WR Notebook: Transitioning, but still talented
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
- 4 Replies
August 11, 2015
WR Notebook: Transitioning, but still talented
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
EAST LANSING - Michigan State does not have a workhorse receiver like Tony Lippett, who had 65 catches for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. But the Spartans have personnel at wide receiver capable of keeping the Spartans on top as Big Ten's top passing offense.
"Tony and Keith were great players, but we had a lot of guys making plays at wide receiver last year," senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge said. "MacGarrett (Kings) made plays. I made plays. AJ (Troup) made plays. RJ (Shelton) made plays. Other guys can make plays too."
Robert Hendricks
Aaron Burbridge has 80 catches for 918 yards in 37 career games for Michigan State.
Burbridge and Kings have proven themselves as part-time starters over the past three seasons, combining for 156 receptions, 1,816 yards, and seven touchdowns. R.J. Shelton (5-11, 195) is another proven commodity, whose role expanded beyond perimeter running plays as a sophomore in 2014. Seniors AJ Troup, DeAnthony Arnett, and junior Monty Madaristook steps toward regular playing time during spring football. Each is a serious candidate for regular work at wide receiver this season.
"We'll evolve as we go," wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel said. "Whoever's hot, that's who you play and that's what we've always done. You get into a rhythm and you're attacking the DB and you are doing well, I am going to want you to stay out there."
Co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner is open to playing five or more wide receivers on a regular basis in 2015.
"It depends on who shows in practice over the next three weeks, that they deserve to be on the field," he said.
Experience and versatility make Burbridge one of the most valuable skill players in the Spartan program, and strong candidate to elevate his play as a senior.
"He knows all of the positions, he can play any wide receiver position, which is great," Warner said. "He can do it without having to think a whole lot. He can go out there and play and that is when a guy can be successful, and let their natural athletic ability take over."
Burbridge caught 29 passes for 358 yards (12.34 avg.) and one touchdown as a junior. He has 80 catches for 918 yards (11.4) and three touchdowns in 37 games over three years as a part-time starter.
Burbridge is still working off rust from a foot injury in April that prevented him from running during the summer.
"He's there, and I'm fired up to see what he can do," Warner said. "He just needs to get to the point now where his conditioning is back
Added Samuel: "He's got to get his receiver legs back, and that part is coming. His hand and eye coordination is still there. I am not worried about him catching the ball. I am not worried about his knowledge. I am more worried that he gets his feet up under him and gets his conditioning back."
Whereas injuries have been an issue for Burbridge, Kings has struggled with accountability. A handful of off-the-field incidents marred a productive 35-game career that includes 76 catches for 942 yards (12.4) and four touchdowns.
Warner and Samuel, however, seem reasonably confident that Kings has turned over a new leaf as a senior.
"It's a day-by-day process," Warner said. "He has to take care of business both on and off the field. I have a lot of confidence in MacGarrett that he is going to continue to take care of business."
Added Samuel: "I think he realizes when he makes a bad decision, it hurts his own family and his football family too. He is making better decisions. He is being more responsible. He is making the choices that would put him in a leadership position. Maybe that was something he wasn't doing before."
If Kings continues on his current path, Samuel expects him to play an even bigger role on offense than he has to this point in his career at Michigan State.
"I want him to be as close to an All-American as he possibly can possibly get to. I think he's got the ball skills. He's got the speed. There is no limitation to how good he can be. Every day he's got to go to work. I have been sending him little motivational things every day to make sure the leadership and the work ethic in practice is where it needs to be and he's responded.
"It's going to be a success story."
'two guys that look the part'
Freshmen Darrell Stewart (6-1, 198) and Felton Davis (6-4, 181) have gotten a lot of work during the first week of training camp.
"Those guys are sort of unknown right now," Warner said. "We want to give them the opportunity to see if they can light it up at all. And if that happens, they'll get more reps and get more opportunities. That is the way it is at every position, and maybe even a little bit more so at wide receiver because we have high expectations for some of those guys and there are some unknowns.
Stewart and Davis have made the most of their opportunities thus far.
"Darrell Stewart and Felton Davis both are two guys that look the part, run the part and act the part out there," Dantonio said, "so it'll be interesting to see how they retain things and how they move forward once real pads come on and we get farther into this than two a days, or in summer camp."
WR Notebook: Transitioning, but still talented
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
EAST LANSING - Michigan State does not have a workhorse receiver like Tony Lippett, who had 65 catches for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. But the Spartans have personnel at wide receiver capable of keeping the Spartans on top as Big Ten's top passing offense.
"Tony and Keith were great players, but we had a lot of guys making plays at wide receiver last year," senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge said. "MacGarrett (Kings) made plays. I made plays. AJ (Troup) made plays. RJ (Shelton) made plays. Other guys can make plays too."
Robert Hendricks
Aaron Burbridge has 80 catches for 918 yards in 37 career games for Michigan State.
Burbridge and Kings have proven themselves as part-time starters over the past three seasons, combining for 156 receptions, 1,816 yards, and seven touchdowns. R.J. Shelton (5-11, 195) is another proven commodity, whose role expanded beyond perimeter running plays as a sophomore in 2014. Seniors AJ Troup, DeAnthony Arnett, and junior Monty Madaristook steps toward regular playing time during spring football. Each is a serious candidate for regular work at wide receiver this season.
"We'll evolve as we go," wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel said. "Whoever's hot, that's who you play and that's what we've always done. You get into a rhythm and you're attacking the DB and you are doing well, I am going to want you to stay out there."
Co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner is open to playing five or more wide receivers on a regular basis in 2015.
"It depends on who shows in practice over the next three weeks, that they deserve to be on the field," he said.
Experience and versatility make Burbridge one of the most valuable skill players in the Spartan program, and strong candidate to elevate his play as a senior.
"He knows all of the positions, he can play any wide receiver position, which is great," Warner said. "He can do it without having to think a whole lot. He can go out there and play and that is when a guy can be successful, and let their natural athletic ability take over."
Burbridge caught 29 passes for 358 yards (12.34 avg.) and one touchdown as a junior. He has 80 catches for 918 yards (11.4) and three touchdowns in 37 games over three years as a part-time starter.
Burbridge is still working off rust from a foot injury in April that prevented him from running during the summer.
"He's there, and I'm fired up to see what he can do," Warner said. "He just needs to get to the point now where his conditioning is back
Added Samuel: "He's got to get his receiver legs back, and that part is coming. His hand and eye coordination is still there. I am not worried about him catching the ball. I am not worried about his knowledge. I am more worried that he gets his feet up under him and gets his conditioning back."
Whereas injuries have been an issue for Burbridge, Kings has struggled with accountability. A handful of off-the-field incidents marred a productive 35-game career that includes 76 catches for 942 yards (12.4) and four touchdowns.
