Sports: Football Preview 2009
After bringing steady improvement to the football program, Mark Dantonio wants to continue MSU’s ascent in his third season.
In his first year, he led MSU to a bowl game. In his second season, he led MSU to nine wins and a New Year’s Day bowl game.
In his third season, Head Coach Mark Dantonio wants more success. And MSU seems to have enough talent at quarterback that fans want more as well.
This season Dantonio and staff would like to see the team continue to improve and play with more consistency. MSU has to break in a new quarterback and rebuild the right side of the offensive line. On the heels of a recruiting class he graded an “A,” Dantonio has the benefit of the most program depth in three years.
MSU boasts talented contenders at quarterback. Kirk Cousins, who backed up Brian Hoyer last year, and Oklahoma transfer Keith Nichols, both sophomores from west Michigan, looked impressive in the spring game—each passing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. They will be joined by “Elite 11” quarterback Andrew Maxwell of Midland in the fall. Dantonio and Quarterback Coach Dave Warner have expressed confidence in whoever gets the nod to start. “We feel secure,” says Warner. “They’re both fantastic kids, smart, great to work with. The race is close.”
Running backs coach Dan Enos has the unenviable task of finding a successor of Javon Ringer. Four returning running backs and two incoming freshmen will compete for the job. After Spring practice, the position remained wide open. Enos notes that MSU also boasts three senior fullbacks—Andrew Hawken, Josh Rouse and Andrew Pendy, along with Adam Setterbo and Nick Bendzuck.
“You have three guys there that are 230 pounds and can run under 4.5 or thereabouts, very explosive players,” notes Dantonio.
Whoever wins the quarterback battle will be throwing to a slew of experienced targets. Wide Receivers B.J. Cunningham, Mark Dell and Blair White combined for 120 catches and 1,866 yards last season. Receivers Coach and Offensive Coordinator Don Treadwell has weapons, including Keyshawn Martin, Chris D. Rucker and Fred Smith, plus Milton Colbert, an intriguing walk-on who stands 6-5 tall.
“Our receivers will continue to improve,” says Treadwell. “Nothing can take the place of game experience.”
Offensive Line Coach Dan Roushar needs to reconfigure the offensive line, which lost the starting right side. Returning are center Joel Nitchman, left tackle Rocco Cironi, and left guard Joel Foreman. Candidates for the openings include seniors Brendon Moss, Mike Schmeding and John Stipek, junior J’Michael Dean, sophomore Jared McGaha, and John Deyo, Zach Hueter and Ethan Ruhland. Two other intriguing candidates are D.J. Young, a transfer from Bowling Green, and Antonio Jeremiah, a behemoth defensive tackle who auditioned on offense in the spring. A very talented foursome of freshman offensive linemen will join the team in the fall.
“We want to establish our best five to seven players and also want to find a back-up center,” says Roushar.
Recruiting Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach Mark Staten has depth with returning starter Charlie Gantt, second team all-Big Ten, and sophomores Garrett Celek and David Duran. In addition, with Clemson transfer Brian Linthicum and two talented incoming freshmen, Staten has enough players to field sets of up to three—or even four tight ends. Such versatility could cause rival defenses headaches next fall.
Defense Coordinator Pat Narduzzi loses only three starters—a safety and two defensive linemen. With the returning experience he will be able to add more wrinkles to the defensive scheme.
On the line, two starters, tackle Oren Wilson and end Trevor Anderson, return. Candidates to join them include Tyler Hoover, Ishmyl Johnson, Colin Neely, Kevin Pickelman and Jerel Worthy. Second-year players Cameron Jude and David Rolf will also contend for playing time. Also adding to the competition are Michael Jordan, who was injured in the spring, and walk-on Jonathan Strayhorn.
“We're quicker than we've been,” says Defensive Line Coach Ted Gill. “We're more athletic than we've been.”
Linebacker Coach Mike Tressel has the luxury of five returning lettermen at linebacker, including four with starting experience. Juniors Greg Jones and Eric
Gordon ranked 1-2 in tackles in 2008, combining for 212 stops. Senior Brandon Denson, the third projected starter, boasts speed and playmaking ability. Senior Adam Decker, who made the memorable tackle against Iowa’s Shon Greene last season, junior Jon Misch, who started two games in 2007, and Drew Stephens add quality depth.
“We have three sub-4.6 linebackers,” says Tressel. “They are powerful and they can strike you.”
Defensive Backs Coach Harlan Barnett lost all-conference safety Otis Wiley, but returns considerable talent and depth. Because of injuries to Kendall Davis-Clark, Ashton Henderson, Marcus Hyde and Jeremy Ware, other defensive backs were able to get some reps during spring practice—including newcomers Trenton Robinson, Don Spencer and Brynden Trawick at safety, along with veteran Dan Fortener, who join cornerbacks Johnny Adams, Chris L. Rucker and Ross Weaver.
“We have eight guys who have experience as starters,” says Barnett. “We feel good about our secondary.”
MSU special teams return specialists in kicker Brent Swenson and punter Aaron Bates, with Dan Conroy and Kyle Selden as backups. Junior Alex Shackleton returns as the long snapper. “You don’t hear much about him,” cracks Tressel, “and that’s a good thing.”
Dantonio says that the program will continue to emphasize basics like toughness. It’s a quality MSU will need as it upgrades its schedule, with recently announced opponents like Alabama and West Virginia.