Rocky Lombardi, what's new, what's next
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
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After listening to the complete interview with Rocky Lombardi on last week's Drive with Jack show, featuring Rico Beard as co-host, I had to put together a summary story. Some pretty good stuff in here.
the summary:
https://michiganstate.n.rivals.com/news/elite-11-invite-in-hand-lombardi-continuing-to-roll-with-it-
Elite 11 invite in hand, Lombardi continuing to 'roll with it'
Jim Comparoni | Editor
Spartan quarterback commitment Rocky Lombardi traded in his track shoes for baseball cleats last week, as one prep season bleeds into another for him, and he continues to work recruiting angles for his next football team along the way.
Lombardi, who committed to Michigan State on April 3, interrupted a workmanlike track season to emerge as one of the top QBs at last week’s The Opening Chicago camp - earning an invitation to the Elite 11 quarterback camp.
He spoke about his experience in Chicago and what’s next for him during a guest appearance on The Drive With Jack radio show (92.1 FM, Lansing), with host Jack Ebling and co-host Rico Beard, a SpartanMag.com correspondent.
When Beard asked Lombardi about the cold, windy conditions he faced as a thrower in Chicago, Lombardi said he wasn’t bothered.
“You just have to roll with it,” Lombardi told Beard. “I just went out and did my thing, did the best I could. It wasn’t the best conditions, al title windy, cold. I felt like I handled the weather better and I have a pretty strong arm so I was able to cut the wind a little better, at least that’s what was said in some of my reviews.
“You just have to roll with it. If you’re in the National Championship, you’re not promised to have great weather, either. You have to be prepared for everything and go out there and do your best.”
When asked about participating in the Chicago Opening with fellow Michigan State commitment Hunter Rison, Lombardi said: “It made it not only easier because of how good he is but also more fun to be out there with one of your friends, a future teammate, just being out there throwing the ball to him, playing catch.”
Lombardi (6-3, 220) is listed as a three-star recruit, ranked the No. 20 pro style QB in the nation by Rivals.com.
Lombardi, of West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley High School, said he is one of 24 quarterbacks that have been invited to the Elite 11 finals, scheduled for Los Angeles, June 3-5. The list of invited QBs could grow to about 30. The top 11 from that group will advance to The Opening in Beaverton, Oregon in early July.
Lombardi is the first quarterback from the state of Iowa to be invited to the Elite 11 finals since Kyle Orton in 2001.
Like Orton, Lombardi eschewed the home-state Hawkeyes in order to commit to a rival Big Ten school. Orton played at Purdue.
“A lot of guys are Iowa fans here and they have a great fanbase,” Lombardi said. “But they can say whatever they want, I know I made the right choice. I’m thrilled with where I’m going. I think I’m going to be really successful here. I think they’re going to make me the best I can be. So I’m really happy.”
Lombardi said he isn’t receiving much continued recruiting attention from other schools, hoping to sway him from his Michigan State commitment.
“I think people know how great of a university, for quarterbacks especially, Michigan State is,” Lombardi said. “I think that they’re like, ‘He’s not going to leave Michigan State for us because we don’t have near the quarterback history that they do, or the success.’”
In the meantime, Lombardi said he and Rison are helping other MSU commitments team-up to try to attract the Spartans’ next commitments.
“I think we’re taking kind of a team effort at it,” Lombardi said. “He (Rison) is a little more open, he has a big personality, he is going to get the attention of all the recruits and then I’m kind of in there talking logistically about why our program is good, why it’s good for them, why it’s going to make them the best player possible.”
Lombardi spoke last week with Billy Ross, a 6-foot-5 offensive tackle prospect from Huntington, WVa., shortly after the Spartans issued Ross a scholarship offer.
“We just offered a new big tackle out of West Virginia and I’m hoping he commits,” Lombardi said. “He’s a great player. He seems to be really excited about Michigan State."
Lombardi threw for more than 2,200 yards, with 21 TDs and five interceptions last fall. He became first-team all-state while leading Valley High to the state semifinals.
Lombardi competed in the hurdles and threw the disc for Valley High’s track team. He placed seventh in his team’s conference meet in the discus at 102-08.
In March, Lombardi placed third in the Class 3A state wrestling meet at 220 pounds.