Warner and Samuel, however, seem reasonably confident that Kings has turned over a new leaf as a senior.
"It's a day-by-day process," Warner said. "He has to take care of business both on and off the field. I have a lot of confidence in MacGarrett that he is going to continue to take care of business."
Added Samuel: "I think he realizes when he makes a bad decision, it hurts his own family and his football family too. He is making better decisions. He is being more responsible. He is making the choices that would put him in a leadership position. Maybe that was something he wasn't doing before."
If Kings continues on his current path, Samuel expects him to play an even bigger role on offense than he has to this point in his career at Michigan State.
"I want him to be as close to an All-American as he possibly can possibly get to. I think he's got the ball skills. He's got the speed. There is no limitation to how good he can be. Every day he's got to go to work. I have been sending him little motivational things every day to make sure the leadership and the work ethic in practice is where it needs to be and he's responded.
"It's going to be a success story."
'two guys that look the part'
Freshmen Darrell Stewart (6-1, 198) and Felton Davis (6-4, 181) have gotten a lot of work during the first week of training camp.
"Those guys are sort of unknown right now," Warner said. "We want to give them the opportunity to see if they can light it up at all. And if that happens, they'll get more reps and get more opportunities. That is the way it is at every position, and maybe even a little bit more so at wide receiver because we have high expectations for some of those guys and there are some unknowns.
Stewart and Davis have made the most of their opportunities thus far.
"Darrell Stewart and Felton Davis both are two guys that look the part, run the part and act the part out there," Dantonio said, "so it'll be interesting to see how they retain things and how they move forward once real pads come on and we get farther into this than two a days, or in summer camp."
Dantonio watching freshman DBs closely
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
- 1 Replies
August 11, 2015
Dantonio watching freshman DBs closely
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
EAST LANSING - With Michigan State getting into the full-pads portion of August camp, Mark Dantonio is beginning to form opinions on his incoming freshman class.
He's not yet ready to proclaim which of them have a good shot to be in the playing group, but he'll spend the next few days looking closely.
"It's sort of early, but I'm spending a lot of time with the defensive backs," Dantonio said.
There are potential openings for playing time at cornerback, with Michigan State looking to replace the three men who started games at that position last year - Trae Waynes, Tony Lippett and Darian Hicks.Hicks is out for about a month with mononucleosis.
Junior Demetrious Cox has an inside track to start at boundary cornerback. Senior Arjen Colquhoun and junior Jermaine Edmondson are the top candidates competing at the other corner position, with redshirt freshman Vayante Copeland also getting a look with the twos.
Meanwhile, incoming freshmen Josh Butler (5-11, 170, Mesquite, Texas) and Tyson Smith (5-10, 170, Southfield, Mich/Orchard Lake St. Mary's) are getting a chance this week to demonstrate their talents.
"You see that Josh Butler looks good, Tyson Smith looks good, David Dowell looks good," Dantonio said. "I've been impressed with those safeties. I could go through all those guys. They all look good.
"Our linebackers have played pretty well.
Linebacker Andrew Dowell.
"(Wide receivers) Darrell Stewart and Felton Davis both are two guys that look the part, run the part and act the part out there.
"I think it takes a little bit of time for our offensive linemen and our defensive linemen, but they look talented."
Highly-touted running back Larry Scott has been impressive as well.
"So it'll be interesting to see how they retain things and how they move forward once real pads come on and we get farther into this than two-a-days or in summer workouts," Dantonio said.
The Spartans will take time working and fine-tuning the two-deep in the third week of August and get into preparation for Western Michigan during the fourth week. For now, freshmen are getting a close look to see which of them are capable of helping this season.
"We've got to look at every freshman as they come in," Dantonio said. "We're going to make sure we go ones, twos and frosh so that the frosh are getting reps."
That means, during "team" periods, the first-string will run a play, then the second string will run the same play, then true freshmen will run the same play as a third repetition is staged.
In a normal practice, only the first two strings would get a chance to run the rep. Freshmen will get the third rep for the next few days.
"It takes a little bit longer, but we're going to go ones, twos and frosh and see how they make their way," Dantonio said. "And then we're going to put them against our ones at times, too, throughout practice, so we're going to see them measure up not just against frosh but against the ones as well as the twos. We're just going to try and build their resumé and see how they handle it as we go."
Wide receiver Felton Davis.
Some freshmen get immediate playing due to being physically outstanding, such as Montae Nicholson last year and Taiwan Jones in 2011. Sometimes it's based on need at a position.
"I think it's just a matter of where our need is, can people stay healthy, and how ready are the players," Dantonio said. "Montae Nicholson played last year. He's a great athlete, great tackler, great ball skills so we put him in there.
"Some other guys played, as well, but it was because of need or because of their abilities, and I think that's usually what happens."
Offensive guard Brian Allen, linebacker Chris Frey and defensive tackle Malik McDowell also saw enough playing time last year to exhaust their freshman eligibility.
"We played more freshmen last year than we have in the past, but you go back and look at the 2011 class and those guys are all fifth-year seniors right now, and we only played one, Taiwan Jones, yet it's a great class," Dantonio said.
Thus, sometimes MSU has an influx of excellent talent but doesn't have the need to play many, or any, of them.
It remains to be seen how this year's freshman class will end up. Fans and media will learn more on Wednesday when selected true freshmen are made available to media for interviews.
Dantonio watching freshman DBs closely
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
EAST LANSING - With Michigan State getting into the full-pads portion of August camp, Mark Dantonio is beginning to form opinions on his incoming freshman class.
He's not yet ready to proclaim which of them have a good shot to be in the playing group, but he'll spend the next few days looking closely.
"It's sort of early, but I'm spending a lot of time with the defensive backs," Dantonio said.
There are potential openings for playing time at cornerback, with Michigan State looking to replace the three men who started games at that position last year - Trae Waynes, Tony Lippett and Darian Hicks.Hicks is out for about a month with mononucleosis.
Junior Demetrious Cox has an inside track to start at boundary cornerback. Senior Arjen Colquhoun and junior Jermaine Edmondson are the top candidates competing at the other corner position, with redshirt freshman Vayante Copeland also getting a look with the twos.
Meanwhile, incoming freshmen Josh Butler (5-11, 170, Mesquite, Texas) and Tyson Smith (5-10, 170, Southfield, Mich/Orchard Lake St. Mary's) are getting a chance this week to demonstrate their talents.
"You see that Josh Butler looks good, Tyson Smith looks good, David Dowell looks good," Dantonio said. "I've been impressed with those safeties. I could go through all those guys. They all look good.
"Our linebackers have played pretty well.
Linebacker Andrew Dowell.
