EAST LANSING — Michigan State football landed one of its biggest players for 2019, and coaches didn’t even need to leave campus.

Raequan Williams is staying put.

The junior defensive tackle clarified to the Free Press via Twitter on Friday morning that he intends to return for his senior season with the Spartans.

“Yes I am staying in EL!” Williams wrote.

That means MSU will return its two run-stuffing starting interior linemen from the nation’s top rush defense for one more year, barring fellow junior Mike Panasiuk making a surprise declaration for the draft.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Williams was a third-team All-Big Ten pick this season with 49 tackles, 9.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks along with five pass breakups. He has 108 tackles and six sacks in 36 career games, including 28 starts the past three seasons.

Williams apologized for confusion from statements he made Thursday night after the Spartans’ practice about his potential draft interest. He told a number of reporters that his plan was to speak with his family after the Redbox Bowl on Dec. 31 and make his decision before winter semester classes resume at MSU on Jan. 7.

“Everybody thinks about it,” he said. “The main thing is finishing everything.”

However, a bit later, Williams told Rivals.com site Spartanmag.com that he was leaning toward returning: “I'm staying. I think I'm staying. I'm staying. I don't want to start something and not finish it. That's just not me, and that degree is the most valuable thing you can have.”

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With Williams, the Spartans’ run defense finished No. 2 in the nation in 2017 at 95.3 yards per game, behind only national champion Alabama. Going into the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, MSU leads the country at 81.3 yards per game — more than 10 yards less than No. 2 Texas A&M (92.0) and No. 3 Clemson (92.9).

Oregon, which runs a high-tempo offense, averages 191.3 yards per game on the ground.

“I like going out to Cali. It’s fun out there,” Williams said. “We love playing fast-tempo teams like this. I always have a lot of energy, so I like to play a fast tempo like this, so I’m excited for this game.”

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MSU has a few other juniors who also could leave early to enter the NFL draft. All-America defensive end Kenny Willekes and linebacker Joe Bachie — both first-team All-Big Ten selections — said Thursday they have not made a decision on their pro futures. However, Willekes and QB Brian Lewerke said Bachie was planning to move into a house with them and Tyler Higby that night.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!