Media Days Notebook
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A review of what Dantonio had to say earlier today:
NOTEBOOK: Dantonio issues Back to Back mantra for 2016
Jim Comparoni | Editor
CHICAGO - When Mark Dantonio took the podium at Big Ten Media Days, Tuesday at McCormick Place, he briefly made a statement about former punter Mike Sadler, a four-time Academic All-American who was killed in a car accident, Saturday night.
“What occurred on Saturday is very tragic,” Dantonio said. “In regards to Mike, he was a giver. There was no take in Mike Sadler. He lived life. He made everyone’s life around him better and we will miss him terribly.”
With that said, Dantonio then moved to the business of the day, which is to talk about the Spartan football program and preview the 2016 season.
“Back to football,” Dantonio said, still in a somber tone. “I think we’ve built a culture at Michigan State. We are 36-5 in the last three years, 24-2 in the Big Ten Conference.”
Then he moved on, methodically, to attempt to put a monicker on the upcoming season, as he has done in the past with “Reach Higher” in 2015, “It Starts Here” in 2014 and “Chase It” in 2013.
“We have sort of set the table in terms of what we have to do every year, so right now our focus is to try and go ‘Back to Back,’” Dantonio said.
Dantonio’s mantra understandably lacked the punch in delivery that he has had in the past. But he spoke with conviction when discussing some of Michigan State’s strengths for 2016, including talent at linebacker, running back and a surprising nod to Spartan experience.
MORE THAN 10 RETURNING STARTERS?
Michigan State is generally regarded as having only 10 returning starters from last year’s Big Ten Championship/College Football Playoff team, but Dantonio put a different spin on those numbers, Tuesday.
“We've lost some good players but I think we have 31 players back with some type of starting experience,” Dantonio said.
Dantonio’s definition of “starting experience” differs from others. For instance, sixth-year senior Brandon Clemons was utilized as part of the six-man jumbo blocking unit last year. He was a starter in Dantonio’s estimation for that particular personnel group, although he has never started a game for the Spartans.
“We have like 15 on offense, and like 13 or 14 or so on defense that we would consider starters,” Dantonio said.
Clemons is listed as a co-first string right guard for the Spartans heading into August camp.
Defensive backs Khari Willis, Grayson Miller, Vayante Copeland, Darian Hicks,linebacker Ed Davis, quarterback Tyler O’Connor, left tackle Dennis Finley, wide receiver R.J. Shelton and tight end Jamal Lyles are nine players, in addition to the 10 conventional returning starters, who have started games at some point for the Spartans.
Dantonio said. “We've lost some good players but we've got a lot of good football players coming back. I think we have seven guys coming back in the secondary who started for us that are very athletic. And our guys expect to win.
“We lose good players every year, just like every other program. But it seems that when the time comes, our seniors have their best years. You look at Aaron Burbridge last year, having his best year as a senior, catching 85 passes or whatever it was. And the year before that, Tony Lippett. You look at what Connor Cook was able to do.
“We've got guys poised for that. We've established a culture. We've had great recruiting classes and built those classes on top of each other.”
‘CATAPULT’ SEASON FOR McDOWELL?
Dantonio selected three senior players to join him in Chicago for Media Days press obligations. Linebacker Riley Bullough, wide receiver RJ Shelton and tight end Josiah Price met with media Tuesday afternoon.
Michigan State’s most-decorated player in terms of preseason hype and praise, is junior defensive lineman Malik McDowell. He is ranked among the Top 40 players in the country by SI.com and is a popular choice for All-America candidacy in the national preview publications.
“Malik is a playmaker, no question about that,” Dantonio said, Tuesday. “He's big, athletic, physical. He comes to play every game.
“And with all that being said he's only going to be a true junior.”
McDowell (6-6, 274, Detroit/Southfield High) ranked second not he team in TFLs last year with 13, and had 4.5 sacks at the nose tackle position. He was named second-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media.