"(Wide receivers) Darrell Stewart and Felton Davis both are two guys that look the part, run the part and act the part out there.
"I think it takes a little bit of time for our offensive linemen and our defensive linemen, but they look talented."
Highly-touted running back Larry Scott has been impressive as well.
"So it'll be interesting to see how they retain things and how they move forward once real pads come on and we get farther into this than two-a-days or in summer workouts," Dantonio said.
The Spartans will take time working and fine-tuning the two-deep in the third week of August and get into preparation for Western Michigan during the fourth week. For now, freshmen are getting a close look to see which of them are capable of helping this season.
"We've got to look at every freshman as they come in," Dantonio said. "We're going to make sure we go ones, twos and frosh so that the frosh are getting reps."
That means, during "team" periods, the first-string will run a play, then the second string will run the same play, then true freshmen will run the same play as a third repetition is staged.
In a normal practice, only the first two strings would get a chance to run the rep. Freshmen will get the third rep for the next few days.
"It takes a little bit longer, but we're going to go ones, twos and frosh and see how they make their way," Dantonio said. "And then we're going to put them against our ones at times, too, throughout practice, so we're going to see them measure up not just against frosh but against the ones as well as the twos. We're just going to try and build their resumé and see how they handle it as we go."
Wide receiver Felton Davis.
Some freshmen get immediate playing due to being physically outstanding, such as Montae Nicholson last year and Taiwan Jones in 2011. Sometimes it's based on need at a position.
"I think it's just a matter of where our need is, can people stay healthy, and how ready are the players," Dantonio said. "Montae Nicholson played last year. He's a great athlete, great tackler, great ball skills so we put him in there.
"Some other guys played, as well, but it was because of need or because of their abilities, and I think that's usually what happens."
Offensive guard Brian Allen, linebacker Chris Frey and defensive tackle Malik McDowell also saw enough playing time last year to exhaust their freshman eligibility.
"We played more freshmen last year than we have in the past, but you go back and look at the 2011 class and those guys are all fifth-year seniors right now, and we only played one, Taiwan Jones, yet it's a great class," Dantonio said.
Thus, sometimes MSU has an influx of excellent talent but doesn't have the need to play many, or any, of them.
It remains to be seen how this year's freshman class will end up. Fans and media will learn more on Wednesday when selected true freshmen are made available to media for interviews.
Media Day Notebook: 'We're in shape'
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
- 1 Replies
August 11, 2015
Media Day Notebook: 'We're In Shape'
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
EAST LANSING - Three days into August camp, Mark Dantonio approves of what he is seeing from a conditioning standpoint from his Michigan State Spartans.
"We look like we're in shape," Dantonio said during Monday's Media Day press conference. "We look like we have explosive players in the back end when you look at their 40 times and their short shuttles and their long jump and their 40 times, their vertical jump. I think my feeling is we have good skill, and we sort of paid the price with our big people. They can run, as well."
Senior linebacker Darien Harris, in one of several publicity photos released by MSU on Monday.
Dantonio is entering his ninth season at Michigan State. He's piloting a program that has finished in the Top 5 in each of the past two seasons - the only team in the nation that can make that claim.
Dantonio feels off-season focus and workouts have been in line with what he saw in 2013 and 2014 that led to Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl wins.
"I think our players worked extremely hard in our bottom line program, which is: Hey, you're getting it done or not getting it done at the end of the day," Dantonio said. "Got a lot of players lifting a lot of heavy weight, a lot of players running extremely well.
"I think we're in a good place."
The physical readiness has been complemented by strong leadership, Dantonio said.
"The leadership has been very good early in this camp from our senior group, and that's always extremely important," Dantonio said. "There's great direction within our program at the ground level, at the player level. When you have that at the player level, that gives you an added advantage in games. Players lead on the field. They have to. They have to get it done on the field."
In terms of conditioning and the emergence of new leaders: "It's been a great summer," Dantonio said.
Drawing A Crowd
More than 70 media members were on hand for Michigan State's Media Day on Monday, easily the biggest gathering of the Dantonio era for the annual event.
There few empty seats in the press room, Monday.
"We're on the move a little bit, and we've got some momentum," Dantonio said. "We were selling hope back then (when I first started), a little bit more of an unknown, and now we're selling the results of what's happened. The bar is set very high. We understand that. That's probably why you're all here.
"I think people look at things and say that they've done this, they've done that, okay, what's the next step? That's where 'Reach Higher' comes into the play."
"Reach Higher" being the mantra Dantonio set down for this team at Big Ten Media Days in late July.
Dantonio says that mantra is subject to readjustment throughout the course of the season.
"That's something that we go into the season with and speak to fall camp about a little bit and our mindset as we move forward, but hings are always changing," Dantonio said. "We come off of one thing and go into another thing. It's sort of what sticks, but initially moving into the season, that's the thought process, that - as I told our football team - we're competing at a very high level. We're already up here. But we need to go a little bit higher to get where we want to be."
Terry, O'Connor Still Waiting
Dantonio was non-committal on stating which reserve quarterback - Damion Terry or Tyler O'Connor - has the inside track toward the No. 2 job this fall, and thereby for the starting job in 2016.
"Right I don't think there is a distinction, but certainly as we move forward in fall camp you try and make those decisions," Dantonio said.
In 2012, junior Andrew Maxwell struggled in his first year as a starting quarterback. Dantonio said he felt Maxwell would have had a better chance to succeed if he had gotten more chances to play as a freshman and sophomore.
Dantonio was asked on Monday if he will look to get O'Connor or Terry on the field more this year in order to take steps toward a similar problem in 2016.
"Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry are both guys that have been on the field a lot for us already," Dantonio said. "They both have a good grasp and knowledge of the offense, and when the time comes, they'll have to assert themselves on the field.
"As far as playing them early, if the opportunity presents itself, we want to play those guys early, much like we did last year. Even in the Penn State game, I wasn't afraid to put Damion in on the 5 yard line. That was his time. But it was a tough situation.
"But I think both those guys have done a nice job so far."
Unready To Anoint
Dantonio was asked on Monday if his linebacking corps is the fastest he has had at Michigan State, and whether his linemen - on both sides of the ball - mark the best the Spartans have been in the trenches during his tenure.
In both instances, Dantonio stopped short of issuing advance credit.
"I think you make those distinctions at the end of the year," Dantonio said. "We've been pretty good on the defensive line here in the past, so I think all the ability is there. We certainly have a lot of good players back and they're very active and we've got some depth there."
The Spartans are led by four seniors on the d-line and a stock-on-the-rise sophomore in Malik McDowell. The seniors include All-America candidate Shilique Calhoun, DE/DT Lawrence Thomas, and DTs Joel Heath and Damon Knox.