The Iowa high school baseball season begins in late May and continues into the summer. After his four-sport high school season concludes, he will enroll at Michigan State in the late summer.
the summary:
https://michiganstate.n.rivals.com/news/elite-11-invite-in-hand-lombardi-continuing-to-roll-with-it-
Elite 11 invite in hand, Lombardi continuing to 'roll with it'
Jim Comparoni | Editor
Spartan quarterback commitment Rocky Lombardi traded in his track shoes for baseball cleats last week, as one prep season bleeds into another for him, and he continues to work recruiting angles for his next football team along the way.
Lombardi, who committed to Michigan State on April 3, interrupted a workmanlike track season to emerge as one of the top QBs at last week’s The Opening Chicago camp - earning an invitation to the Elite 11 quarterback camp.
He spoke about his experience in Chicago and what’s next for him during a guest appearance on The Drive With Jack radio show (92.1 FM, Lansing), with host Jack Ebling and co-host Rico Beard, a SpartanMag.com correspondent.
When Beard asked Lombardi about the cold, windy conditions he faced as a thrower in Chicago, Lombardi said he wasn’t bothered.
“You just have to roll with it,” Lombardi told Beard. “I just went out and did my thing, did the best I could. It wasn’t the best conditions, al title windy, cold. I felt like I handled the weather better and I have a pretty strong arm so I was able to cut the wind a little better, at least that’s what was said in some of my reviews.
“You just have to roll with it. If you’re in the National Championship, you’re not promised to have great weather, either. You have to be prepared for everything and go out there and do your best.”
When asked about participating in the Chicago Opening with fellow Michigan State commitment Hunter Rison, Lombardi said: “It made it not only easier because of how good he is but also more fun to be out there with one of your friends, a future teammate, just being out there throwing the ball to him, playing catch.”
Lombardi (6-3, 220) is listed as a three-star recruit, ranked the No. 20 pro style QB in the nation by Rivals.com.
Lombardi, of West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley High School, said he is one of 24 quarterbacks that have been invited to the Elite 11 finals, scheduled for Los Angeles, June 3-5. The list of invited QBs could grow to about 30. The top 11 from that group will advance to The Opening in Beaverton, Oregon in early July.
Lombardi is the first quarterback from the state of Iowa to be invited to the Elite 11 finals since Kyle Orton in 2001.
Like Orton, Lombardi eschewed the home-state Hawkeyes in order to commit to a rival Big Ten school. Orton played at Purdue.
“A lot of guys are Iowa fans here and they have a great fanbase,” Lombardi said. “But they can say whatever they want, I know I made the right choice. I’m thrilled with where I’m going. I think I’m going to be really successful here. I think they’re going to make me the best I can be. So I’m really happy.”
Lombardi said he isn’t receiving much continued recruiting attention from other schools, hoping to sway him from his Michigan State commitment.
“I think people know how great of a university, for quarterbacks especially, Michigan State is,” Lombardi said. “I think that they’re like, ‘He’s not going to leave Michigan State for us because we don’t have near the quarterback history that they do, or the success.’”
In the meantime, Lombardi said he and Rison are helping other MSU commitments team-up to try to attract the Spartans’ next commitments.
“I think we’re taking kind of a team effort at it,” Lombardi said. “He (Rison) is a little more open, he has a big personality, he is going to get the attention of all the recruits and then I’m kind of in there talking logistically about why our program is good, why it’s good for them, why it’s going to make them the best player possible.”
Lombardi spoke last week with Billy Ross, a 6-foot-5 offensive tackle prospect from Huntington, WVa., shortly after the Spartans issued Ross a scholarship offer.
“We just offered a new big tackle out of West Virginia and I’m hoping he commits,” Lombardi said. “He’s a great player. He seems to be really excited about Michigan State."
Lombardi threw for more than 2,200 yards, with 21 TDs and five interceptions last fall. He became first-team all-state while leading Valley High to the state semifinals.
Lombardi competed in the hurdles and threw the disc for Valley High’s track team. He placed seventh in his team’s conference meet in the discus at 102-08.
In March, Lombardi placed third in the Class 3A state wrestling meet at 220 pounds.
The Iowa high school baseball season begins in late May and continues into the summer. After his four-sport high school season concludes, he will enroll at Michigan State in the late summer.
