2009 recruiting class shaping to be among best

It finally feels good to be a Spartans football fan.

Alex DiFilippo

According to Rivals.com, MSU’s 2009 recruiting class has broken the top 10 in the nation, and after landing two more recruits last week, there’s a possibility the Spartans could move up even further in the rankings.

In his second year at MSU, head coach Mark Dantonio is shaking the boat and establishing the foundation for his team’s future. Dantonio believes in a smash-mouth offensive attack that’s predicated on his team’s ability to physically outplay its opponents. The main concept of the power game is a team’s ability to wear out opposing defenses by running the ball and moving the chains.

Dantonio has made the ground game his main focus this recruiting class, as he’s racked up commitments from two of the nation’s top running backs and three of the nation’s top offensive linemen — including two of the top four center prospects in Nate Klatt (Canal Fulton, Ohio) and Blake Treadwell (East Lansing).

Throw Micajah Reynolds (Lansing) into the mix and MSU will have a front that, when developed, should be able to hold its own against anyone. In a few years, those three big boys could be blocking for incoming four-star running backs Edwin Baker (Oak Park) and Larry Caper (Battle Creek).

Down the road, Baker and Caper have the potential to form a scary one-two punch in the backfield, a la Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick.

The quarterback competition will also be exciting to watch.

In a press conference last month, Dantonio made it clear he wants three quarterbacks to battle for the starting job in 2009 when senior starter Brian Hoyer is out of the picture. Dantonio should have a solid selection to choose from.

The probable starter for 2009 will be highly-touted sophomore Keith Nichol, who transferred from Oklahoma this summer. NCAA transfer rules will force him to sit out the entire 2008 season, but simply being around the program should help him get comfortable with the offense, as well as his coaching staff and teammates.

A less likely candidate to start in 2009 is recruit Andrew Maxwell (Midland), who Rivals projects as the top quarterback prospect in Michigan. He’s still in high school, but expect him to challenge Nichol and will-be junior Kirk Cousins for playing time when he arrives on campus.

Dantonio has also snagged three wide receivers who will help with a key component of the power game — spreading the field and opening up passing lanes.

Newest recruit Bennie Fowler (Detroit) will join a receiving crew that includes fellow 2009 recruits Donald Spencer (Ypsilanti), who Rivals currently projects as the third best wide receiver in Michigan, and three-star recruit Patrick White (Pickerington, Ohio).

The trio will fight for playing time with Mark Dell, B.J. Cunningham and Fred Smith — each of whom will still have eligibility in 2009.

Overall, the 2009 recruiting class displays Dantonio’s commitment to the style of football he believes will work at MSU: running the ball. With the pieces he’s bringing in, his vision is becoming a reality sooner than many would have thought.