It was a big weekend for MSU football on the recruiting trail—just last week the class of 2016 had no defensive lineman and in a span of four days the Spartans have received verbal commitments from two defensive ends and two defensive tackles in what could be an impressive front four in the years to come. Shortly before the first commitment of the weekend four-star wide receiver commit Cameron Chambers gave a hint that some recruiting news would be on the way. Chambers and the other members of the class of 2016 or the "dream team" as they've dubbed themselves have been pushing hard for other recruits to commit to MSU.
MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio will serve as the grand marshal of the Quicken Loans 400 on Sunday, June 14 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. The ninth-year head coach of the Spartans will give the command of "Start your engines!" when the NASCAR race gets underway at 1 p.m.
Kaden Moore stood on the practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty building with his friends and father Saturday morning, stargazing at the players running various drills. Kaden was one of the 1,700 attendees at the annual youth clinic, hosted by the football program to provide children aged 12 or younger an opportunity to participate in activities on the same field as their heroes do. Before the players strapped up the helmets and shoulder pads for the annual spring game in front of the general public, they donned their jerseys and sweatpants, avoiding the cold while also enjoying the time they had with the younger ones. It wasn't just the kids who got a kick out of meeting the likes of Shilique Calhoun and Connor Cook, the parents, with their cameras and autographed footballs held at their sides, took in the 90 minutes of excitement while standing next to future NFL stars, including some local players from their home town. "Kevin Cronin is a Traverse City boy, so we taught him in school, and we got a picture with him," Scott Moore of Elk Rapids said.
Grand Rapids resident Isaac Postma is like most other 14-year-old boys, but with spinal muscular atrophy, even basic daily functions are almost impossible for him.
Why did Shilique Calhoun elected to remain in East Lansing for his senior year and pass up the NFL?
The draft has concluded and the teams are set as the Spartans get ready to kick off the annual spring game at Spartan Stadium this Saturday. And while draft rooms are a place for strategic planning and on the fly decision making, the football program kept the excitement high at the Izzo Family Media Center as early as the first pick. Brian Allen, who was named a first-team Freshman All-American by the FWAA last year at guard and center, was taken first overall by the White team.
More than a month has passed since the February 28 incident involving the arrest of MSU wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr.
When asked who has stepped up as a vocal leader with spring practice heading into it's fourth week, head coach Mark Dantonio didn't hesitate to credit Montae Nicholson on defense. It's a role that's to be expected of the safety, despite having being on the MSU campus for less than two years.
As the MSU football program heads into its second official week of spring practice, plenty of buoyancy and confidence rides behind an upcoming season filled with inflated expectations and uncertainty leave the team asking themselves a few questions before the spring game at Spartan Stadium on April 25. Coming off of a miraculous Cotton Bowl victory over Baylor last season and winning their first Rose Bowl title in over 20 years back in 2014, the Spartans come into spring with a loaded senior class, led by quarterback Connor Cook, defensive end Shilique Calhoun and center Jack Allen. A combined 15-1 Big Ten record in the past two seasons, with the one loss coming from the hands of eventual NCAA national champion Ohio State, MSU remains as one of the elites in the conference, but that could change if the recent issues with police, the absence of NFL draft hopefuls and the uprising of certain programs in the conference continue to be a problem once the season gets underway. With that being said, here are five things to look out for this spring for the Spartans: Replacing Pat Narduzzi From 2011-2014, Pat Narduzzi was responsible for MSU becoming the only team to rank in the FBS Top 10 in total defense and rushing defense.
Fresh off of MSU's victory in the Elite 8 over Louisville earlier the same day, Davis couldn't wait to celebrate the program's first Final Four appearance since 2010 with the same team who will compete in Indianapolis next Saturday.
As a head coach, Mark Dantonio isn't afraid to give praise to players or teams when credit is due.
All was mute on the practice field inside the MSU football facility on Wednesday afternoon following the Spartans Pro Day for the NFL hopefuls, in regards to the recent arrest of Delton Williams. Williams, the sophomore running back, was arrested and charged earlier on Monday night of brandishing a firearm after an alleged road rage incident on Shaw Lane and Red Cedar Road.
After a national media frenzy surrounding the way university athletics departments handle concussions, MSU has seen some changes in its own protocol.
Dantonio, whose team is coming off of an explosive victory over Baylor, the co-Big 12 conference champions, on New Year's Eve in Arlington, Texas, will be back at the site of his fourth straight bowl win today in front of the camera.