“He had a big sophomore season last year, and played some as a freshman,” Dantonio said. “I think that this is the year that sort of catapults him.”
McDowell told SpartanMag.com correspondent Rico Beard that he is 15 pounds lighter than his 2015 playing weight. McDowell’s slimmer posture, and presumed improved quickness, should make him more versatile in adapting to the coaches’ plans to move him out to defense end at times in 2016.
“He's got to have a great year and I think he's poised to do that,” Dantonio said. “I think we also have some other great defensive players on our football team that we can build around. Ed Davis working for his sixth year. Riley Bullough. Guys all over the place.”
‘DEPTH CHARTS ARE DEPTH CHARTS’
Junior linebacker Chris Frey is among those that Dantonio regards as a starter, despite the fact that Frey has never started.
Frey is listed as a second-string Sam linebacker. He can also play ‘star’ linebacker.
“Depth charts are depth charts,” Dantonio said. “It's a starting point. We're very deep at the linebacker position.”
Bullough and junior Jon Reschke are listed as starting Mike and Sam linebackers. Sophomore Andrew Dowell is No. 1 at ‘star’ linebacker heading into August camp, according to Monday’s depth chart.
Frey (6-2, 222, Jr., Upper Arlington, Ohio) had 23 tackles and five TFLs last year. He saw extensive action as a second-stringer and was on the nickel defense first unit.
“He plays multiple positions,” Dantonio said. “As far as I'm concerned, Chris Frey is a starter as well. Ed Davis can be thrown into that. We have what I consider five starters. Shane Jones is another guy I think can go in there and start. Byron Bullough is another guy that had an outstanding spring.”
ED DAVIS UPDATE
Ed Davis (6-3, 225, Detrot) is making progress toward a possible sixth year of eligibility, Dantonio said on Tuesday.
“He has to graduate to do that,” Dantonio said. “He's currently in a class to do that and doing well.”
Davis started 12 games at Sam linebacker for Michigan State in 2014. He missed last season with a knee injury which he sustained during training camp.
After graduating later this summer, Davis will officially petition for a sixth year of eligibility, making up for the year he lost in 2015.
Davis was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten by coaches and media after ranking fourth on the team with 58 tackles. He and seven sacks and 12 TFLs, ranking third on the team in both categories.
“He's a phenomenal football player,” Dantonio said.
SPOILED YOUNG PLAYERS?
Eighty-nine of the 100 returning players listed on Michigan State’s roster have known nothing but 11-win seasons as Spartans.
Only 10 fifth-year seniors were around for the 7-6 season of 2012.
Dantonio says there are positives associated with those numbers, but also some hurdles.
“There's an expectation to win and the confidence is there to win,” Dantonio said. “When we come down the line at the end of a football game and there was an opportunity to win, our players know how to win. So when the game has been close we found a way. Won a lot of close football games.
“With that being said, we've got some guys that should be on first (base) but have been born on third. In other words, they've they've experienced all the good but they haven't seen too much of the difficult. So we've got to get those guys primed, our younger players. All they've seen is the last three years of what we've been able to accomplish. Our fifth-year seniors they've seen some other things.”
Those fifth-year seniors include linebacker Riley Bullough, offensive lineman Kodi Kieler, offensive lineman Benny McGowan, safety Demetrious Cox, defensive end Evan Jones - each of whom are projected starters. They redshirted in 2012 while the Spartans dropped back from a pair of 11-win seasons in 2009 and 2010, and struggled to a 7-6 season, which included a comeback win over TCU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
“I think you have to be able to handle the bad times as well as the good,” Dantonio said. “You've got to be able to gear yourself up and understand that these things aren't a given; that you've got to play and you've got to work hard to be able to gain credibility and to win, win football games. So that's our expectation and that's what we'll do.”
‘GET OVER IT’
In winning 12 games, a Big Ten Championship Game title, and a top-four finish in the regular season, the Spartans arguably enjoyed their most accomplished season since 1966. But it ended with a 38-0 loss to eventual National Champion Alabama in the College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl.