On the offensive front, junior left tackle Jack Conklin is an All-America candidate and rated as a potential first-round draft pick next spring if he chooses to leave early for the pros. Senior center Jack Allen was a finalist for the Rimington Award in 2014 and is the only finalist returning to college football this fall. Right tackle Kodi Kieler and offensive guard Donavon Clark are longtime starters and reliable veterans.
"Offensive line wise I think this is the most depth we've had," Dantonio said. "You go back and look at our last two seasons, haven't been sacked too much, ran for about 2,000 yards as a group, and that's sort of been the norm the last couple seasons, and I think now they're getting a little bit more recognition. Good football team in those areas, but I think we'll anoint those people at the end of the season rather than at the beginning. But they have all the makings. They're good players with experience."
As for the linebackers, the Spartans will have an upgrade in the speed department at Mike linebacker with sophomore Riley Bullough. Meanwhile, seniors Ed Davis and Darien Harris are experienced, athletic and ready to play fast.
"Yeah, it's a fast group, and we've got to be able to play sideline to sideline, especially with what teams are doing offensively now," Dantonio said. "But again, I'm not ready to anoint our football team because we've had some great football teams here and we've had some great defenses. That 2013 defense had some guys that could really run, too.
"We'll see how they go, but they're good football players. We have some depth at those positions, and that's what's exciting. That's a positive."
Point After
Dantonio unplugged on … The Allen Brothers:
"They're so ornery. They'll mix it up a little bit, and they compete against each other. Both are very tough, strong, physical type players. Great feet. Athletes."
Media Day Notebook: 'We're In Shape'
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
EAST LANSING - Three days into August camp, Mark Dantonio approves of what he is seeing from a conditioning standpoint from his Michigan State Spartans.
"We look like we're in shape," Dantonio said during Monday's Media Day press conference. "We look like we have explosive players in the back end when you look at their 40 times and their short shuttles and their long jump and their 40 times, their vertical jump. I think my feeling is we have good skill, and we sort of paid the price with our big people. They can run, as well."
Senior linebacker Darien Harris, in one of several publicity photos released by MSU on Monday.
Dantonio is entering his ninth season at Michigan State. He's piloting a program that has finished in the Top 5 in each of the past two seasons - the only team in the nation that can make that claim.
Dantonio feels off-season focus and workouts have been in line with what he saw in 2013 and 2014 that led to Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl wins.
"I think our players worked extremely hard in our bottom line program, which is: Hey, you're getting it done or not getting it done at the end of the day," Dantonio said. "Got a lot of players lifting a lot of heavy weight, a lot of players running extremely well.
"I think we're in a good place."
The physical readiness has been complemented by strong leadership, Dantonio said.
"The leadership has been very good early in this camp from our senior group, and that's always extremely important," Dantonio said. "There's great direction within our program at the ground level, at the player level. When you have that at the player level, that gives you an added advantage in games. Players lead on the field. They have to. They have to get it done on the field."
In terms of conditioning and the emergence of new leaders: "It's been a great summer," Dantonio said.
Drawing A Crowd
More than 70 media members were on hand for Michigan State's Media Day on Monday, easily the biggest gathering of the Dantonio era for the annual event.
There few empty seats in the press room, Monday.
"We're on the move a little bit, and we've got some momentum," Dantonio said. "We were selling hope back then (when I first started), a little bit more of an unknown, and now we're selling the results of what's happened. The bar is set very high. We understand that. That's probably why you're all here.
"I think people look at things and say that they've done this, they've done that, okay, what's the next step? That's where 'Reach Higher' comes into the play."
"Reach Higher" being the mantra Dantonio set down for this team at Big Ten Media Days in late July.
Dantonio says that mantra is subject to readjustment throughout the course of the season.
"That's something that we go into the season with and speak to fall camp about a little bit and our mindset as we move forward, but hings are always changing," Dantonio said. "We come off of one thing and go into another thing. It's sort of what sticks, but initially moving into the season, that's the thought process, that - as I told our football team - we're competing at a very high level. We're already up here. But we need to go a little bit higher to get where we want to be."
Terry, O'Connor Still Waiting
Dantonio was non-committal on stating which reserve quarterback - Damion Terry or Tyler O'Connor - has the inside track toward the No. 2 job this fall, and thereby for the starting job in 2016.
"Right I don't think there is a distinction, but certainly as we move forward in fall camp you try and make those decisions," Dantonio said.
In 2012, junior Andrew Maxwell struggled in his first year as a starting quarterback. Dantonio said he felt Maxwell would have had a better chance to succeed if he had gotten more chances to play as a freshman and sophomore.
Dantonio was asked on Monday if he will look to get O'Connor or Terry on the field more this year in order to take steps toward a similar problem in 2016.
"Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry are both guys that have been on the field a lot for us already," Dantonio said. "They both have a good grasp and knowledge of the offense, and when the time comes, they'll have to assert themselves on the field.
"As far as playing them early, if the opportunity presents itself, we want to play those guys early, much like we did last year. Even in the Penn State game, I wasn't afraid to put Damion in on the 5 yard line. That was his time. But it was a tough situation.
"But I think both those guys have done a nice job so far."
Unready To Anoint
Dantonio was asked on Monday if his linebacking corps is the fastest he has had at Michigan State, and whether his linemen - on both sides of the ball - mark the best the Spartans have been in the trenches during his tenure.
In both instances, Dantonio stopped short of issuing advance credit.
"I think you make those distinctions at the end of the year," Dantonio said. "We've been pretty good on the defensive line here in the past, so I think all the ability is there. We certainly have a lot of good players back and they're very active and we've got some depth there."
The Spartans are led by four seniors on the d-line and a stock-on-the-rise sophomore in Malik McDowell. The seniors include All-America candidate Shilique Calhoun, DE/DT Lawrence Thomas, and DTs Joel Heath and Damon Knox.
On the offensive front, junior left tackle Jack Conklin is an All-America candidate and rated as a potential first-round draft pick next spring if he chooses to leave early for the pros. Senior center Jack Allen was a finalist for the Rimington Award in 2014 and is the only finalist returning to college football this fall. Right tackle Kodi Kieler and offensive guard Donavon Clark are longtime starters and reliable veterans.
"Offensive line wise I think this is the most depth we've had," Dantonio said. "You go back and look at our last two seasons, haven't been sacked too much, ran for about 2,000 yards as a group, and that's sort of been the norm the last couple seasons, and I think now they're getting a little bit more recognition. Good football team in those areas, but I think we'll anoint those people at the end of the season rather than at the beginning. But they have all the makings. They're good players with experience."
As for the linebackers, the Spartans will have an upgrade in the speed department at Mike linebacker with sophomore Riley Bullough. Meanwhile, seniors Ed Davis and Darien Harris are experienced, athletic and ready to play fast.
