A summary from Dantonio's press briefing, from earlier today (in case you didn't watch the video):
Camp Update: What's New & What's Next
Jim Comparoni | Editor
Tyler O'Connor put the final clamps on the starting QB job during Saturday's scrimmage.
EAST LANSING | Michigan State’s preseason training camp enters week three with precious few competitions taking place for first-string jobs.
The real competitions, Mark Dantonio said on Monday, are in the supporting roles. This includes true freshman wide receivers jockeying for position in the rotation, new defensive linemen earning roles, a sixth-year linebacker awaiting a new opportunity, and competition behind the newly-minted starting QB, Tyler O’Connor.
“Where the competition ends up is who’s our twos?” Dantonio said. “We have so many threes and twos that are very, very similar and that’s where we have our depth. That’s where you see the depth of the football team, in the next level of players.”
That competition should soon include Ed Davis, a former honorable mention All-Big Ten linebacker who is petitioning for a sixth year of eligibility. Davis finished a class during summer semester which makes him capable of petitioning for the sixth year. He missed last year with a knee injury.
“Ed’s grade was posted today so now we just have to run it through the process of the NCAA,” Dantonio said.
Dantonio said last week he hoped the NCAA would reach a decision fairly quickly.
If Davis is granted a sixth year of eligibility. he will compete with Jon Reschke and Chris Frey for a role at Sam linebacker. Davis could conceivably become a big factor on third downs as an edge pass rusher, which was his first full-time role with the team during the Rose Bowl season of 2013.
In 2014, Davis led Michigan State in production points and ranked third in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (seven).
“We have to remember that Ed did not participate in spring drills so he has to get comfortable with his knee again and acclimate himself back to football at this level. He hasn’t played in awhile so it’s going to take a couple of weeks to get him squared away. He’s healthy to play.”
Dantonio said Nebraska graduate transfer Kevin Williams is now included as a semi-starter at defensive tackle.
“I think Kevin Williams has made a move a little bit,” Dantonio said. “It depends on where we want to play Malik (McDowell), so I would say he (Williams) is somewhat of a co-starter. Evan Jones is sort of a co-starter (at boundary defensive end). So those five guys. (Gabe) Sherrod has made some headway as well.”
Sherrod is a graduate transfer defense end from Delaware State.
Jones is a fifth-year senior who has yet to start a game as a Spartan. His starting status seems to be the most tenuous of anyone in the current first 11 on defense.
McDowell, an All-America candidate at defensive tackle, will swing out to defensive end at times this season. When he plays d-end, he replaces Jones. When McDowell moves to d-end, Kevin Williams is the first choice to move into the front four.
Meanwhile, Sherrod is pushing Jones for the starting boundary DE job.
Other than Williams’ push into the “starting five” up front, there hasn’t been much movement in the starting 22 on either side of the ball.
“Offensive line gets moved in and out a little bit with the seven guys,” Dantonio said.
He said the situation at RB, QB, TE has remained unchanged.
“The linebacker situation is pretty status quo and the secondary is pretty status quo, so we’re pretty set,” Dantonio said.
Why O'Connor? Who's Next?
O’Connor has held the No. 1 spot at quarterback since the outset of spring practice. Dantonio held off on officially naming O’Connor the starting QB until Monday.
“I think Tyler O’Connor is our quarterback right now,” Dantonio conceded.
Dantonio has tried to protect O’Connor from some of the off-season pressures that come with being the starting QB. But that protection ended today.
“He’s the number one guy,” Dantonio said. “He’s had a good enough camp to say that right now. I can say right now he will start week one.
“Will the other guys play? Possibly. But he’s our number one guy. I thought he played well (in the scrimmage).”
Junior Damion Terry and redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke are battling for second-string status.
“I think Damion right now, but it remains to be seen,” Dantonio said. “We want to try to figure that one out as we go.”
Which Freshmen Will Play?
As for true freshmen who are competing for playing time in 2016, Dantonio said wide receiver Donnie Corley is still setting the pace.
“Donnie Corley is going to play,” Dantonio said. “The wide receiver position is still a little bit up in the air but we have guys like Cam Chambers, Trishton Jackson and Justin Layne sort of competing to see if they are in the top six. But they’re right there. They’ve had good camps.”
Those three freshmen join senior RJ Shelton, senior Monty Madaris and sophomoreFelton Davis in the top six.
“(Offensive lineman) Thiyo Lukusa may make a push to play here, late (in camp),” Dantonio said. “Later than sooner, but he has ability.”
And true freshman Mike Panasiuk continues to impress at defensive tackle.
“He is right there on the fringe of the two-deep,” Dantonio said of Panasiuk. “Is he a two or is he a two-and-a-half? But I think he’ll play. He’s had a good summer camp.”
What's Next?