Dantonio was asked on Tuesday what his message has been to his team in the aftermath of that experience.
“That game sort of got out of hand,” Dantonio said. “My wife tells me, ‘Get over it.’ She says, ‘Get over it, you lost.’ But I thought it was a competitive game in the first half.
“But what I said to our football team is, ‘Hey, we've gone this far, but there's still a ways we have to go. Don't hang your head. Let's get on with business. Life's full of ups and downs. There's going to be down times.’ To me it's how you handle the down times that define you.”
The loss broke a string of four straight bowl wins for the Spartans, including the 2011 Capital One Bowl, the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the 2014 Rose Bowl, and the 2015 Cotton Bowl.
“It's easy to walk around when you've won,” Dantonio said. “(It’s) more difficult when you've had a loss and you have to regain your composure and you have to move forward with the process.
“So Michigan State's always been about the process. This is just a stepping stone. That was a step back down the staircase. Time to take another step up.”
THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE
Dantonio continued his spring stance of refraining from pinpointing O’Connor as the clear-cut starting QB in waiting.
“Tyler obviously is in the lead right now, but I'm not going to have the pressure put on one position to say this is the make or break guy,” Dantonio said. “I think that's the thing to do right now - not dependent on one guy. Not to say, ‘Hey, he's our guy.’ That will be defined through August camp and early in the season.”
O’Connor and junior Damion Terry are officially listed as either/or starters at QB in this week’s official depth chart.
O’Connor started ahead of Terry during Michigan State’s upset at Ohio State last year. He also out-played Terry in the Green-White Game in April. But the head coach indicated that both players would see extended playing time in September, as was the case in 2013 when Connor Cook and Andrew Maxwell dueled for the job while O’Connor received a handful of snaps as well.
“We’re going to keep the pressure on our quarterback position and on our quarterback coach, Brad Salem,” Dantonio said. “We're going to give people opportunities.
“We lost a lot of experience, obviously, but I think quarterback is a very talented position (for us). We've got four guys that I think are Big Ten-type quarterbacks that are big, athletic guys that can move, run, and also can throw the football. Tyler O'Connor is a fifth-year senior. He's been in the system four years, been behind a great quarterback. He's been waiting his opportunity. Performed very well down in Columbus last year.
“And Damion Terry, 6'4", 235, very athletic. Brian Lewerke, very talented, he was a redshirt freshman this year. And Messiah deWeaver is a true freshman that was here this semester. All four of those guys have great ability.”
NEGATIVE RECRUITING?
Dantonio and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer were asked about claims that Penn State head coach James Franklin had accused Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State of negative recruiting.
In a Q&A with the Reading Eagle newspaper, Franklin is quoted as saying, in regard to recent allegations at former Penn State coach Joe Paterno knew about Jerry Sandusky’s abuse of children as early as the 1970s, that competing schools were making the subject an issue with his players.
“Other schools are contacting them and telling them the NCAA is going to get involved again and impose more sanctions,” Franklin said in the Q&A. “As Penn Staters, we're so proud and we know what we're all about and who we are. The people we're competing with - Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame - this is just not something they have to deal with. Although we want to move on, those other schools are not letting us move on.”
When Dantonio was asked about Michigan State being accused of “negative recruiting” against Penn State on Tuesday, Dantonio said:
“From my standpoint, I have not said anything negative about Penn State, and hopefully our coaches have not as well. I was surprised to read that. I don't know what happens out there on the road completely. But it's not our MO. And that's not how we do business.”
Meyer said he was unaware of the comments.
"That's the first I've heard of it,” Meyer said. “I’ll address that with Coach Franklin, if that is an issue. That has not been presented to me until this moment."
Meyer said, "we do just fine in recruiting to not worry about that stuff. If that's true, I will address it."
