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Gridders take the field for spring practice
The MSU football team’s spring season sprung into action Wednesday with the first of 15 practices.
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U gets new uniforms
The Spartan chariot won’t be the only throwback to the days of ancient gladiators this fall at Spartan Stadium.The MSU football team unveiled its newly designed uniforms Tuesday, which are modeled after ancient Spartan gladiators.
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Duckett headlines Spartans on display for NFL scouts
Under the watchful eye of NFL scouts, the “Diesel” proved he has the power and speed to play in the NFL. Tuesday was MSU’s NFL Pro Day at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building, and junior running back T.J.
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Football gets new coach
Danny Crossman was named linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the MSU football team Friday. Crossman, 35, served as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech the last three years.
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Thornhill files for draft
MSU senior linebacker Josh Thornhill filed his name for entry into the NFL Draft in April. Last season Thornhill led the team with 128 tackles, 93 solo, in 12 games for the Spartans. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker is projected to go somewhere between the second and forth rounds. Thornhill joins junior running back T.J.
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Spartans among top linebackers final prospects
The No. 1 community college linebacker in America may come to MSU, and his decision could come as early as today. Rivals.com has Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, the top Juco linebacker in the nation. Sunday, Pope listed MSU, Arkansas and Florida as his finalists.
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Coach leaves for Panthers
After one year, MSU’s linebackers and special teams coach has decided to move on to the next level. Spartan head coach Bobby Williams announced Wednesday that Sal Sunseri has resigned.
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Junior college linebacker visits E.L., takes in game
The MSU football program could receive another commitment for the 2002 recruiting class. But unlike the 19 players who have already given MSU football head coach Bobby Williams the nod, Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound sophomore linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, would add some hits to the offensively heavy class.
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Recruits part 3
John R. Buchtel High: Akron, Ohio 5-11, 170 pounds Cornerback Carlos Alexander is one of five Ohio natives coming to East Lansing next year. The cornerback was named to the All-Midwest Team by Prep Football Report. As a senior he had 48 tackles and five interceptions.
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Williams calls speed key element in recruits
Wednesday was a big mail day for MSU head football coach Bobby Williams.Nineteen letters reached Williams’ desk signed and sealed, securing MSU’s early signees for the 2002 recruiting class.“I am very, very happy this day has come and it’s come to a close,” Williams said.
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Recruits part 2
Clifton Ryan Arthur Hill High: Saginaw 6-3, 255 pounds Linebacker Ryan continues the long lineage of great athletes coming from the Saginaw Valley Conference.
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Recruits part 1
Kyle Brown West Bloomfield High: West Bloomfield 6-1, 195 pounds Wide receiver Brown verbally committed in late January and said he’s looking forward to teaming up with other fast wide receivers. “It’s gonna be pretty fun,” Brown said. His senior season was cut short by a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but that didn’t stop schools from recruiting him. His junior season he rushed for 1,300 yards and passed for 300.
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Defense hopes to fill hole
The departure of senior linebacker Josh Thornhill to the NFL leaves a big hole in the middle of the MSU football team’s defense next season.Enter a hopeful replacement for next fall - Riverside-Brookfield High (Illinois) linebacker Steve Kielp, who will sign a letter of intent to play for head coach Bobby Williams today.“I think Kielp, a top 10 player in the state of Illinois, is very important to Michigan State,” said Bill Kurelic, recruiting analyst for MidwestRecruiting.com.
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Spartans stay in state, add to receiving corps
The key ingredients to a passing attack are a quarterback with a strong arm and wide receivers with speed and height.And the Spartans didn’t have to look far for the speed and height, with three Michigan wide receivers among MSU football’s 2002 recruiting class.The 6-foot-7 Matt Trannon joins Kyle Brown and Agim Shabaj, who have both been clocked 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash.Brown and Trannon are ready to sign Wednesday, but Shabaj is having second thoughts.
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Top running backs look to replace Duckett
A roll of thunder and a jolt of lightning may be just what the Spartan running attack needs to fill the void left by junior running back T.J.
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Wide receiver commits
Kyle Brown, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior wide receiver from West Bloomfield High, said Monday that MSU would be his college of choice.Brown said he called MSU head football coach Bobby Williams Sunday to officially announce his decision.“(MSU) was the school that really fit me,” he said.
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Football team adds offensive depth
With more than 20 football scholarship offers thrown his way, Joe Karaska had a tough decision at hand.On Sunday, the 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman picked the green and white, becoming the Spartans’ 15th commitment for the 2002 season.“It was kind of both me and my mom’s decision,” Karaska said.
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Fans bite into tailbacks departure
Junior tailback T.J. Duckett is bolting from East Lansing - and a local favorite sandwich will probably be close behind. As the news of Duckett’s formal senior-year-skipping announcement bounced around town Thursday afternoon, fans had varying reactions.
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T.J. ducks out of U for NFL
The Spartan football team will have to switch to unleaded next season, as “Diesel” will no longer be available. A sense of satisfaction and relief beamed from T.J.
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U await, debate Ducketts decision
T.J. Duckett told The Associated Press he hasn’t made his decision on whether to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.The Spartan star running back will announce his decision at 4 p.m.