Graduating MSU football seniors make the leap to the league

Some MSU football graduating seniors are going to a better place.

Former Spartans Brian Hoyer, Javon Ringer, Otis Wiley, Justin Kershaw and Brandon Long all have signed with teams to play pro football and all have a good shot at making an impact.

Granted, the likelihood of a player signing as a free agent after seven rounds of drafting are slim, but many of these talented former Spartans are in circumstances that will likely benefit them in the long run.

Ringer — who was the lone Spartan drafted, going in the fifth round to the Tennessee Titans — will play for a revamped team under coach Jeff Fisher. He could see time as a special teams player or work his way up into a specialty back-type position. LenDale White, one of the teams’ primary running backs, is in a contract year and could be on his way out after the 2009 season if either party doesn’t like how things are going.

With a strong impression, this could mean great things for Ringer.

Hoyer, who some expected to be taken at any point of the second day of the draft, will head to New England to back up Tom Brady, who missed last season with a knee injury. As Patriots fans know, Matt Cassel stepped in and played particularly well for a relatively inexperienced backup.

Hoyer has plenty of big-game experience out of the Big Ten and fits well into New England’s offensive scheme. He could see time as a backup behind the superstar Brady. With the Patriots winning a lot of games, that could mean some serious playing time down the line.

Kershaw, a three-year starter on the defensive line for MSU, has a been a staple of the Spartans defense for the last three years and has the ability to make a positive impact on Carolina’s defensive practice squad, and maybe even move up.

The same goes for up-and-coming Detroit Lions safety Wiley, who was a tremendous leader for the Spartans last season.

Part of the reason Long was so impressive in his workouts was because of his athleticism, which could help in his versatility in finding a roster spot with the San Francisco 49ers.