Spring Football Offensive Notebook: On Felton Davis, Frosh, etc.
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From yesterday, in case you missed it:
https://michiganstate.n.rivals.com/news/offensive-notebook-felton-davis-sidelined-freshmen-impress
Offensive Notebook: Felton Davis sidelined, freshmen impress
Jim Comparoni | Publisher
Felton Davis, shown here during last week's non-padded practice, might be out for the remainder of the spring with an undisclosed injury.
EAST LANSING - Felton Davis missed practice on Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury and might not return for the remainder of spring practice, Mark Dantonio said on Tuesday.
Davis, who came forward as an emerging downfield threat late last season as a true freshman, began the spring as a first-string wide receiver, along with senior R.J. Shelton.
Dantonio, who normally doesn’t comment on injuries, acknowledged Davis’ absence but didn’t elaborate.
“(It’s) unfortunate,” Dantonio said.
However, Dantonio believes the injury isn’t as costly to a first-year player as it could have been if Davis hadn’t spent last fall with the traveling squad.
“He received coaching all year,” Dantonio said. “He was coached at a high level for four months.”
Davis (6-4, 198, Soph., Richmond, Va.) had two catches for 50 yards last season, with both receptions coming in the post-season. Davis had a 22-yard catch against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game and a 28-yard grab in the College Football Playoff against Alabama.
Davis is listed 17 pounds heavier than he was for the College Football Playoff.
Does Dantonio expect him back later this spring?
“Too early to see,” Dantonio said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
With Davis out, true freshmen Cam Chambers and Donnie Corley will continue to see an immediate impact on the first and second string.
"I'm impressed by Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers," junior safety Montae Nicholsonsaid on Tuesday. "They are going up and making plays. They have been here a short time but they are the type of players that make me better on defense. Their work ethic is phenomenal."
Shelton is the team’s leading returning receiver among wide outs with 43 catches. No other returning wide out had more than the two catches made by Davis and Monty Madaris in 2015.
With Davis out, Madaris (6-1, 202, Sr., Cincinnati) and walk-on Edward “Tres” Barksdale (6-2, 200, Sr., Solon, Ohio) have the best opportunity of their careers to make a move on the depth chart.
Barksdale was listed as the No. 2 split end on the pre-spring depth chart, behind Davis and ahead of the now-surging Chambers. Barksdale has been a solid practice player throughout his career and might be capable of putting up numbers in upcoming spring scrimmages.
Madaris was listed as the No. 2 flanker, behind Shelton and ahead of Corley. Madaris can play split end or flanker.
Madaris had a nice catch over the middle during scrimmaging on Tuesday.
CORLEY, CHAMBERS, DeWEAVER IMPRESS
Dantonio was complimentary of Michigan State’s mid-year freshman enrollees on Tuesday, with the skill position players gaining special mention.
“Messiah de Weaver looked like a guy that has a great future ahead of him,” Dantonio said of the rookie QB. “Throw him out there in his first day of pads, people come at him from all angles, and he handles it.”
Corley and Chambers impressed coaches and teammates during winter conditioning, the first two days of unpadded practices, and followed up with strong performances on Tuesday.
Donnie Corley has made difficult catches like this one commonplace thus far in spring practice.
“Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers, you notice those two guys early in the practices,” Dantonio said. “Good. Very good. It was a good first day for those guys.
“Kenny Lyke has done a nice job as well. Joe Bachie made some plays out there today.Thiyo Lukusa, on the offensive line, it’s a whole new system (for him) and a lot of change. So you’re going to struggle in there initially and it takes time to find your footing.”
DANTONIO UNPLUGGED
On young offensive linemen: “Cole Chewins moves well. Tyler Higby moves well.(Noah) Listermann looks like he has improved as a football player. We moved Keyonta Stallworth over to defense, so he’s working there. Those are the four guys that came in last year as offensive linemen and I think they’re going to be good players for us. With that being said, you are sort of starting from scratch. They’re young players.
“It’s the first day of pads. You’re in shorts for a couple of days and then all the sudden you put pads on, and you put noise out there and you put people moving around and things become a little bit more difficult.”