NOTEBOOK: Dantonio issues Back to Back mantra for 2016
Jim Comparoni | Editor
CHICAGO - When Mark Dantonio took the podium at Big Ten Media Days, Tuesday at McCormick Place, he briefly made a statement about former punter Mike Sadler, a four-time Academic All-American who was killed in a car accident, Saturday night.
“What occurred on Saturday is very tragic,” Dantonio said. “In regards to Mike, he was a giver. There was no take in Mike Sadler. He lived life. He made everyone’s life around him better and we will miss him terribly.”
With that said, Dantonio then moved to the business of the day, which is to talk about the Spartan football program and preview the 2016 season.
“Back to football,” Dantonio said, still in a somber tone. “I think we’ve built a culture at Michigan State. We are 36-5 in the last three years, 24-2 in the Big Ten Conference.”
Then he moved on, methodically, to attempt to put a monicker on the upcoming season, as he has done in the past with “Reach Higher” in 2015, “It Starts Here” in 2014 and “Chase It” in 2013.
“We have sort of set the table in terms of what we have to do every year, so right now our focus is to try and go ‘Back to Back,’” Dantonio said.
Dantonio’s mantra understandably lacked the punch in delivery that he has had in the past. But he spoke with conviction when discussing some of Michigan State’s strengths for 2016, including talent at linebacker, running back and a surprising nod to Spartan experience.
MORE THAN 10 RETURNING STARTERS?
Michigan State is generally regarded as having only 10 returning starters from last year’s Big Ten Championship/College Football Playoff team, but Dantonio put a different spin on those numbers, Tuesday.
“We've lost some good players but I think we have 31 players back with some type of starting experience,” Dantonio said.
Dantonio’s definition of “starting experience” differs from others. For instance, sixth-year senior Brandon Clemons was utilized as part of the six-man jumbo blocking unit last year. He was a starter in Dantonio’s estimation for that particular personnel group, although he has never started a game for the Spartans.
“We have like 15 on offense, and like 13 or 14 or so on defense that we would consider starters,” Dantonio said.
Clemons is listed as a co-first string right guard for the Spartans heading into August camp.
Defensive backs Khari Willis, Grayson Miller, Vayante Copeland, Darian Hicks,linebacker Ed Davis, quarterback Tyler O’Connor, left tackle Dennis Finley, wide receiver R.J. Shelton and tight end Jamal Lyles are nine players, in addition to the 10 conventional returning starters, who have started games at some point for the Spartans.
Dantonio said. “We've lost some good players but we've got a lot of good football players coming back. I think we have seven guys coming back in the secondary who started for us that are very athletic. And our guys expect to win.
“We lose good players every year, just like every other program. But it seems that when the time comes, our seniors have their best years. You look at Aaron Burbridge last year, having his best year as a senior, catching 85 passes or whatever it was. And the year before that, Tony Lippett. You look at what Connor Cook was able to do.
“We've got guys poised for that. We've established a culture. We've had great recruiting classes and built those classes on top of each other.”
‘CATAPULT’ SEASON FOR McDOWELL?
Dantonio selected three senior players to join him in Chicago for Media Days press obligations. Linebacker Riley Bullough, wide receiver RJ Shelton and tight end Josiah Price met with media Tuesday afternoon.
Michigan State’s most-decorated player in terms of preseason hype and praise, is junior defensive lineman Malik McDowell. He is ranked among the Top 40 players in the country by SI.com and is a popular choice for All-America candidacy in the national preview publications.
“Malik is a playmaker, no question about that,” Dantonio said, Tuesday. “He's big, athletic, physical. He comes to play every game.
“And with all that being said he's only going to be a true junior.”
McDowell (6-6, 274, Detroit/Southfield High) ranked second not he team in TFLs last year with 13, and had 4.5 sacks at the nose tackle position. He was named second-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media.
“He had a big sophomore season last year, and played some as a freshman,” Dantonio said. “I think that this is the year that sort of catapults him.”
