Michigan State football's Jacoby Windmon returning for 2023 season
Michigan State football is getting another major piece back for 2023.
Jacoby Windmon announced via Twitter on Saturday his plans to return to the Spartans for his fifth season of eligibility.
“Although this year did not end how we wanted it to, I do believe it is a part of building a program,” Windmon wrote in his announcement. “Trust the process and everything else will work itself out. Before moving on to the next chapter of my life, there is some unfinished business. I believe my story in East Lansing is not over. Continuing my path to greatness as a Spartan Dawg for another year while getting my degree is important to me. Let's end this chapter on the right now alongside with my Spartan Dawg family.”
— JWindmon (@JW1NDMON) December 24, 2022
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Windmon, a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season, started the first eight games between defensive end and linebacker before being suspended for the final four games for his role in an incident in the Michigan Stadium tunnel on Oct. 29.
He led the nation with six forced fumbles and a team-high 5.5 sacks among his 49 tackles at the time of his suspension. Windmon also had an interception and a fumble recovery.
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The 6-foot-2, 250-pound New Orleans native was a second-team midseason All-American edge defender according to Pro Football Focus but did not receive postseason Big Ten honors.
Windmon played three seasons at UNLV, twice earning All-Mountain West honors, before transferring to MSU in January. His return gives the Spartans a boost at linebacker, along with second-team All-Big Ten selection Cal Haladay.
"Football has and will always be important to me," Windmon wrote. “My passion for the game is something I carry in my heart. This is such a great sport to play, because it teaches you the lessons of life. It shows you how to control what you can control and focus on the opportunities in front of you. Never think too far ahead or even in the past, but to always stay neutral through the good and bad.
“I am a firm believer in overcoming adversity, because it does shape you into a better person. This is nothing new to me. Adversity will always be something I embrace and overcome. Adversity is something special, as everyone will face adversity in one point in life. It is all about how you respond when your back is against the wall.”
Windmon was reinstated to MSU’s program after the season. He was charged with one count of misdemeanor assault and battery by Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit on Nov. 23. He does not face additional punishment from the Big Ten.
“Jacoby has been 100% cooperative since Day 1,” his attorney Jamie White told the Free Press on Nov. 29. “We have cooperated with authorities the entire way. When you look at Jacoby’s involvement, on scale of 1-100, I would say it is 0.01.”
Windmon joins offensive linemen J.D. Duplain and Nick Samac, along with defensive end Khris Bogle, as veterans who are expected to return to the Spartans in 2023.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football's Jacoby Windmon returning for 2023 season