"Yeah, it's a fast group, and we've got to be able to play sideline to sideline, especially with what teams are doing offensively now," Dantonio said. "But again, I'm not ready to anoint our football team because we've had some great football teams here and we've had some great defenses. That 2013 defense had some guys that could really run, too.
"We'll see how they go, but they're good football players. We have some depth at those positions, and that's what's exciting. That's a positive."
Point After
Dantonio unplugged on … The Allen Brothers:
"They're so ornery. They'll mix it up a little bit, and they compete against each other. Both are very tough, strong, physical type players. Great feet. Athletes."
National Championship? 'That's Where Our Goals Are'
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
- 1 Replies
Dantonio didn't mention it by name, but it's clear what he was talking about here:
https://michiganstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1791079
National Championship? 'That's where our goals are'
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - Considering that Michigan State is returning tons of talent from the only team in America that has finished in the Top 5 in each of the past two seasons, it may seem odd that the Spartans are almost never mentioned by local, regional or national press as a National Championship threat.
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has rarely - if ever - specifically been asked about the National Championship during the media tour run-up to the 2015 season.
And judging by his answer to an open-ended question during Michigan State Media Day on Monday, the ninth-year head coach seems to be comfortable "laying in the weeds," as he likes to say.
When asked what would constitute a "successful season" for the No. 6-ranked Spartans in 2015, Dantonio didn't mention the National Championship by name.
"I think a successful season is a season where you finish on the up note," Dantonio said. "A benchmark for us is going to be getting to the playoffs and all those type of things. That's where our goals are."
"Those type of things?" That was a blurred reference to the National Championship. But he steered away from using those words.
"Our goals, our initial goals, are extremely high," Dantonio said. 'I will say that. I don't go into the season saying I think we're going to lose these two games."
Translation: He thinks his team can win all of them. But that's as far as he went in that direction.
"The wins and the losses are going to come and go," Dantonio said. "That's a part of life. That's a part of who we are. It's going to be how we handle both ends of the stick that's going to determine are we ultimately successful.
"You reevaluate your goals as you move forward," Dantonio added. "This is what I want for our players: I want relationships, I want them to graduate, I want them to win, I want them to go to bowl games. I want us to give back, and when they walk out of here, feel good about their experiences here. That makes it a positive season for me.
"But you've got to handle negativity, too. That's a part of it."
In going 11-2 and winning the Cotton Bowl last year, Dantonio may have been proudest of his team's ability to bounce back from damaging losses, refocus, and come back strong.
"We regathered ourselves and we did what we needed to do to get back in the hunt in both situations," Dantonio said. "Coming after the Oregon game we had a ways to go to get back to where we were in the Top 10 and we were able to do that. And after the Ohio State game, we had to regather ourselves and made a run and we end up in a Big Six bowl. In both cases we rallied the troops a little bit.
"We didn't succeed in those two games so we didn't reach our goals, and that's the bottom line. We won 11 games, we ended up No. 5 in the country, we did what we did, but the fact of the matter is we lost two games where if we win either of those games, I think we are a little farther along."
Dantonio would prefer that the goals remain the same for all 12 games of the regular season. In order to do it, he is counting on senior leadership to help his team battle through problems this year and stay on course for the Big Ten Championship Game, the College Football Playoff and the National Championship.
"I don't sense complacency," Dantonio said. "I think our guys have goals in mind, goals internally, what they want to do, and I think right now guys are motivated on those.
"Now, we need to be able to stay motivated, too. That's a key. Can't fall away.
"Problems are going to come," Dantonio added. "We talk about that all the time. It's how we're going to handle those problems that are going to make the difference. Focus on the positive and stay grounded."
The Spartans have 17 seniors in the two-deep.
"We've got some maturity here," Dantonio said. "We've gone through some tough times. We've got to handle the things that are going to come our way, and they will come, I promise you, they will come."
https://michiganstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1791079
National Championship? 'That's where our goals are'
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - Considering that Michigan State is returning tons of talent from the only team in America that has finished in the Top 5 in each of the past two seasons, it may seem odd that the Spartans are almost never mentioned by local, regional or national press as a National Championship threat.
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has rarely - if ever - specifically been asked about the National Championship during the media tour run-up to the 2015 season.
And judging by his answer to an open-ended question during Michigan State Media Day on Monday, the ninth-year head coach seems to be comfortable "laying in the weeds," as he likes to say.
When asked what would constitute a "successful season" for the No. 6-ranked Spartans in 2015, Dantonio didn't mention the National Championship by name.
"I think a successful season is a season where you finish on the up note," Dantonio said. "A benchmark for us is going to be getting to the playoffs and all those type of things. That's where our goals are."
"Those type of things?" That was a blurred reference to the National Championship. But he steered away from using those words.
"Our goals, our initial goals, are extremely high," Dantonio said. 'I will say that. I don't go into the season saying I think we're going to lose these two games."
Translation: He thinks his team can win all of them. But that's as far as he went in that direction.
"The wins and the losses are going to come and go," Dantonio said. "That's a part of life. That's a part of who we are. It's going to be how we handle both ends of the stick that's going to determine are we ultimately successful.
"You reevaluate your goals as you move forward," Dantonio added. "This is what I want for our players: I want relationships, I want them to graduate, I want them to win, I want them to go to bowl games. I want us to give back, and when they walk out of here, feel good about their experiences here. That makes it a positive season for me.
"But you've got to handle negativity, too. That's a part of it."
In going 11-2 and winning the Cotton Bowl last year, Dantonio may have been proudest of his team's ability to bounce back from damaging losses, refocus, and come back strong.
"We regathered ourselves and we did what we needed to do to get back in the hunt in both situations," Dantonio said. "Coming after the Oregon game we had a ways to go to get back to where we were in the Top 10 and we were able to do that. And after the Ohio State game, we had to regather ourselves and made a run and we end up in a Big Six bowl. In both cases we rallied the troops a little bit.
"We didn't succeed in those two games so we didn't reach our goals, and that's the bottom line. We won 11 games, we ended up No. 5 in the country, we did what we did, but the fact of the matter is we lost two games where if we win either of those games, I think we are a little farther along."
Dantonio would prefer that the goals remain the same for all 12 games of the regular season. In order to do it, he is counting on senior leadership to help his team battle through problems this year and stay on course for the Big Ten Championship Game, the College Football Playoff and the National Championship.
"I don't sense complacency," Dantonio said. "I think our guys have goals in mind, goals internally, what they want to do, and I think right now guys are motivated on those.
"Now, we need to be able to stay motivated, too. That's a key. Can't fall away.
"Problems are going to come," Dantonio added. "We talk about that all the time. It's how we're going to handle those problems that are going to make the difference. Focus on the positive and stay grounded."
