Blaring Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” — recalling memories of “Remember The Titans” — the MSU football team took to the practice field Friday morning for its final day of two-a-day practices during fall camp.
And after two weeks of practice, things are beginning to fall into place for the Spartans.
While team captains won’t be chosen until next week, head coach Mark Dantonio said the team has made some headway in determining who would be on the team’s leadership council — recently redubbed “eagles.”
“You don’t find eagles in flocks, we find them one at a time,” he said. “So we voted after we got started and got through the five day window of acclimation, we’ve voted one day at a time. One leader at a time.”
Dantonio said thus far, the team has selected nine eagles and will have 12 before the voting is through. From those 12, he said the team will choose four to be captains on the season.
Junior cornerback Darqueze Dennard said junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell, junior linebacker Max Bullough and senior linebacker Chris Norman were included in those nine players chosen to be eagles.
Junior defensive end William Gholston also said he was selected to be an eagle.
“I’m very happy with the guys that are getting picked,” Dantonio said. “But probably 85 percent of our football team had been captains on their football teams in high school, so we’ve got a great deal of leadership on our football team and that carries over.”
Nothing new
Of those selected for the leadership council, it should be no surprise that Maxwell is on the short list to be named a captain.
Although he’s yet to start a single game for the Spartans, the fourth-year junior has established himself among his teammates as someone who is ready to step up and replace departed quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“I’ve started playing since I was eight years old, that was 13 years ago,” he said. “And I’ve been in this offense and this system, this is my fourth year now. Although it is my first year starting, and I may be inexperienced on the field and a new face to the outside world, in this program I’m not a new face.”
Quarterbacks coach Dave Warner said while Maxwell might not have much experience, the offense shouldn’t miss a beat with a new quarterback under center.
“I expect Andrew to go into this season where Kirk Cousins went into 2011,” he said. “And Kirk Cousins had two years of starting under his belt, but Andrew’s been through those same years, and he’s learned. Although not on the field, he’s learned through Kirk’s plays and decisions, and the mistakes as well.
“So we anticipate him to step in there and continue taking the offense to the next level.”
Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said Maxwell hasn’t thrown an interception in about five or six practices, something that Dennard said has helped the defense get even better, adding that Maxwell may be the best quarterback the defense faces all season.
“That’s a good experience we have,” he said. “(Maxwell) can throw perfect passes and not force anything, and that’s making us a lot better. At times, we will face that gunslinger that will throw it in there and I feel like that will help us out a lot.”
Going deep
Dennard is part of a secondary looking to replicate the success of the 2011 campaign, in which the Spartans led the Big Ten with 18 interceptions.
“I feel like we’ve become the secondary to compete with in the Big Ten, and probably in the nation,” he said.
Opposite Dennard will be senior cornerback Johnny Adams, with junior safety Isaiah Lewis at the strong safety position. However, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said the battle for the starting free safety job has become a four man race between sophomore Kurtis Drummond, redshirt freshman RJ Williamson, junior Jairus Jones and true freshman Demetrious Cox.
Secondary coach Harlon Barnett said if the season were to begin today, Jones would get the nod at free safety.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
“He’s a smart player, instinctive and has good ball skills and he’s a good tackler,” Barnett said about the fourth-year junior. “He’s just had a good camp, to be honest with you … he looks the best that he’s looked since he’s been here.”
However, Dennard said he would be comfortable with any of those names behind him at free safety, which shows the Spartans’ depth at the position.
“Everybody’s going to have an opportunity to work with ones (during tomorrow’s scrimmage) and we’ll evaluate it, but they’re all good football players,” Dantonio said. “They’re all going to see time, we’re going to see those guys on special teams and I think you’ll probably see all those guys play on the defensive side of the ball.”
Injury update
Heading into the final few weeks of fall camp, the Spartans have seen their fair share of players getting banged up.
Roushar said Wednesday junior guard Blake Treadwell will miss about four to five weeks with a stress fracture to his tibia, while freshman wide receiver Aaron Burbridge will be out about six weeks after a knee scope.
Dantonio added another player to the injured player list when he revealed sophomore tackler Skyler Burkland will be out a week with a hand injury.
“He’s had a great summer camp, but right now he’s out for a minute,” he said.
