Michigan State's early enrollees learning fast, drawing praise

EAST LANSING - Xavier Henderson and Trent Gillison were teammates at Pickerington Central High School in Ohio.

They were both four-star prospects and both signed with Michigan State's 2018 class on Dec. 20.

Gillison, a tight end, is finishing the school year at Pickerington Central, in part to play his senior season of baseball. Henderson, a safety, chose to be an early enrollee and arrived at Michigan State in January to begin classes and working out with the team.

Not long after Henderson moved to East Lansing, Gillison checked in on his friend to see how he was doing.

"At first, winter conditioning, I was like 'man you're lucky, I wish I was back there with you,'" Henderson said with a laugh Tuesday night while recalling what he told Gillison. "But, I'm glad to be here and spring practice is going well so I'm a lucky guy to be up here early."

Henderson is one of seven early enrollees in Michigan State's 22-member signing class, along with cornerback Kalon Gervin, quarterback Theo Day, wide receivers Javez Alexander and Julian Major, linebacker Edward Warinner and offensive lineman Dimitri Douglas, who is out with an Achilles injury.

"It's like everyone says it is," Day, a three-star prospect from Dearborn Divine Child, said of enrolling early. "Obviously, it's an adjustment. It's something you have to get used to, all the workouts, classes. It's definitely an adjustment but I think I've adjusted well and I'm looking forward to the season."

Henderson joked about not doing well on his first math test before getting his schedule and academics in order. His adjustment on the field has been aided by veteran defensive backs, including senior safety Khari Willis.

"When I first got here, Khari was the first person to get me on the phone and say 'hey, you want to come watch film, go over these calls?'" Henderson said. "They've all done a great job kind of mentoring me in the DB position."

The early enrollees have been on campus for less than three months and only been through 10 practices and are already drawing praise. The Spartans return all four starters in a deep secondary but Henderson and Gervin, a four-star prospect from Detroit Cass Tech, are fighting to crack the rotation early.

"You've got those guys that should be walking down high school hallways still right now and they're going up against big-time wideouts here," first-year Michigan State defensive backs coach Paul Haynes said of Henderson and Gervin. "Just working, fine-tuning technique, fine-tuning their knowledge of the game, their knowledge of the defense. But, those guys are going to be great players for us."

Michigan State had its first spring scrimmage last week and coach Mark Dantonio complimented Henderson and Gervin and said it was interesting to watch the players who previously hadn't received many reps. That includes Day, who is competing with redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi to be the backup to starting quarterback Brian Lewerke. Day called the playbook "a different animal" from what he was used to and is glad he enrolled early to get a jump.

"It's everything I thought it was and I'm learning everything that I thought I was going to learn," Day said. "I'm going to be that much further (ahead) than if I were going to come in the fall. I think all the information that I know now, it's going to help me a great amount once fall camp comes around."

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