The Spartans have 17 seniors in the two-deep.
"We've got some maturity here," Dantonio said. "We've gone through some tough times. We've got to handle the things that are going to come our way, and they will come, I promise you, they will come."
New punter Hartbarger starts camp strong
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
- 1 Replies
https://michiganstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1791080
August 10, 2015
Hartbarger starts camp strong
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - Michigan State is breaking in a new punter for just the third time since 2007, and first-year special teams coordinator Mark Snyder is eager to see physically-gifted redshirt freshman Jake Hartbarger demonstrate that he can perform under pressure the wayMike Sadler did as a starter from 2011-2014.
"He has tons and tons of potential, and he has a big leg," Snyder said. "He needs to do it under pressure. He's got to show me under pressure."
Robert Hendricks
Redshirt freshman punter has big shoes to fill with the graduation of Mike Sadler.
Hartbarger, who redshirted last season after signing as a consensus Top 5 punter in the Class of 2014, has made a favorable impression during training camp thus far.
"(He) had a tremendous first day, and he can be as good as there is," Dantonio said. "But he's young, he's a freshman, so we need to test him throughout camp and make sure his go times are right, which they are. We've got a great snapper, so we should be good, but it's new territory, new ground. As he moves forward, he'll get more accustomed to things, and he needs to take a leadership role with our punt team."
Hartbarger is pleased with the way he is punting in practice.
"As far as consistency at the start of fall camp, I feel happy with how things are going so far," he said. "Chemistry between punter and snapper is also good."
Although he has a stronger leg than his predecessor, Hartbarger is determined to continue the trend of pinning opponents on their own goal-line as Sadler did so effectively during his four years as a starter.
"We have had a tradition of good punters come through here with Mike and guys that have come through here before him," Hartbarger said. "It's not all about the big ball. I like to pin people inside the 20 too. I learned a lot from Mike. He helped me out with a lot of little things technique-wise."
Third-year starter longsnapper Taybor Pepper should be a calming influence for Hartbarger.
"It should be a great help," Snyder said. "He is a great longsnapper. He is really good. He puts the ball back there in a hurry. That should help a lot. He's just got to relax and punt the ball."
Hartbarger has not experienced the pressure of punting in front of 75,000 plus on game day. But he regularly faces simulated pressure in practice.
"Just heat him up verbally, bring people after him, have people yelling at him from behind," Snyder said. "Any kind of distraction that you can give him."
Back-up quarterback Tyler O'Connor, who was one of the better punters in Ohio during his high school career at Lima Central Catholic, hasn't boomed as many punts during practice as Hartbarger. But he has shown the mental toughness needed to perform under pressure.
"Tyler is a gamer," Snyder said. "He probably don't have the leg that Jake has but he is ballplayer. He brings an added dimension too because he can throw it and run it. Maybe not the potential, but he has other ingredients. If Jake don't get it done, we're fine having other ingredients."
O'Connor was approached about a potential role as a specialist last spring.
"During the spring, coaches invested a kicking shoe in me," O'Connor said. "That has worked out pretty well. I have actually gotten better. I had some instruction over the summer, and I have had a few good days this camp. It is going well, better than I thought. I am better than I was in high school."
O'Connor averaged 38 yards per punt as a senior in high school. He also converted 26 of 29 PAT kicks.
August 10, 2015
Hartbarger starts camp strong
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - Michigan State is breaking in a new punter for just the third time since 2007, and first-year special teams coordinator Mark Snyder is eager to see physically-gifted redshirt freshman Jake Hartbarger demonstrate that he can perform under pressure the wayMike Sadler did as a starter from 2011-2014.
"He has tons and tons of potential, and he has a big leg," Snyder said. "He needs to do it under pressure. He's got to show me under pressure."
Robert Hendricks
Redshirt freshman punter has big shoes to fill with the graduation of Mike Sadler.
Hartbarger, who redshirted last season after signing as a consensus Top 5 punter in the Class of 2014, has made a favorable impression during training camp thus far.
"(He) had a tremendous first day, and he can be as good as there is," Dantonio said. "But he's young, he's a freshman, so we need to test him throughout camp and make sure his go times are right, which they are. We've got a great snapper, so we should be good, but it's new territory, new ground. As he moves forward, he'll get more accustomed to things, and he needs to take a leadership role with our punt team."
Hartbarger is pleased with the way he is punting in practice.
"As far as consistency at the start of fall camp, I feel happy with how things are going so far," he said. "Chemistry between punter and snapper is also good."
Although he has a stronger leg than his predecessor, Hartbarger is determined to continue the trend of pinning opponents on their own goal-line as Sadler did so effectively during his four years as a starter.
"We have had a tradition of good punters come through here with Mike and guys that have come through here before him," Hartbarger said. "It's not all about the big ball. I like to pin people inside the 20 too. I learned a lot from Mike. He helped me out with a lot of little things technique-wise."
Third-year starter longsnapper Taybor Pepper should be a calming influence for Hartbarger.
"It should be a great help," Snyder said. "He is a great longsnapper. He is really good. He puts the ball back there in a hurry. That should help a lot. He's just got to relax and punt the ball."
Hartbarger has not experienced the pressure of punting in front of 75,000 plus on game day. But he regularly faces simulated pressure in practice.
"Just heat him up verbally, bring people after him, have people yelling at him from behind," Snyder said. "Any kind of distraction that you can give him."
Back-up quarterback Tyler O'Connor, who was one of the better punters in Ohio during his high school career at Lima Central Catholic, hasn't boomed as many punts during practice as Hartbarger. But he has shown the mental toughness needed to perform under pressure.
"Tyler is a gamer," Snyder said. "He probably don't have the leg that Jake has but he is ballplayer. He brings an added dimension too because he can throw it and run it. Maybe not the potential, but he has other ingredients. If Jake don't get it done, we're fine having other ingredients."
O'Connor was approached about a potential role as a specialist last spring.
"During the spring, coaches invested a kicking shoe in me," O'Connor said. "That has worked out pretty well. I have actually gotten better. I had some instruction over the summer, and I have had a few good days this camp. It is going well, better than I thought. I am better than I was in high school."
O'Connor averaged 38 yards per punt as a senior in high school. He also converted 26 of 29 PAT kicks.
Some fresh angles on Panasiuk, story on front
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
- 6 Replies
LINK below
https://michiganstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1784005
Commitment follow-up: Panasiuk packs power
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
Here's the scary thing about Mike Panasiuk's record-setting weight-lifting summer: He has yet to put that strength behind pads.
Panasiuk, a defensive lineman who committed to Michigan State in June, began hitting the weights seriously this past winter and spring, as part of a track and field program, no less.
