Michigan State University Athletics
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Spartan NFL Combine Report: Monday
3/4/2019 4:31:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – On the final day of the NFL Combine, former Spartans Justin Layne and Khari Willis had their turn to impress NFL coaches and personnel as the defensive backs performed on-field testing at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday.
Willis, who led all defensive backs with 22 reps on the bench press on Sunday, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. The Jackson, Michigan, native measured in at 5-11, 213 pounds and had a vertical jump of 34.5 inches and a broad jump of 118 inches (9'10").
"They're saying they like what they see, they're giving me pretty positive feedback," Willis said when he met with the media on Sunday. "Some of the things that I thought were my strengths, they thought they were as well; some of the things I need to work on, they thought the same."
Willis mentioned that the teams liked his leadership skills, versatility, tackling ability in space, range in terms of covering receivers, and making plays on the ball.
"He knows everything on the defense," Layne said regarding Willis. "He's just so smart and watches so much film. Off the field, he's somebody that I want to be like when I'm older, as far as his faith and how much he's involved in the community and church. He's a great guy."
Layne, who measured in at 6-2, 192 pounds, was a top performer in several categories on Monday. He recorded a leap of 134 inches (11'2") in the broad jump, which was second farthest among the 36 cornerbacks and tied for eighth overall at this year's combine. He also came in fifth in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.09 seconds and ninth in the 3-cone drill at 6.90 seconds. His vertical jump of 37.5 inches ranked 13th in the cornerback group and his 40-yard dash time of 4.50 seconds was just outside the top 15.
Michigan State has had 12 defensive backs participate in the NFL Scouting Combine since Mark Dantonio took over as head coach in 2007, the most of any position at MSU during that time period, including first-round cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard (Bengals, 2014) and Trae Waynes (Vikings, 2015).
NEXT UP: Michigan State will host its annual Pro Day on Monday, March 18.
KHARI WILLIS BIO:
A native of Jackson, Michigan, Khari Willis was a four-year letterwinner (2015-18) for the Spartans who played in 46 career games, including 30 starting assignments at safety. He ended his career with 26 straight starts at safety in 2017 and 2018 and was voted a team captain as a senior. Willis recorded 196 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, along with four interceptions and 16 pass break-ups in his career.
Willis had a career year in 2018 – both on and off the field. A second-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and third-team pick by the media and Athlon Sports, he recorded a career-high 84 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions for the Spartans as a senior, including a career-high 15 stops against Ohio State. He ranked tied for seventh in the Big Ten with his 10 pass break-ups.
Willis was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Spartans with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in MSU's 21-17 win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13. He also forced a fumble on PSU quarterback Trace McSorley in the first quarter as MSU held Penn State to then-season lows in points (17) and first downs (14).
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Willis graduated with a bachelor's degree in December 2018 as an interdisciplinary studies in social science major, with an emphasis on community governance & advocacy. He was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete. The award is also widely known as the "Academic Heisman."
On Oct. 24, Willis was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Former Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins won the award in 2011.
Willis took the national stage last summer, serving as the keynote player speaker at the 2018 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon in Chicago, and delivered an inspirational speech calling on his fellow Big Ten players to make a difference in their communities. He received a standing ovation and video of his speech went viral across social media (158,000 views on Twitter; 98,000 views on Facebook; nearly 10,000 on YouTube). He was selected a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented annually to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement, and was MSU's nominee for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team.
Willis was the 15th Spartan under Dantonio to participate in the Senior Bowl.
JUSTIN LAYNE BIO:
A three-year letterwinner, Justin Layne played in 34 career games, including 26 starts at cornerback (five in 2016, nine in 2017, 12 in 2018). He also saw brief time at wide receiver in 2016 and 2018. Layne finished his career with 130 career tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss (15 yards) and a half sack (3 yards), and had 24 career pass break-ups and three interceptions. He began his Spartan career as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback midway through his first season in 2016, but saw action at wide receiver in two games in 2018 due to injuries on the offensive side of the ball. He elected to forgo his senior season to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the media, coaches, Associated Press, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Layne was the recipient of MSU's most outstanding underclass back award on defense. He recorded a career-high 15 pass break-ups, tied for eighth most in an MSU single-season; that total also tied for first in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS. His 16 passes defended also ranked tied for first in the Big Ten (15 PBUs, one interception). Layne ranked fifth on the team with a career-high 72 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and had at least one pass break-up in eight of 12 games.
The 6-3, 185-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, played both offense and defense in the win over Purdue on Oct. 27. Layne tallied a career-high four pass break-ups and registered seven tackles in playing 64 defensive snaps against the Boilermakers, and caught one pass for 11 yards and was targeted four times in 16 offensive snaps. He was named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week for his performance vs. Purdue. Layne was also named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after matching career highs with 10 tackles and four pass break-ups against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
Layne had 40 tackles, eight pass break-ups and one interception as a sophomore in 2017 and 18 tackles, one interception and one pass break-ups as a freshman in 2016.
