansing, Mich.
Aug. 31vs. Utah State (Friday)East Lansing, Mich.
Sept. 8at Arizona StateTempe, Ariz.
Sept. 15ByeOff
Sept. 22at IndianaBloomington, Ind.
Sept. 29Central MichiganEast Lansing, Mich.
Oct. 6NorthwesternEast Lansing, Mich.
Oct. 13at No. 10 Penn StateState College, Pa.
Oct. 20No. 17 MichiganEast Lansing, Mich.
Oct. 27PurdueEast Lansing, Mich.
Nov. 3at MarylandCollege Park, Md.
Nov. 10No. 4 Ohio StateEast Lansing, Mich.
Nov. 17at NebraskaLincoln, Neb.
Nov. 24RutgersEast Lansing, Mich.
Dec. 1Big Ten championshipIndianapolis
Bold denotes Big Ten game

Michigan State football recruiting 2018

Michigan State's 2018 recruiting class 32nd according to 247Sports' Composite team rankings. Dantonio thrives on developing three-star talent, so this isn't a big deal. Four-star cornerback Kalon Gervin (Cass Tech, Detroit) is the highest-ranked player in the class, and a pair of high school teammates from Pickerington Central (Ohio) High School in tight end Trenton Gillison and athlete Xavier Henderson will be exciting down the line. It's a solid class.

MORE: NCAA misses mark on Notre Dame

Michigan State roster 2018

Michigan State's football roster will be updated in the spring. Last year's roster can be seen here

No.NamePos.Year
2Justin LayneCBJr.
3LJ ScottRBSr.
3Xavier HendersonDBFr.
4Matt CoghlinKSo.
4C.J. HayesWRR-Fr.
5Andrew DowellLBSr.
6David DowellSJr.
6Theo DayQBFr.
7Cody WhiteWRSo.
9Dominique LongSSo.
10Matt MorrisseySSr.
11Connor HeywardRBSo.
12Nick KrummWRJr.
12Rocky LombardiQBR-Fr.
13Mickey MaciusQBSr.
13Laress NelsonWRSo.
14Brian LewerkeQBJr.
14Emmanuel FlowersCBR-Fr.
15Tyson SmithCBSr.
16Austin AndrewsSSo.
16Brandon SowardsWRSr.
17Tyriq ThompsonLBJr.
18Felton Davis IIIWRSr.
18Kalon GervinCBFr.
19Julian MajorWRFr.
19Josh ButlerCBJr.
20Davis LewandowskiWRJr.
21Cam ChambersWRSo.
22Josiah ScottCBSo.
24Tre PersonSSo.
25Jake HartbargerPSr.
25Darrell Stewart Jr.WRJr.
26Brandon RandleLBSo.
27Weston BridgesRBR-Fr.
27Khari WillisSFr.
29Shakur BrownCBR-Fr.
30Tanner HallockLBR-Fr.
31Edward WarinnerLBFr.
32Corey PryorDBSo.
34Antjuan SimmonsLBSo.
35Joe BachieLBJr.
36Jiah NormanCBR-Fr.
36Noah SargentRBSo.
37Dante RazzanoLBSr.
38Byron BulloughLBSr.
39Alante ThomasRBSo.
40Collin LucasFBSr.
41Reid BurtonFBSo.
41Gerald OwensDLSr.
42Brent MossburgLBR-Fr.
43Jack MandrykSR-Fr.
44Max RosenthalFBR-Fr.
44Grayson MillerSSr.
45Ben LineFBSr.
47Ryan ArmourSNJr.
47Noah HarveyLBR-Fr.
48Kenny WillekesDEJr.
52Dillon AlexanderDESr.
54Mitchell SokolLBR-Fr.
55Jordan ReidOTSo.
56Matt CarrickOGR-Fr.
57Collin CaflischSNJr.
59David BeedleOGSr.
61Cole ChewinsOTJr.
62Luke CampbellOTSo.
63Noah ListermannOTJr.
64Matt AllenOLSo.
66Blake BueterOTR-Fr.
67Bryce WilkerCJr.
69Tommy LiesveldOLSo.
70Tyler HigbyOGJr.
72Mike Panasiuk Sr. DTJr.
74Jack HenrichsOLR-Fr.
75Kevin JarvisOGSo.
76AJ ArcuriOTSo.
77Dimitri DouglasOLFr.
79Mustafa KhaleefahOTR-Fr.
80Matt SeybertTEJr.
81Matt SokolTESr.
82Javez AlexanderWRFr.
83Hill-HuntDTSo.
84Noah DavisTESo.
85Khylin BartonWRSo.
86Drew BeesleyDLSo.
87Jahz WattsWRR-Fr.
88Andre WelchWRSo.
89Matt DotsonTESo.
91Jack CamperDER-Fr.
92DeAri ToddDER-Fr.
93Jack McKennaK/PR-Fr.
93Naquan JonesDTSo.
94Chase GianacakosTESr.
96Jacub PanasiukDESo.
97Justice AlexanderDEJr.
97Tyler HuntKR-Fr.
98Cole HahnKR-Fr.
99Raequan WilliamsDTJr.

What to watch in 2018:

1. Will Lewerke, Scott go next level?

Michigan State thrives with steady quarterback play and a bruising running game, and it has strength at both positions in 2018. Brian Lewerke might be Dantonio's most distinctive quarterback yet: He finished with 2,793 passing yards with 20 touchdowns to seven interceptions last year, adding 559 rushing yards and five touchdowns. If Lewerke continues on that curve, he could work into the fringe Heisman conversation. Leading 2017 rusher LJ Scott (898 yards, eight touchdowns) also decided to return to school.

2. Will solid receivers turn into stars?

Hunter Rison and Trishton Jackson transferred in the offseason, perhaps because the Spartans have three solid options at the top of their receiving corps. Felton Davis III (776 yards, nine touchdowns), Darrell Stewart Jr. (501 yards, two touchdowns) and Cody White (490 yards, four touchdowns) gave Lewerke consistent targets in the passing game. The Spartans could use more out of the tight end spot, where Matt Sokol figures to start. This should be a balanced offense, but it needs to put up more than the 24.5 points per game it produced in 2017.

3. Who lets the Dawgs out?

The "Spartan Dawgs" allowed 20.3 points per game last season, which ranked 23rd in the FBS. Defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett took the same position at Florida State, so Mike Tressel takes over coordinator duties. There's continuity there, and former Michigan State assistant Don Treadwell is back on staff with the defensive backs. Most of the key pieces on defense are back, including leading tackler Joe Bachie and defensive end Kenny Willekes, who led the Spartans in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (13) last year.

Bill Bender

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.