McDowell told SpartanMag.com correspondent Rico Beard that he is 15 pounds lighter than his 2015 playing weight. McDowell’s slimmer posture, and presumed improved quickness, should make him more versatile in adapting to the coaches’ plans to move him out to defense end at times in 2016.
“He's got to have a great year and I think he's poised to do that,” Dantonio said. “I think we also have some other great defensive players on our football team that we can build around. Ed Davis working for his sixth year. Riley Bullough. Guys all over the place.”
‘DEPTH CHARTS ARE DEPTH CHARTS’
Junior linebacker Chris Frey is among those that Dantonio regards as a starter, despite the fact that Frey has never started.
Frey is listed as a second-string Sam linebacker. He can also play ‘star’ linebacker.
“Depth charts are depth charts,” Dantonio said. “It's a starting point. We're very deep at the linebacker position.”
Bullough and junior Jon Reschke are listed as starting Mike and Sam linebackers. Sophomore Andrew Dowell is No. 1 at ‘star’ linebacker heading into August camp, according to Monday’s depth chart.
Frey (6-2, 222, Jr., Upper Arlington, Ohio) had 23 tackles and five TFLs last year. He saw extensive action as a second-stringer and was on the nickel defense first unit.
“He plays multiple positions,” Dantonio said. “As far as I'm concerned, Chris Frey is a starter as well. Ed Davis can be thrown into that. We have what I consider five starters. Shane Jones is another guy I think can go in there and start. Byron Bullough is another guy that had an outstanding spring.”
ED DAVIS UPDATE
Ed Davis (6-3, 225, Detrot) is making progress toward a possible sixth year of eligibility, Dantonio said on Tuesday.
“He has to graduate to do that,” Dantonio said. “He's currently in a class to do that and doing well.”
Davis started 12 games at Sam linebacker for Michigan State in 2014. He missed last season with a knee injury which he sustained during training camp.
After graduating later this summer, Davis will officially petition for a sixth year of eligibility, making up for the year he lost in 2015.
Davis was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten by coaches and media after ranking fourth on the team with 58 tackles. He and seven sacks and 12 TFLs, ranking third on the team in both categories.
“He's a phenomenal football player,” Dantonio said.
SPOILED YOUNG PLAYERS?
Eighty-nine of the 100 returning players listed on Michigan State’s roster have known nothing but 11-win seasons as Spartans.
Only 10 fifth-year seniors were around for the 7-6 season of 2012.
Dantonio says there are positives associated with those numbers, but also some hurdles.
“There's an expectation to win and the confidence is there to win,” Dantonio said. “When we come down the line at the end of a football game and there was an opportunity to win, our players know how to win. So when the game has been close we found a way. Won a lot of close football games.
“With that being said, we've got some guys that should be on first (base) but have been born on third. In other words, they've they've experienced all the good but they haven't seen too much of the difficult. So we've got to get those guys primed, our younger players. All they've seen is the last three years of what we've been able to accomplish. Our fifth-year seniors they've seen some other things.”
Those fifth-year seniors include linebacker Riley Bullough, offensive lineman Kodi Kieler, offensive lineman Benny McGowan, safety Demetrious Cox, defensive end Evan Jones - each of whom are projected starters. They redshirted in 2012 while the Spartans dropped back from a pair of 11-win seasons in 2009 and 2010, and struggled to a 7-6 season, which included a comeback win over TCU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
“I think you have to be able to handle the bad times as well as the good,” Dantonio said. “You've got to be able to gear yourself up and understand that these things aren't a given; that you've got to play and you've got to work hard to be able to gain credibility and to win, win football games. So that's our expectation and that's what we'll do.”
‘GET OVER IT’
In winning 12 games, a Big Ten Championship Game title, and a top-four finish in the regular season, the Spartans arguably enjoyed their most accomplished season since 1966. But it ended with a 38-0 loss to eventual National Champion Alabama in the College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl.