"After last season, I decided to throw discus and shot put in track so I was in their weight lifting program," said Panasiuk (pronounced PAHN-uh-shook). "We would lift every day after school."
It was no ordinary weight training regimen. The track program at Roselle (Ill.) Lake Park High School borrows concepts from world class track and field competitors. It seems to have shaped Panasiuk into an uncommon force in the weight room and at the off-season camps.
Panasiuk gained a measure of fame by breaking The Opening's camp record for 185-pound bench reps with 43 in early July.
In camp settings throughout the spring and summer, Panasiuk has enjoyed success against major conference offensive line recruits.
Next, Panasiuk will look to apply his national-class level of strength to the football field as a senior at Lake Park.
Michigan State coaches liked the 2014 version of Panasiuk. They will be eager to see what it looks like as a high school senior in 2015 as his enormous level of natural strength has been compounded by new gains in the weight room.
'Representing Michigan State'
MSU became aware of Panasiuk after he camped at MSU last summer. MSU remained in occasional contact with him during the fall. And then after seeing his junior film, MSU's correspondence with Panasiuk picked up in January and February.
Panasiuk's success on the camp circuit seemed to have something to do with MSU offering a scholarship in early June. He committed a few days later, as Michigan State was the offer he was waiting for - despite offers from Missouri, Penn State, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota and others.
In early July, Panasiuk attended The Opening, Nike's national camp in Eugene, Ore. He broke The Opening record of 42 reps of 185, formerly held by Hawaiian four-star defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, who will be a freshman at Texas Tech this fall.
Todd Huber, the line coach at The Opening and a former offensive lineman at Cal, figured Panasiuk could make noise in the 185-pound bench test.
"Todd told me he saw the dude that put up the record last year and he said that dude had the same body type that I did and he said he believed I could beat it," Panasiuk said. "He told me the number was 42 so I went in there knowing it was 42 and gave it my all and beat it.
"I kind of had it in my head and guys that were there were counting as I went, so I just kept going. I went in there wanting to do as much as I could, whether it was 43 or 50 or 60."
Offensive linemen are known for their prowess in the weight room. But d-linemen at the camp took pride in seeing a fellow defensive player put up the best mark at the camp, and break the record.
"There were a couple of guys, even on the offensive line, that didn't get high reps," Panasiuk said. "I think the next high rep was 33.
"After I got the number, all the d-linemen were around, and a couple of the coaches. So they were excited for me setting the record, saying it was a great accomplishment. They were cheering me on as I was pumping out the numbers. I got a little blood rush to my head but I was fine, just got back up and was really excited that I could put up a number like that."
Fellow Spartan commitment Messiah DeWeaver was not in the room when he broke the record, but upon hearing the news, DeWeaver found Panasiuk on the practice field and gave him a hearty congratulations.
Then came attaboys from MSU's coaching staff.
"I heard from Coach Salem, from Coach Burton and Coach Dantonio after they found out about it," Panasiuk said. "I messaged them on Twitter. They all congratulated me on setting the record and everything I did at The Opening. Coach D said he was excited about everything I did and just representing Michigan State."
The Opening marked only the second time Panasiuk had tested his rep max at 185 pounds. He put up a mark of 30 at this time last year. The extra strength came from a year of maturity and the weight training that he began just six months ago.
"Our workouts consist of the regular Olympic lifts but we change our weight percentage every other week," he said. "So one week we'll be at 50 to 60 percent (of our max) and then the next week it will be 60 to 70 percent and it goes up till 110 percent with spotters.
"I'm just naturally strong. It was this past offseason when I really went to work in the weight room."
He also lifts at Lifetime Fitness, near his home in suburban Chicago. Panasiuk's relative newness to weight training isn't unprecedented in Spartan recruiting circles. MSU left tackle Jack Conklin didn't lift weights prior to his senior year in high school, per his father's orders - and his dad was the head varsity coach. Conklin has been a late-bloomer of legendary proportions, entering 2015 as an All-America candidate and a possible first-round draft choice.
Panasiuk put up a bench press mark of 405 earlier this summer, bringing a veteran level of strength to his nonstop tenacity.
"They (Michigan State coaches) said they liked the high motor that I have, they like how I play," Panasiuk said. "They like that I don't care who I go up against, that I'm going to keep fighting. They like that about me, they like how I'm a fighter."
Panasiuk likes what Dantonio has been doing with the Spartan program.
"Growing up, me and my family always used to go up in Michigan for skiing trips and snow boarding trips," Panasiuk said. "So growing up, I've been up through there a couple of times. And also, just growing up and seeing everything that Coach Dantonio has built over there, and the way that they are going and everything Coach Dantonio is about - I want to be a part of it. Coach Dantonio is known about getting those two-stars and three-stars and having great success with his team and that's what what I want to be a part of."
Not A Sleeper
Panasiuk isn't a sleeper recruit. He is a three-star prospect, ranked the No. 10 player in Illinois by Rivals.com. His commitment to MSU gave the Spartans a clean sweep of the top three-ranked defensive linemen in Illinois for 2015, joining four-star DE Josh King and four-star DT Naquan Jones.
Last fall was just Panasiuk's fourth of organized football.
Panasiuk shows strong hands when battling in the trenches, moving people with sudden, violent bursts. He uses his hands well to disengage while reading the flow or slanting gaps. He looks like a technician with the way he uses his hands, but he says he's far from it.
"Actually, I haven't really worked on my hands much," Panasiuk said. "When I tell people that, a lot of people are surprised, just like you were. Even though I haven't worked on that much, I do a good job of placing them, using them the right way, using the right moves.
"So I'm even more excited to see what I can do and I know I have a lot of potential to be better than I am right now with my hands.
"I've only been playing football since eighth grade, so I definitely have a lot to learn. I'm definitely going to keep working my hands. That's something I'm going to try to focus on and see where it takes me from here."
Panasiuk needs to learn to play lower, with a flat back. But the strength he has in his upper body is complemented by excellent power in his lower body and through his core, as he is able to pop his hips forward and run his feet after engaging.
And that's based on 2014 film - before his weight training reached a new level.
Combine the strength, with a natural penchant for using his hands with the fact that he isn't even playing with a low pad level yet and the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Panasiuk is one of the more intriguing players in MSU's 2016 recruiting class.
"Coach Dantonio told me to keep working and just focus on my team," Panasiuk said. "Last year, we went 5-4 but we didn't have the points to get into the playoffs.This year, I plan on being a leader of my team, helping out everybody and leading my team to the playoffs and making a run for it when we get there."
https://michiganstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1784005
Commitment follow-up: Panasiuk packs power
Jim Comparoni
SpartanMag.com Publisher
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
Here's the scary thing about Mike Panasiuk's record-setting weight-lifting summer: He has yet to put that strength behind pads.
