Michigan State football has the most returning production in the country for 2018

According to SB Nation’s Bill Connelly, the Michigan State Spartans are returning the most production on the gridiron out of any school in the nation in 2018.

Michigan State returns 92 percent of its offensive production, which ranks third in the NCAA only behind the UAB Blazers and Baylor Bears. The Spartans also return 91 percent of production on defense, which ranks fifth.

With an overall return rate of 92 percent, MSU ranks No. 1 in total returning production for college football in 2018.

Kansas is the only other school to return more than 90 percent of productions on both sides of the ball, and has an overall return rate of 91 percent.

This is not all that surprising, seeing how Michigan State only had 12 seniors on its entire roster in 2017. However, it is very promising to see the numbers and understand that 92 percent of the production from a team that went 10-3 with a Holiday Bowl victory will be on the field next season.

Let’s also remember that MSU’s 2018 recruiting class currently ranks 27th nationally (per 247Sports), and is the second highest rated class ever in the Mark Dantonio era — and that’s with National Signing Day still two days away.

The Spartans return their leading passer (Brian Lewerke), leading rusher (LJ Scott), top-three wide receivers (Felton Davis III, Darrell Stewart Jr. and Cody White) and four-fifths of the starting offensive line from the 2017 season.

Defensively, the Spartans return 10 starters, with Chris Frey Jr. and Demetrius Cooper graduating. The kicking game should be solid as well, with kicker Matt Coghlin and punter Jake Hartbarger also returning.

It’s been hard to focus on football right now, because what is happening at the university is so much bigger than athletics. But in terms of the football field, Michigan State should be in great shape next season.