EAST LANSING — A year ago as a true freshman, Dillon Tatum moved from cornerback to safety during Michigan State football’s preseason camp.
That allowed him to work alongside veteran Xavier Henderson. Until Henderson got hurt.
And Kendell Brooks. And Tatum’s classmate Jaden Mangham, who also got thrust into early playing time with the Spartans’ secondary injury issues.
“We put a lot of young guys into the fire,” Tatum said recently, “especially when other injuries were happening.”
Tatum returned to cornerback by the end of the season and got his first collegiate start on the edge next to Henderson and Brooks.