Panasiuk, a defensive lineman who committed to Michigan State in June, began hitting the weights seriously this past winter and spring, as part of a track and field program, no less.
"After last season, I decided to throw discus and shot put in track so I was in their weight lifting program," said Panasiuk (pronounced PAHN-uh-shook). "We would lift every day after school."
It was no ordinary weight training regimen. The track program at Roselle (Ill.) Lake Park High School borrows concepts from world class track and field competitors. It seems to have shaped Panasiuk into an uncommon force in the weight room and at the off-season camps.
Panasiuk gained a measure of fame by breaking The Opening's camp record for 185-pound bench reps with 43 in early July.
In camp settings throughout the spring and summer, Panasiuk has enjoyed success against major conference offensive line recruits.
Next, Panasiuk will look to apply his national-class level of strength to the football field as a senior at Lake Park.
Michigan State coaches liked the 2014 version of Panasiuk. They will be eager to see what it looks like as a high school senior in 2015 as his enormous level of natural strength has been compounded by new gains in the weight room.
'Representing Michigan State'
MSU became aware of Panasiuk after he camped at MSU last summer. MSU remained in occasional contact with him during the fall. And then after seeing his junior film, MSU's correspondence with Panasiuk picked up in January and February.
Panasiuk's success on the camp circuit seemed to have something to do with MSU offering a scholarship in early June. He committed a few days later, as Michigan State was the offer he was waiting for - despite offers from Missouri, Penn State, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota and others.
In early July, Panasiuk attended The Opening, Nike's national camp in Eugene, Ore. He broke The Opening record of 42 reps of 185, formerly held by Hawaiian four-star defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, who will be a freshman at Texas Tech this fall.
Todd Huber, the line coach at The Opening and a former offensive lineman at Cal, figured Panasiuk could make noise in the 185-pound bench test.
"Todd told me he saw the dude that put up the record last year and he said that dude had the same body type that I did and he said he believed I could beat it," Panasiuk said. "He told me the number was 42 so I went in there knowing it was 42 and gave it my all and beat it.
"I kind of had it in my head and guys that were there were counting as I went, so I just kept going. I went in there wanting to do as much as I could, whether it was 43 or 50 or 60."
Offensive linemen are known for their prowess in the weight room. But d-linemen at the camp took pride in seeing a fellow defensive player put up the best mark at the camp, and break the record.
"There were a couple of guys, even on the offensive line, that didn't get high reps," Panasiuk said. "I think the next high rep was 33.
"After I got the number, all the d-linemen were around, and a couple of the coaches. So they were excited for me setting the record, saying it was a great accomplishment. They were cheering me on as I was pumping out the numbers. I got a little blood rush to my head but I was fine, just got back up and was really excited that I could put up a number like that."
Fellow Spartan commitment Messiah DeWeaver was not in the room when he broke the record, but upon hearing the news, DeWeaver found Panasiuk on the practice field and gave him a hearty congratulations.
Then came attaboys from MSU's coaching staff.
"I heard from Coach Salem, from Coach Burton and Coach Dantonio after they found out about it," Panasiuk said. "I messaged them on Twitter. They all congratulated me on setting the record and everything I did at The Opening. Coach D said he was excited about everything I did and just representing Michigan State."
The Opening marked only the second time Panasiuk had tested his rep max at 185 pounds. He put up a mark of 30 at this time last year. The extra strength came from a year of maturity and the weight training that he began just six months ago.
"Our workouts consist of the regular Olympic lifts but we change our weight percentage every other week," he said. "So one week we'll be at 50 to 60 percent (of our max) and then the next week it will be 60 to 70 percent and it goes up till 110 percent with spotters.
"I'm just naturally strong. It was this past offseason when I really went to work in the weight room."
He also lifts at Lifetime Fitness, near his home in suburban Chicago. Panasiuk's relative newness to weight training isn't unprecedented in Spartan recruiting circles. MSU left tackle Jack Conklin didn't lift weights prior to his senior year in high school, per his father's orders - and his dad was the head varsity coach. Conklin has been a late-bloomer of legendary proportions, entering 2015 as an All-America candidate and a possible first-round draft choice.
Panasiuk put up a bench press mark of 405 earlier this summer, bringing a veteran level of strength to his nonstop tenacity.
"They (Michigan State coaches) said they liked the high motor that I have, they like how I play," Panasiuk said. "They like that I don't care who I go up against, that I'm going to keep fighting. They like that about me, they like how I'm a fighter."
Panasiuk likes what Dantonio has been doing with the Spartan program.
"Growing up, me and my family always used to go up in Michigan for skiing trips and snow boarding trips," Panasiuk said. "So growing up, I've been up through there a couple of times. And also, just growing up and seeing everything that Coach Dantonio has built over there, and the way that they are going and everything Coach Dantonio is about - I want to be a part of it. Coach Dantonio is known about getting those two-stars and three-stars and having great success with his team and that's what what I want to be a part of."
Not A Sleeper
Panasiuk isn't a sleeper recruit. He is a three-star prospect, ranked the No. 10 player in Illinois by Rivals.com. His commitment to MSU gave the Spartans a clean sweep of the top three-ranked defensive linemen in Illinois for 2015, joining four-star DE Josh King and four-star DT Naquan Jones.
Last fall was just Panasiuk's fourth of organized football.
Panasiuk shows strong hands when battling in the trenches, moving people with sudden, violent bursts. He uses his hands well to disengage while reading the flow or slanting gaps. He looks like a technician with the way he uses his hands, but he says he's far from it.
"Actually, I haven't really worked on my hands much," Panasiuk said. "When I tell people that, a lot of people are surprised, just like you were. Even though I haven't worked on that much, I do a good job of placing them, using them the right way, using the right moves.
"So I'm even more excited to see what I can do and I know I have a lot of potential to be better than I am right now with my hands.
"I've only been playing football since eighth grade, so I definitely have a lot to learn. I'm definitely going to keep working my hands. That's something I'm going to try to focus on and see where it takes me from here."
Panasiuk needs to learn to play lower, with a flat back. But the strength he has in his upper body is complemented by excellent power in his lower body and through his core, as he is able to pop his hips forward and run his feet after engaging.
And that's based on 2014 film - before his weight training reached a new level.
Combine the strength, with a natural penchant for using his hands with the fact that he isn't even playing with a low pad level yet and the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Panasiuk is one of the more intriguing players in MSU's 2016 recruiting class.
"Coach Dantonio told me to keep working and just focus on my team," Panasiuk said. "Last year, we went 5-4 but we didn't have the points to get into the playoffs.This year, I plan on being a leader of my team, helping out everybody and leading my team to the playoffs and making a run for it when we get there."
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