One of the top players on Michigan State’s vaunted defense is returning to East Lansing for one more season.

Linebacker Joe Bachie announced via Twitter on Friday evening that he’ll finished out his career with the Spartans, returning for his senior season. He was one of a handful of Michigan State defenders expected to have the opportunity to pursue the NFL early.

“I have decided not to enter my name in the NFL Draft,” Bachie wrote. “I am very excited to put the green and white on for one more season.”

Bachie has been Michigan State’s top tackler each of the last two seasons and one of the better linebackers in the B1G. He registered 102 tackles this season and 100 stops a year ago.

Bachie also recorded 8.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups and an interception this fall.

The Spartans owned one of the top defenses nationally in 2018. They ranked first in run defense (77.9 yards per game), ninth in scoring defense (17.2 points per game) and 10th in total defense (303.2 yards per game).

Thanks to his big numbers on one of the best defenses in the country, Bachie earned first-team All-B1G honors this season.

Michigan State finished the season 7-6.