The Spartans will go through a limited scrimmage on Wednesday. Dantonio will announce captains on Thursday and then release the team to their homes for the weekend, prior to next week’s game-week preparation for the Sept. 2 season opener against Furman.
“We’ll scrimmage on Wednesday and that will be an important scrimmage for a number of people in trying to see what they can do,” Dantonio said. “It’ll be very spirited on Thursday when we let ‘em go. But we’ll get them going this week. The scrimmage will be good. There’s a lot to be seen there. You have young plays that have learned the system a little bit better so you’re looking for them to make a move on the depth chart and find out what they can do. But it’s competitive out there, so there’s a lot of things going on.”
Dantonio didn’t provide any further details about last weekend’s scrimmage, or team weaknesses.
When asked about the offensive line, Dantonio said: “I think our offensive line is intact and we’ll be ready to go. A lot of double-talk. How much stuff can I say without saying anything?”
As for second- and third-stringers locked in competitions, Dantonio spoke mostly of cornerbacks.
“You look at Kaleel (Gaines) and Josh Butler and David Dowell,” Dantonio said. “Those three guys, you could just lump them together. I mean they’re good players.
“Tyson Smith, is he a two or is he a one? So you’ve got six guys with Darian Hicks andVayante (Copeland) there (at cornerback) that are playing good football. So that’s a positive for us. That allows us to do some unique things maybe later on in the process.”
Dantonio Unplugged
* On the Big Ten Network’s first episode of “Green and White Days.”
“Yeah, I saw a little bit of it," Dantonio said.
What did he think?
“I like the guy in charge,” he said with a laugh. “I thought it was very well-done. That’s why we did it. I think they do a great job with it, directing it and shooting it. It’s quality work.
“It gives a glimpse of what’s going on here without giving away what’s going on here, and I think that was the intent.”
* On former Spartan great Julian Peterson, a 1999 All-American and five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, recently completing his Michigan State degree.
“I recruited Julian way back and I still keep in touch with his family and everything. It was great to see him (this weekend). He has really completed everything he wanted to do and this was an opportunity for him to finish something. He is a guy that made it and made it big and I’m very proud of him.”
* On last weekend’s scrimmage:
“Another good scrimmage, a very active scrimmage, so that was positive for us. So now we are sort of turning out sights toward our first game and get ourselves ready to go, give our guys a little break on the weekend and then we’ll go from there.
“I don’t get into that countdown mode until we get through this week. We’re four days away from ending camp. We’re still in camp mode, so we’ll keep pushing it. It’s an opportunity to stretch out camp a little bit.”
Edit
Camp Update: What's New & What's Next
Jim Comparoni | Editor
Tyler O'Connor put the final clamps on the starting QB job during Saturday's scrimmage.
EAST LANSING | Michigan State’s preseason training camp enters week three with precious few competitions taking place for first-string jobs.
The real competitions, Mark Dantonio said on Monday, are in the supporting roles. This includes true freshman wide receivers jockeying for position in the rotation, new defensive linemen earning roles, a sixth-year linebacker awaiting a new opportunity, and competition behind the newly-minted starting QB, Tyler O’Connor.
“Where the competition ends up is who’s our twos?” Dantonio said. “We have so many threes and twos that are very, very similar and that’s where we have our depth. That’s where you see the depth of the football team, in the next level of players.”
That competition should soon include Ed Davis, a former honorable mention All-Big Ten linebacker who is petitioning for a sixth year of eligibility. Davis finished a class during summer semester which makes him capable of petitioning for the sixth year. He missed last year with a knee injury.
“Ed’s grade was posted today so now we just have to run it through the process of the NCAA,” Dantonio said.
Dantonio said last week he hoped the NCAA would reach a decision fairly quickly.
If Davis is granted a sixth year of eligibility. he will compete with Jon Reschke and Chris Frey for a role at Sam linebacker. Davis could conceivably become a big factor on third downs as an edge pass rusher, which was his first full-time role with the team during the Rose Bowl season of 2013.
In 2014, Davis led Michigan State in production points and ranked third in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (seven).
“We have to remember that Ed did not participate in spring drills so he has to get comfortable with his knee again and acclimate himself back to football at this level. He hasn’t played in awhile so it’s going to take a couple of weeks to get him squared away. He’s healthy to play.”
Dantonio said Nebraska graduate transfer Kevin Williams is now included as a semi-starter at defensive tackle.
“I think Kevin Williams has made a move a little bit,” Dantonio said. “It depends on where we want to play Malik (McDowell), so I would say he (Williams) is somewhat of a co-starter. Evan Jones is sort of a co-starter (at boundary defensive end). So those five guys. (Gabe) Sherrod has made some headway as well.”
Sherrod is a graduate transfer defense end from Delaware State.
Jones is a fifth-year senior who has yet to start a game as a Spartan. His starting status seems to be the most tenuous of anyone in the current first 11 on defense.