On senior Delton Williams at fullback: “He looked good. He also played some tailback. Just have to find a way to get him on the field a little bit more. He can catch the ball and run it and do some different things. It’s too early to tell, but for the first day out there, he looked all right.”
https://michiganstate.n.rivals.com/news/offensive-notebook-felton-davis-sidelined-freshmen-impress
Offensive Notebook: Felton Davis sidelined, freshmen impress
Jim Comparoni | Publisher
Felton Davis, shown here during last week's non-padded practice, might be out for the remainder of the spring with an undisclosed injury.
EAST LANSING - Felton Davis missed practice on Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury and might not return for the remainder of spring practice, Mark Dantonio said on Tuesday.
Davis, who came forward as an emerging downfield threat late last season as a true freshman, began the spring as a first-string wide receiver, along with senior R.J. Shelton.
Dantonio, who normally doesn’t comment on injuries, acknowledged Davis’ absence but didn’t elaborate.
“(It’s) unfortunate,” Dantonio said.
However, Dantonio believes the injury isn’t as costly to a first-year player as it could have been if Davis hadn’t spent last fall with the traveling squad.
“He received coaching all year,” Dantonio said. “He was coached at a high level for four months.”
Davis (6-4, 198, Soph., Richmond, Va.) had two catches for 50 yards last season, with both receptions coming in the post-season. Davis had a 22-yard catch against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game and a 28-yard grab in the College Football Playoff against Alabama.
Davis is listed 17 pounds heavier than he was for the College Football Playoff.
Does Dantonio expect him back later this spring?
“Too early to see,” Dantonio said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
With Davis out, true freshmen Cam Chambers and Donnie Corley will continue to see an immediate impact on the first and second string.
"I'm impressed by Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers," junior safety Montae Nicholsonsaid on Tuesday. "They are going up and making plays. They have been here a short time but they are the type of players that make me better on defense. Their work ethic is phenomenal."
Shelton is the team’s leading returning receiver among wide outs with 43 catches. No other returning wide out had more than the two catches made by Davis and Monty Madaris in 2015.
With Davis out, Madaris (6-1, 202, Sr., Cincinnati) and walk-on Edward “Tres” Barksdale (6-2, 200, Sr., Solon, Ohio) have the best opportunity of their careers to make a move on the depth chart.
Barksdale was listed as the No. 2 split end on the pre-spring depth chart, behind Davis and ahead of the now-surging Chambers. Barksdale has been a solid practice player throughout his career and might be capable of putting up numbers in upcoming spring scrimmages.
Madaris was listed as the No. 2 flanker, behind Shelton and ahead of Corley. Madaris can play split end or flanker.
Madaris had a nice catch over the middle during scrimmaging on Tuesday.
CORLEY, CHAMBERS, DeWEAVER IMPRESS
Dantonio was complimentary of Michigan State’s mid-year freshman enrollees on Tuesday, with the skill position players gaining special mention.
“Messiah de Weaver looked like a guy that has a great future ahead of him,” Dantonio said of the rookie QB. “Throw him out there in his first day of pads, people come at him from all angles, and he handles it.”
Corley and Chambers impressed coaches and teammates during winter conditioning, the first two days of unpadded practices, and followed up with strong performances on Tuesday.
Donnie Corley has made difficult catches like this one commonplace thus far in spring practice.
“Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers, you notice those two guys early in the practices,” Dantonio said. “Good. Very good. It was a good first day for those guys.
“Kenny Lyke has done a nice job as well. Joe Bachie made some plays out there today.Thiyo Lukusa, on the offensive line, it’s a whole new system (for him) and a lot of change. So you’re going to struggle in there initially and it takes time to find your footing.”
DANTONIO UNPLUGGED
On young offensive linemen: “Cole Chewins moves well. Tyler Higby moves well.(Noah) Listermann looks like he has improved as a football player. We moved Keyonta Stallworth over to defense, so he’s working there. Those are the four guys that came in last year as offensive linemen and I think they’re going to be good players for us. With that being said, you are sort of starting from scratch. They’re young players.
“It’s the first day of pads. You’re in shorts for a couple of days and then all the sudden you put pads on, and you put noise out there and you put people moving around and things become a little bit more difficult.”
On senior Delton Williams at fullback: “He looked good. He also played some tailback. Just have to find a way to get him on the field a little bit more. He can catch the ball and run it and do some different things. It’s too early to tell, but for the first day out there, he looked all right.”