Dantonio was asked on Tuesday what his message has been to his team in the aftermath of that experience.
“That game sort of got out of hand,” Dantonio said. “My wife tells me, ‘Get over it.’ She says, ‘Get over it, you lost.’ But I thought it was a competitive game in the first half.
“But what I said to our football team is, ‘Hey, we've gone this far, but there's still a ways we have to go. Don't hang your head. Let's get on with business. Life's full of ups and downs. There's going to be down times.’ To me it's how you handle the down times that define you.”
The loss broke a string of four straight bowl wins for the Spartans, including the 2011 Capital One Bowl, the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the 2014 Rose Bowl, and the 2015 Cotton Bowl.
“It's easy to walk around when you've won,” Dantonio said. “(It’s) more difficult when you've had a loss and you have to regain your composure and you have to move forward with the process.
“So Michigan State's always been about the process. This is just a stepping stone. That was a step back down the staircase. Time to take another step up.”
THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE
Dantonio continued his spring stance of refraining from pinpointing O’Connor as the clear-cut starting QB in waiting.
“Tyler obviously is in the lead right now, but I'm not going to have the pressure put on one position to say this is the make or break guy,” Dantonio said. “I think that's the thing to do right now - not dependent on one guy. Not to say, ‘Hey, he's our guy.’ That will be defined through August camp and early in the season.”
O’Connor and junior Damion Terry are officially listed as either/or starters at QB in this week’s official depth chart.
O’Connor started ahead of Terry during Michigan State’s upset at Ohio State last year. He also out-played Terry in the Green-White Game in April. But the head coach indicated that both players would see extended playing time in September, as was the case in 2013 when Connor Cook and Andrew Maxwell dueled for the job while O’Connor received a handful of snaps as well.
“We’re going to keep the pressure on our quarterback position and on our quarterback coach, Brad Salem,” Dantonio said. “We're going to give people opportunities.
“We lost a lot of experience, obviously, but I think quarterback is a very talented position (for us). We've got four guys that I think are Big Ten-type quarterbacks that are big, athletic guys that can move, run, and also can throw the football. Tyler O'Connor is a fifth-year senior. He's been in the system four years, been behind a great quarterback. He's been waiting his opportunity. Performed very well down in Columbus last year.
“And Damion Terry, 6'4", 235, very athletic. Brian Lewerke, very talented, he was a redshirt freshman this year. And Messiah deWeaver is a true freshman that was here this semester. All four of those guys have great ability.”
NEGATIVE RECRUITING?
Dantonio and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer were asked about claims that Penn State head coach James Franklin had accused Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State of negative recruiting.
In a Q&A with the Reading Eagle newspaper, Franklin is quoted as saying, in regard to recent allegations at former Penn State coach Joe Paterno knew about Jerry Sandusky’s abuse of children as early as the 1970s, that competing schools were making the subject an issue with his players.
“Other schools are contacting them and telling them the NCAA is going to get involved again and impose more sanctions,” Franklin said in the Q&A. “As Penn Staters, we're so proud and we know what we're all about and who we are. The people we're competing with - Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame - this is just not something they have to deal with. Although we want to move on, those other schools are not letting us move on.”
When Dantonio was asked about Michigan State being accused of “negative recruiting” against Penn State on Tuesday, Dantonio said:
“From my standpoint, I have not said anything negative about Penn State, and hopefully our coaches have not as well. I was surprised to read that. I don't know what happens out there on the road completely. But it's not our MO. And that's not how we do business.”
Meyer said he was unaware of the comments.
"That's the first I've heard of it,” Meyer said. “I’ll address that with Coach Franklin, if that is an issue. That has not been presented to me until this moment."
Meyer said, "we do just fine in recruiting to not worry about that stuff. If that's true, I will address it."
Rocky Lombardi, what's new, what's next
- Spartans Illustrated Message Board
- 1 Replies
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.”