McDowell, an All-America candidate at defensive tackle, will swing out to defensive end at times this season. When he plays d-end, he replaces Jones. When McDowell moves to d-end, Kevin Williams is the first choice to move into the front four.
Meanwhile, Sherrod is pushing Jones for the starting boundary DE job.
Other than Williams’ push into the “starting five” up front, there hasn’t been much movement in the starting 22 on either side of the ball.
“Offensive line gets moved in and out a little bit with the seven guys,” Dantonio said.
He said the situation at RB, QB, TE has remained unchanged.
“The linebacker situation is pretty status quo and the secondary is pretty status quo, so we’re pretty set,” Dantonio said.
Why O'Connor? Who's Next?
O’Connor has held the No. 1 spot at quarterback since the outset of spring practice. Dantonio held off on officially naming O’Connor the starting QB until Monday.
“I think Tyler O’Connor is our quarterback right now,” Dantonio conceded.
Dantonio has tried to protect O’Connor from some of the off-season pressures that come with being the starting QB. But that protection ended today.
“He’s the number one guy,” Dantonio said. “He’s had a good enough camp to say that right now. I can say right now he will start week one.
“Will the other guys play? Possibly. But he’s our number one guy. I thought he played well (in the scrimmage).”
Junior Damion Terry and redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke are battling for second-string status.
“I think Damion right now, but it remains to be seen,” Dantonio said. “We want to try to figure that one out as we go.”
Which Freshmen Will Play?
As for true freshmen who are competing for playing time in 2016, Dantonio said wide receiver Donnie Corley is still setting the pace.
“Donnie Corley is going to play,” Dantonio said. “The wide receiver position is still a little bit up in the air but we have guys like Cam Chambers, Trishton Jackson and Justin Layne sort of competing to see if they are in the top six. But they’re right there. They’ve had good camps.”
Those three freshmen join senior RJ Shelton, senior Monty Madaris and sophomoreFelton Davis in the top six.
“(Offensive lineman) Thiyo Lukusa may make a push to play here, late (in camp),” Dantonio said. “Later than sooner, but he has ability.”
And true freshman Mike Panasiuk continues to impress at defensive tackle.
“He is right there on the fringe of the two-deep,” Dantonio said of Panasiuk. “Is he a two or is he a two-and-a-half? But I think he’ll play. He’s had a good summer camp.”
What's Next?
The Spartans will go through a limited scrimmage on Wednesday. Dantonio will announce captains on Thursday and then release the team to their homes for the weekend, prior to next week’s game-week preparation for the Sept. 2 season opener against Furman.
“We’ll scrimmage on Wednesday and that will be an important scrimmage for a number of people in trying to see what they can do,” Dantonio said. “It’ll be very spirited on Thursday when we let ‘em go. But we’ll get them going this week. The scrimmage will be good. There’s a lot to be seen there. You have young plays that have learned the system a little bit better so you’re looking for them to make a move on the depth chart and find out what they can do. But it’s competitive out there, so there’s a lot of things going on.”
Dantonio didn’t provide any further details about last weekend’s scrimmage, or team weaknesses.
When asked about the offensive line, Dantonio said: “I think our offensive line is intact and we’ll be ready to go. A lot of double-talk. How much stuff can I say without saying anything?”
As for second- and third-stringers locked in competitions, Dantonio spoke mostly of cornerbacks.
“You look at Kaleel (Gaines) and Josh Butler and David Dowell,” Dantonio said. “Those three guys, you could just lump them together. I mean they’re good players.
“Tyson Smith, is he a two or is he a one? So you’ve got six guys with Darian Hicks andVayante (Copeland) there (at cornerback) that are playing good football. So that’s a positive for us. That allows us to do some unique things maybe later on in the process.”
Dantonio Unplugged
* On the Big Ten Network’s first episode of “Green and White Days.”
“Yeah, I saw a little bit of it," Dantonio said.
What did he think?
“I like the guy in charge,” he said with a laugh. “I thought it was very well-done. That’s why we did it. I think they do a great job with it, directing it and shooting it. It’s quality work.
“It gives a glimpse of what’s going on here without giving away what’s going on here, and I think that was the intent.”
* On former Spartan great Julian Peterson, a 1999 All-American and five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, recently completing his Michigan State degree.
“I recruited Julian way back and I still keep in touch with his family and everything. It was great to see him (this weekend). He has really completed everything he wanted to do and this was an opportunity for him to finish something. He is a guy that made it and made it big and I’m very proud of him.”
* On last weekend’s scrimmage:
“Another good scrimmage, a very active scrimmage, so that was positive for us. So now we are sort of turning out sights toward our first game and get ourselves ready to go, give our guys a little break on the weekend and then we’ll go from there.
“I don’t get into that countdown mode until we get through this week. We’re four days away from ending camp. We’re still in camp mode, so we’ll keep pushing it. It’s an opportunity to stretch out camp a little bit.”
Edit