Willis, who led all defensive backs with 22 reps on the bench press on Sunday, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. The Jackson, Michigan, native measured in at 5-11, 213 pounds and had a vertical jump of 34.5 inches and a broad jump of 118 inches (9'10").
"They're saying they like what they see, they're giving me pretty positive feedback," Willis said when he met with the media on Sunday. "Some of the things that I thought were my strengths, they thought they were as well; some of the things I need to work on, they thought the same."
Willis mentioned that the teams liked his leadership skills, versatility, tackling ability in space, range in terms of covering receivers, and making plays on the ball.
"He knows everything on the defense," Layne said regarding Willis. "He's just so smart and watches so much film. Off the field, he's somebody that I want to be like when I'm older, as far as his faith and how much he's involved in the community and church. He's a great guy."
Layne, who measured in at 6-2, 192 pounds, was a top performer in several categories on Monday. He recorded a leap of 134 inches (11'2") in the broad jump, which was second farthest among the 36 cornerbacks and tied for eighth overall at this year's combine. He also came in fifth in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.09 seconds and ninth in the 3-cone drill at 6.90 seconds. His vertical jump of 37.5 inches ranked 13th in the cornerback group and his 40-yard dash time of 4.50 seconds was just outside the top 15.
Michigan State has had 12 defensive backs participate in the NFL Scouting Combine since Mark Dantonio took over as head coach in 2007, the most of any position at MSU during that time period, including first-round cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard (Bengals, 2014) and Trae Waynes (Vikings, 2015).
NEXT UP: Michigan State will host its annual Pro Day on Monday, March 18.
KHARI WILLIS BIO:
A native of Jackson, Michigan, Khari Willis was a four-year letterwinner (2015-18) for the Spartans who played in 46 career games, including 30 starting assignments at safety. He ended his career with 26 straight starts at safety in 2017 and 2018 and was voted a team captain as a senior. Willis recorded 196 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, along with four interceptions and 16 pass break-ups in his career.
Willis had a career year in 2018 – both on and off the field. A second-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and third-team pick by the media and Athlon Sports, he recorded a career-high 84 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions for the Spartans as a senior, including a career-high 15 stops against Ohio State. He ranked tied for seventh in the Big Ten with his 10 pass break-ups.
Willis was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Spartans with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in MSU's 21-17 win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13. He also forced a fumble on PSU quarterback Trace McSorley in the first quarter as MSU held Penn State to then-season lows in points (17) and first downs (14).
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Willis graduated with a bachelor's degree in December 2018 as an interdisciplinary studies in social science major, with an emphasis on community governance & advocacy. He was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete. The award is also widely known as the "Academic Heisman."
On Oct. 24, Willis was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Former Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins won the award in 2011.
Willis took the national stage last summer, serving as the keynote player speaker at the 2018 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon in Chicago, and delivered an inspirational speech calling on his fellow Big Ten players to make a difference in their communities. He received a standing ovation and video of his speech went viral across social media (158,000 views on Twitter; 98,000 views on Facebook; nearly 10,000 on YouTube). He was selected a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented annually to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement, and was MSU's nominee for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team.
Willis was the 15th Spartan under Dantonio to participate in the Senior Bowl.
JUSTIN LAYNE BIO:
A three-year letterwinner, Justin Layne played in 34 career games, including 26 starts at cornerback (five in 2016, nine in 2017, 12 in 2018). He also saw brief time at wide receiver in 2016 and 2018. Layne finished his career with 130 career tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss (15 yards) and a half sack (3 yards), and had 24 career pass break-ups and three interceptions. He began his Spartan career as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback midway through his first season in 2016, but saw action at wide receiver in two games in 2018 due to injuries on the offensive side of the ball. He elected to forgo his senior season to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the media, coaches, Associated Press, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Layne was the recipient of MSU's most outstanding underclass back award on defense. He recorded a career-high 15 pass break-ups, tied for eighth most in an MSU single-season; that total also tied for first in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS. His 16 passes defended also ranked tied for first in the Big Ten (15 PBUs, one interception). Layne ranked fifth on the team with a career-high 72 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and had at least one pass break-up in eight of 12 games.
The 6-3, 185-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, played both offense and defense in the win over Purdue on Oct. 27. Layne tallied a career-high four pass break-ups and registered seven tackles in playing 64 defensive snaps against the Boilermakers, and caught one pass for 11 yards and was targeted four times in 16 offensive snaps. He was named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week for his performance vs. Purdue. Layne was also named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after matching career highs with 10 tackles and four pass break-ups against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
Layne had 40 tackles, eight pass break-ups and one interception as a sophomore in 2017 and 18 tackles, one interception and one pass break-ups as a freshman in 2016.
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